Remote professional job for an international company
Full- or part-time remote employment (software, design, marketing, finance) paid in foreign currency or via an employer of record.
- To startR0 to R3 000
- First randabout 3 months
- WhereOnline
- Effort Easy to start
Is this for you?
Best for
Experienced professionals with strong portfolios.
In South Africa: Strong for skilled people.
What you need
- A laptop or computer
- Reliable internet
- Being on camera
- No cold selling
- At least 20 hours a week · age 18+
- Software development (proven or better) or Graphic design (proven or better) or Marketing & social media (proven or better) or Professional expertise (5+ years in a field) (proven or better) or Spreadsheets & data (proven or better)
- A way to receive payments from abroad
The money
What it can earn
- Pocket money
- A top-up
- A second income
- Can become a full income
This can grow into a full income for people with strong skills and steady customers, but that usually takes months.
What people charge
No reliable SA figure yet
No reliable current SA data.
Costs to plan for
- Start-up
- R0 to R3 000
- Every month
- Data and airtime.
- Payment fees
- Depends on payroll provider.
- Margin
- N/A.
How it is paid: Salary or contract. Our viability score for it: 60 out of 100 (how we score).
How to start
Test it cheaply Before you spend
- Apply to 20 roles that match exactly
- Success signal: 2 interviews in 4 weeks
First week Days 1 to 7
- Update CV/portfolio
- OfferZen profile
- 5 applications
First month Days 8 to 30
- 20 applications; interview prep
- Apply to five roles a week and track replies
- Tailor your CV to each advert
By three months Days 31 to 90
- Offer or adjust targeting
- Ask for feedback after interviews
- Add a short course in a tool the adverts ask for
Hiring processes are long. First income usually takes 30 to 180 days. A day-by-day version for your situation is in the full plan.
Remote professional job for an international company: your step-by-step start
20 short lessons with scripts, templates and rand prices to copy. R149 once-off, and the first lesson is free.
See what is insideCustomers and demand
Who pays
Employers abroad.
Access to skilled staff.
Is there demand?
SA developers and professionals are hired remotely via marketplaces like OfferZen and global job boards.
OfferZenLinkedInWe Work Remotely
Getting customers
Applications and network.
Applying for jobs or platform rolesIn-person networkingResponding to enquiries
Risks and rules
Watch out for
- Contractor status means you handle your own tax
- Exchange control rules on foreign income
Competition: High.
Room to grow: Grows through career progression rather than scale.
Legal and tax in South Africa
If paid as a contractor, register for provisional tax.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start remote professional job for an international company in South Africa?
Our research puts start-up costs at about R0 to R3 000. Recurring costs: Data and airtime.
How long until the first income?
Typically about 75 days, and between 30 and 180 days. Hiring processes are long.
Can I do it with only a phone?
Not really. You will need a laptop or computer for most of the work.
What about tax and legal rules?
If paid as a contractor, register for provisional tax.
Sources (3)
Free tools for this
Not sure this is the one?
The free test ranks every option against your skills, time and budget.
Read next
- How to make money online in South Africa
- How much to charge as a freelancer in South Africa
- Provisional tax for freelancers in South Africa, simply explained
- Getting paid from overseas in South Africa
- Remote jobs for South Africans
Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy