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US National seeking to transfer business operations to EU
Thread poster: Robert Long
Robert Long
Robert Long  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 09:33
Member (2012)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Jun 15, 2015

Hello all,

As indicated in the subject line, I'm a US citizen (residing in Seattle), and being 9 hours behind my European clients often causes me to miss out on a lot of jobs. Additionally, there are far too few opportunities to practice speaking my languages here in the States, and moving to Europe has always been an ambition of mine.

However, as you all surely know, this is no easy task. If any AMERICAN translators have relocated to Europe on a permanent basis, I wou
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Hello all,

As indicated in the subject line, I'm a US citizen (residing in Seattle), and being 9 hours behind my European clients often causes me to miss out on a lot of jobs. Additionally, there are far too few opportunities to practice speaking my languages here in the States, and moving to Europe has always been an ambition of mine.

However, as you all surely know, this is no easy task. If any AMERICAN translators have relocated to Europe on a permanent basis, I would GREATLY appreciate any advice whatsoever that you can offer.

I was considering moving to Malta because of its warm climate, safe cities, and favorable tax policies. However, some of the stipulations I encountered were that €100,000 needed to be invested in the business (as a self-employed translator this is not only unfeasible but also unnecessary), nor will I be employing other individuals any time soon.

Is the moral of the story here that being a translator really ISN'T as mobile of a career choice as I always thought? Is it really that impossible to relocate to Europe (and to a country where I make THREE TIMES what the average citizens earn) and to contribute to the tax base and rent property while not at all being a burden to the government?

I would also consider moving to Spain, Catalonia, the Netherlands, Germany, and Greece, but that's about it.

Feeling a bit defeated at the moment, so any kind advice would be very well received.

Many thanks,

Robert
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Thomas T. Frost
Thomas T. Frost  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 09:33
Danish to English
+ ...
No such thing as "Europe" when it's about immigration Jun 15, 2015

Maybe you can get some advice from other expats about Germany on http://www.toytowngermany.com/, but I don't know any sites for the other countries you mention.

Catalonia is still a part of Spain even though some Catalonians don't like it.

Each country defines its own immigration rules. There is no such thing as 'European' immigration rules what concerns a case like yours.
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Maybe you can get some advice from other expats about Germany on http://www.toytowngermany.com/, but I don't know any sites for the other countries you mention.

Catalonia is still a part of Spain even though some Catalonians don't like it.

Each country defines its own immigration rules. There is no such thing as 'European' immigration rules what concerns a case like yours.

Sometimes, foreigners find that they can claim citizenship in a EU Member State if they can trace and document their parents', grandparents' nationality etc., and if citizenship is obtained, they can just move to anywhere in the EU or the EEA.

Marriage to someone with EU/EEA nationality also helps.

Without knowing what your ideal country looks like, it's difficult to give you further suggestions.
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Dan Lucas
Dan Lucas  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:33
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
You're conflating two separate issues Jun 15, 2015

Robert Long wrote:
Is the moral of the story here that being a translator really ISN'T as mobile of a career choice as I always thought?

No, it is indeed mobile, all you need is a laptop and you're sorted. Unfortunately that's not the issue. The issue is that these days most countries have strict requirements for visas, work permits and residency.

I'm a Brit, I speak English, I'm educated, I have numerous marketable skills and I have no criminal record. That doesn't mean that if I roll off the plane at JFK I will be welcomed with open arms by American officialdom, just because I'm from another developed country. You're aware of that I guess?

Well, the same goes for most/all of the countries in Europe. Basically you need to demonstrate you have something the target country needs, which can be money or a skill that few other people have. Money is more certain. Or you can get employed by a big company and then seconded to Europe. But bang goes your freelance lifestyle.

Just as a matter of interest, have you lived (i.e. not just a holiday or a few months stay) abroad before? If you have, how did you achieve that and can you not follow the same route again?

If you haven't lived abroad, are you sure you really want to? Why not travel abroad while working for three months of the year instead, enjoying the best of what the world has to offer?

Regards
Dan


 
Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons)
Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons)
English to Italian
+ ...
There is a possibility, but... Jun 15, 2015

There is the possibility to receive a VISA from Italian authorities, just for being a translator (reference, sorry that it's in Italian: http://www.stranieriinitalia.it/l_esperto_risponde-interpreti_e_traduttori_come_entrano_in_italia_14029.html).

