What should I expect from moving tech jobs from USA to Europe?

Hacker News Discussion ↗

Visa and Immigration Pathways

  • Must distinguish EU vs. Europe; you cannot “just move” without a visa/right to reside. Language and target country matter a lot.
  • EU Blue Card is described as easy to sponsor with low salary thresholds, but underused; many firms prefer hiring existing EU residents, especially from poorer eastern countries.
  • Country-specific options discussed:
    • Netherlands: DAFT (US–NL treaty) for entrepreneurs; “highly skilled migrant” scheme; 30% ruling (now reduced/under political pressure) gives partial tax-free income for limited years.
    • Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Norway, others: digital nomad visas designed for remote workers; durations 1–3 years with varying renewal rules.
    • Germany: clear skilled-worker and job-search visas; process bureaucratic but rules transparent.
    • Denmark: considered hard to enter and culturally less open; small tech market.
    • Switzerland: very difficult without EU citizenship or intra-company transfer, unless independently wealthy.
    • Ireland/Netherlands noted as easier English-speaking or English-heavy options.
    • Ancestry-based EU citizenship worth checking but often limited by date/country rules.

Transfers, Remote Work, and Taxes

  • Big tech relocations to EU are no longer routine; require strong justification and often come with significant base-pay cuts tied to local bands. Stock treatment varies; some firms rescind grants on transfer.
  • Many argue “best of both worlds” is a US remote salary while living in Europe, via digital nomad or entrepreneur visas and self-incorporation; but:
    • Remote US roles are highly competitive and often capped for overseas pay.
    • Some countries limit long-term contractor arrangements or require local employment.
  • US citizens must still file US tax returns; treaties usually avoid double taxation but add complexity and professional fees.

Compensation, Cost of Living, and Contracts

  • Ballpark figures: senior devs in DACH 85–120k€; Netherlands 50–120k€; FAANG Berlin ~100k€; high-end specialist roles up to ~150–260k€ but not common.
  • Contractors in Benelux/UK report 500–700€/day (~180k€ gross) with ~110–125k€ net after tax; healthcare and transport much cheaper than US equivalents.
  • Housing is a major constraint in Dublin and NL (high rents, shortages); France cited as having more availability.
  • Some argue US suburbs still offer better financial outcomes; others stress that European social services (healthcare, pensions, cheap university), walkability, and public spaces raise effective quality of life.

Work Culture, Lifestyle, and Tradeoffs

  • Multiple accounts praise European work–life balance: strict working hours, long vacations, social lunch culture, and strong protections against dismissal and excessive overtime.
  • Other commenters counter that overtime and late hours are still common in many European companies and cities; experiences vary by country, sector, and team.
  • Cultural clash noted between US “more money, bigger house, early FI” mindset and European emphasis on public amenities, shorter commutes, and less work-centric lives.
  • Additional cautions:
    • Access to specific medications (e.g., some ADHD drugs) may be more restricted.
    • EU tech markets can be smaller, slower-growing, and more credential-focused than US, with recent hiring softness in places like Germany and NL.
    • Long-term macro risks (EU growth, defense spending, US–EU decoupling) are debated but regarded as uncertain.

Strategic Advice from the Thread

  • Clarify your real goal: short-term experiment vs. permanent relocation and eventual citizenship.
  • If possible, keep your US job initially and use a digital nomad or entrepreneur route to test a country.
  • Research specific cities and visa types in detail; “Europe” is too broad, and conditions differ dramatically between, say, Dublin, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Copenhagen, and Warsaw.