For talent · 7 min read
Where to live as a remote German, Nordic or Dutch speaker: 6 places compared
Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Thailand and Bali compared on time zone, residence rules and everyday practicalities, for native speakers working for companies back home.
By the RemoteAbroad team ·
In short: the best place is the one where you're happy, which is the whole point. But time zone and residence rules shape your working life, so here's how six favourites compare. You can also live anywhere else.
The quick comparison
| Place | Time vs Germany / Nordics | EU/EEA free movement? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malta | same time | yes | English is an official language; big Nordic and German community |
| Spain | same time (Canaries: −1 h) | yes | late local rhythm; lots of flights home |
| Portugal | −1 hour | yes | strong remote-work scene; old houses can be cold in winter |
| Cyprus | +1 hour | yes | sunny most of the year; English widely spoken |
| Thailand | +5 h (summer) / +6 h (winter) | no, visa needed | big remote community; your working day moves to the afternoon |
| Bali | +6 h (summer) / +7 h (winter) | no, visa needed | a world-famous remote hub; check internet by neighbourhood |
Time differences are relative to Central European Time (CET/CEST). Residence rules change, so always check the official sources before you move.
Same time zone: Malta and Spain
If your role needs full overlap with a Central European working day, as many sales and support roles do, Malta and mainland Spain make life easy. Your 9:00 is your manager’s 9:00.
Malta is small, sunny and very international, and English is one of its official languages. Thanks to the tech and gaming industries it has a large community of Nordic, German and Dutch speakers. Popular areas can be pricey, so quieter towns are often better value.
Spain gives you choice: Valencia, Málaga, Barcelona, the Balearics or the Canary Islands (one hour behind). Expect a later rhythm: lunch at 14:00 and dinner at 21:00 are normal.
One hour either way: Portugal and Cyprus
A one-hour difference is barely noticeable, and sometimes it helps.
Portugal is one hour behind, so a 9:00 CET meeting is at 8:00 local time, and you finish your day early. Lisbon, Porto and Madeira have big remote-work and coworking scenes.
Cyprus is one hour ahead: a CET working day starts at 10:00 local time, leaving mornings free for the beach. Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos have established international communities, and English is widely spoken.
Further away: Thailand and Bali
Here the working day shifts. With Thailand five to six hours ahead and Bali six to seven, a CET morning falls in your afternoon and a CET afternoon in your evening. For some roles, like certain sales or content roles with partial overlap, that works well. One of our proven cases is a Swedish junior sales rep working from Thailand.
What to know:
- Visas: EU passports don’t give you the right to live and work there long term. Thailand has introduced the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for remote workers, and Indonesia has a remote worker visa. Check the official e-visa websites.
- Health insurance that covers you abroad is essential.
- Working hours are agreed with the employer for each job, so be upfront about which hours you can cover.
For EU and EEA citizens: the residence basics
As a German, Dutch, Swedish or Danish citizen (EU) or a Norwegian citizen (EEA), you can live in another EU country under free movement rules. For stays over three months you usually register your residence with the local authorities. You’ll also want to sort out:
- Tax residency: where you’ll pay income tax, and deregistering properly at home.
- Social security: generally one country at a time within the EU/EEA.
- Self-employed registration if you’ll work on a B2B contract.
We cover these in working B2B from abroad.
How to choose
Ask yourself:
- How much overlap will my role need? If it’s full days on calls, stay within an hour of CET.
- What’s my budget? Cost of living varies a lot, even within one country.
- Can I get a stable connection? Test it before you sign a lease, and have a backup.
- Where will I be happy? That’s the reason you’re doing this. When you live where you’re happy, you focus better at work.
Or anywhere else
These six are popular with our candidates, not a shortlist. Mexico, South Africa, Georgia, Vietnam, Croatia, Greece: if the hours suit the role and your connection is solid, where you live is up to you.
Next steps
Quick answers
in short.
Which places have the same time zone as Germany and the Nordics?
Malta, mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands, Italy and Croatia all use Central European Time, the same as Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
Can EU citizens live in Cyprus, Malta, Portugal or Spain without a visa?
Yes. EU and EEA citizens can live there under free movement rules, including Norwegians as EEA citizens. For stays over three months you usually register your residence locally.
Can I work for a European company from Thailand or Bali?
Many people do, but you need the right visa for longer stays, and the time difference of five to seven hours shifts your working day. Working hours are agreed with the employer for each job.