But, as a former resident of Italy (and Italian citizen), I would ne
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There is the possibility to receive a VISA from Italian authorities, just for being a translator (reference, sorry that it's in Italian: http://www.stranieriinitalia.it/l_esperto_risponde-interpreti_e_traduttori_come_entrano_in_italia_14029.html).

But, as a former resident of Italy (and Italian citizen), I would never suggest you to live there. Too expensive, horrible tax system, not much efficiency, etc. The only thing I'd save it's food, wine, fashion and art

Another possibility is living for 3 months there, then get out for a few days (let's say go to Andorra, Montecarlo, or any non-EU country) and then come back.
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Thomas T. Frost
Thomas T. Frost  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 09:33
Danish to English
+ ...
3 months Jun 15, 2015

Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons) wrote:

Another possibility is living for 3 months there, then get out for a few days (let's say go to Andorra, Montecarlo, or any non-EU country) and then come back.



You do know that it's strictly illegal? You have to be away from the Schengen zone for 3 months before you can legally start another 3-months period. Many get away with doing what you suggest, but that's not a guarantee that everybody will get away with it. It furthermore does not entitle you to work, and you could not register with any tax authorities as a visitor, so you'd end up as an illegal immigrant illegally exercising a professional activity and committing tax evasion because you can't register as a visitor. I don't think that's what Robert is after.

It doesn't have to be as difficult as Dan suggested: "Basically you need to demonstrate you have something the target country needs, which can be money or a skill that few other people have." There are countries in the EU that will let you work as freelancer in an unregulated profession such as translation if only you can demonstrate that you have sufficient funds not to become a burden on the host country.

It's furthermore important that Robert understands that taxes, social charges and business regulations are not harmonised in the EU but that each country sets its own rules (except for VAT, which is regulated at EU level and national level). What social (welfare) charges are concerned, they go between 0 % and some 45 % in the EU, depending on country.

What are you looking for? Warm climate? Gastronomy? Low taxes and social charges? Low level of bureaucracy? Good infrastructure? A lot of welfare? Many public services? Low property prices? Southern or northern mentality?


 
Lisette Vogler-Chase
Lisette Vogler-Chase  Identity Verified
Bulgaria
Local time: 11:33
Member (2013)
English to German
+ ...
Have you considered moving to Bulgaria? (EU, but not yet part of the Schengen) Jun 16, 2015

Hi Robert,

if you're looking low cost of living, low tax rates and social contributions, nice climate (long, hot summers, real winters), beautiful nature, great people, you might want to consider moving to Bulgaria (and add Bulgarian to your language skills in a few years:)).

It's true, that I am a European citizen, so that does make things a bit easier, anyway, I relocated here from the Netherlands for a large US company who took care of all the necessary paperwork for
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Hi Robert,

if you're looking low cost of living, low tax rates and social contributions, nice climate (long, hot summers, real winters), beautiful nature, great people, you might want to consider moving to Bulgaria (and add Bulgarian to your language skills in a few years:)).

It's true, that I am a European citizen, so that does make things a bit easier, anyway, I relocated here from the Netherlands for a large US company who took care of all the necessary paperwork for me at the beginning, but once I decided to continue in my original profession as translator a couple of years ago, I encountered no problems at all registering as freelancer and obtaining another residence permit for 5 years.

Good Luck!!
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Dan Lucas
Dan Lucas  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:33
Member (2014)
Japanese to English
Cultural issues Jun 16, 2015

Thomas T. Frost wrote:
Southern or northern mentality?

This. I remember my friend being driven mad by the time it took to do even basic things when she moved to Spain. She found Madrid a very pleasant city and her circle of friends is lovely, but (for example) getting a phone line put in took months. In some parts of Europe it takes time and stamina to get basic things done and that can freak a certain type of person out.

Regards
Dan


 
Tom in London
Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:33
Member (2008)
Italian to English
No easier Jun 16, 2015

Robert Long wrote:

Feeling a bit defeated at the moment...

Robert


It is no easier for a US citizen to take up residence and work in the EU than it is for a European citizen to take up residence and work in the US - and I somehow doubt that the nefarious TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, currently under negotiation) will make life any easier.

I would advise against sticking a pin in the map of Europe and saying "I think I'll live there because it's sunny". That's a very superficial attitude to a very complex continent. If you're serious, Robert, you should spend time in the country/countries you think you like - not as a tourist coming to see the sights but as a person who seriously intends to find out what it's like living and working there on a day-to-day basis.


 
Sheila Wilson
Sheila Wilson  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 09:33
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
Buy property? Jun 16, 2015

There is/was a scheme here in the Canary Islands, maybe Spain-wide, for people to invest a considerable sum in property. We have a lot that was built before the crisis, bought on bank mortgages and since repossessed. In return for taking something off the bank's books, you get permanent residency. With that you can move freely around the EU.

Sorry if it doesn't apply - I believe it needs more investment than just a little 2-bed place.


 
Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons)
Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons)
English to Italian
+ ...
Sorry but... Jun 18, 2015

Thomas T. Frost wrote:

Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons) wrote:

Another possibility is living for 3 months there, then get out for a few days (let's say go to Andorra, Montecarlo, or any non-EU country) and then come back.



You do know that it's strictly illegal?



Thanks to a legal loop, one can be a "perpetual tourist". There is nothing illegal about it.

[Edited at 2015-06-18 09:16 GMT]


 
Jeffrey Henson
Jeffrey Henson
France
Local time: 10:33
Member (2015)
French to English
Outstaying a 3-month Tourist Visa Jun 18, 2015

Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons) wrote:

Thomas T. Frost wrote:

Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons) wrote:

Another possibility is living for 3 months there, then get out for a few days (let's say go to Andorra, Montecarlo, or any non-EU country) and then come back.



You do know that it's strictly illegal?



Thanks to a legal loop, one can be a "perpetual tourist". There is nothing illegal about it.

[Edited at 2015-06-18 09:16 GMT]


When I was first planning to move to France (some 23 years ago), it was to get married and stay here permanently. However, our marriage was going to be more than 3 months after my arrival to France and so I knew a 3-month tourist visa would not suffice. I called the nearest French consultate to ask about getting a fiancé visa and was told to do exactly what Giuseppina suggested (in more exact terms, I was told I should drive over into Switzerland every three months until I was married and could apply for a "cart de séjour"). I would sincerely hope that the French consulte would not be giving out advice on how to break the law and stay in their country illegally... but then again, this is France we're talking about ;^)


 
Roni_S
Roni_S  Identity Verified
Slovakia
Local time: 10:33
Slovak to English
Try the EU Immigration Portal Jun 18, 2015

http://ec.europa.eu/immigration/

I don't know how comprehensive the information is, but it's probably as good a place to start as any. I'm pretty sure the red tape will be considerable no matter which country you choose, but that's something you'll need to get used to anyway


 
Thomas T. Frost
Thomas T. Frost  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 09:33
Danish to English
+ ...
The European Commission website says it's illegal Jun 18, 2015

Giuseppina Gatta, MA (Hons) wrote:

Thanks to a legal loop, one can be a "perpetual tourist". There is nothing illegal about it.

[Edited at 2015-06-18 09:16 GMT]


It's not a legal loop; it's illegal.

The rules are explained on the European Commission's website:

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/border-crossing/index_en.htm

"A clearer definition of short stay of non-EU citizens in the Schengen area ("90 days in any 180 days period") is applicable from 18 October 2013. Since then a new method of calculation of short stays applies."

There is nothing unusual in getting incorrect information from French authorities. They are generally quite ignorant about the rules and simply say what they think they know, or what they've been taught once, 30 years ago, without checking what the rules actually say, or if they should have been changed. I lived in France for 15 years, and the behaviour is quite common. Some French consulates in the US I've talked to were even ignorant about the procedure for a self-employed getting a work permission tagged onto a visitor's visa, and then when my client got to France, the prefecture staff were ignorant about what they had to do in their end. In Paris. It's not that I want to criticise France just for the sake of it, but this is how things really are.

Being a perpetual tourist, even if respecting the 90/180 rule, still does not allow such a 'tourist' to work, even as a translator for clients outside the EU, except that there must be an allowance for temporarily taking care of one's business at home.

One can use the 90/180 rule to travel around and get to know things, but once one plans to settle to work, one must follow the country's immigration procedures, which in most cases cannot be started during a tourist visit but only from one's country of residence.

Some people always get away with breaking the rules, of course, so it's a personal decision if one doesn't mind living with the perpetual risk of being deported and perhaps banned from re-entry for a number of years, as well as being prosecuted for having worked illegally and committed tax evasion. Such a re-entry ban would concern the entire Schengen zone.


 
Laura Tridico
Laura Tridico  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 05:33
French to English
+ ...
Look at the Dutch-American friendship treaty... Jun 18, 2015

It's not Malta, but the Netherlands and the U.S. (as well as Japan) have a treaty which greatly simplifies the process of setting up a business in the country. It can work quite well for translators, from everything I've read, as the capital requirement is quite low (in the neighbourhood of €3000 I think. I haven't personally used it (I'm American, resident in the UK and previously Belgium but my visa is linked to my husband's job).

It's been said above, but every country is diffe
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It's not Malta, but the Netherlands and the U.S. (as well as Japan) have a treaty which greatly simplifies the process of setting up a business in the country. It can work quite well for translators, from everything I've read, as the capital requirement is quite low (in the neighbourhood of €3000 I think. I haven't personally used it (I'm American, resident in the UK and previously Belgium but my visa is linked to my husband's job).

It's been said above, but every country is different. I'm currently researching the issue...Do you have European heritage that might make you eligible for citizenship? Italy and Luxembourg spring to mind... The qualifications are strict, but if you fall within the boundaries you are set.

I'm doing a seminar on legally working abroad at the ATA conference in November. There seems to be a lot of confusion between tax compliance and immigration issues. If you're caught working on a non-working visa, immigration departments don't give a hoot if you're in tax compliance. Checking emails and taking care of a bit of work on holiday is one thing, but working for months under the radar is a very different issue.

Laura

[Edited at 2015-06-18 15:39 GMT]
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Thomas T. Frost
Thomas T. Frost  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 09:33
Danish to English
+ ...
To be tax compliant, you have to register Jun 18, 2015

Laura Tridico wrote:

It's been said above, but every country is different. I'm currently researching the issue...Do you have European heritage that might make you eligible for citizenship? Italy and Luxembourg spring to mind... The qualifications are strict, but if you fall within the boundaries you are set.


And France and Spain, and probably others, while you can forget about Denmark.

Laura Tridico wrote:
I'm doing a on legally working abroad at the ATA conference in November. There seems to be a lot of confusion between tax compliance and immigration issues. If you're caught working on a non-working visa, immigration departments don't give a hoot if you're in tax compliance. Checking emails and taking care of a bit of work on holiday is one thing, but working for months under the radar is a very different issue.



You may get away with many things, that's true. You just have to know that things can also turn more nasty, and you refer to "immigration departments" as one, whereas each EU Member State has its own, independent immigration authority. Have you researched that all 28 immigration authorities really give a hoot?

I would never advise anyone to cut corners with immigration, tax and social security (welfare) rules even if I know people can get away with many things, but each one can obviously decide to try. You just need to know that if you do, you may end up with a sort of Damocles' Sword hanging over your head. When I worked in relocation, I occasionally communicated with some more or less desperate person from North America who'd brought him- or herself into a very delicate situation by cutting corners, and they had ended up more or less stuck because of that. It's not good advice to tell people to disrespect such rules, because everything may end up coming crashing down upon them.

To register as self-employed in France as a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, you will be asked for a copy of your residency and work permit, so I don't see how in such a case you can be tax compliant when you have no tax and social security (welfare) number to pay under. Also in Denmark, you cannot do anything official without a CPR number (personal id number used for everything), and I doubt very much they'll hand one out without checking if the person is entitled to live and work in Denmark. In Germany, you need a tax id number and a tax number, and as soon as authorities know you're here, they ask - even for EU citizens - that you justify your entitlement to be resident in Germany. To get a National Insurance number in the UK, you also need to justify your entitlements. So how can you be tax compliant if you're unknown by the administration?


 
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US National seeking to transfer business operations to EU







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