Remote Year
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Nadia Dardón
Freelance writer
Last update
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Remote Year is an organization founded in 2014 to facilitate the movement to a remote work lifestyle by making all arrangements, facilitating the transition, and connecting you with other travelers.
The company has created multiple programs that allow professionals like you to try (and hopefully embrace) the remote work lifestyle without having to switch jobs or deal will all of the logistical challenges you would normally face by doing so.
From booking workspaces, flights, and accommodations, to connecting you with locals who can help make your experience unique and interesting depending on your specific hobbies and background, Remote Year got your back.
The focus the program places on cultivating a sense of community means that you will not only be traveling while working and benefiting from all it entails, but also will have the chance to network with fellow travelers and the global community of over 2500 professionals the organization has established.
Remote Year believes that by connecting people like you from different backgrounds, they can help create a more peaceful and productive world with a more satisfactory working environment for everyone.
The programs’ groups are big enough to avoid limiting yourself to a small circle and also to provide you with the option to have different social dynamics. If having a strong community supporting you during your first remote work experience is important for you, Remote Year might be the best option for you!
Our Community Drives it all
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How Does Remote Year Work?
The premise of Remote Year is a straightforward one: Facilitating the transition/allowing you to experience the digital nomad lifestyle by taking care of the logistics on your behalf, one of the biggest challenges for anyone planning the transition.
There are certain requirements you must fulfill before applying to the program, such as being at least 21 years old, being able to have a fluent conversation in English, and having a specific professional goal in mind such as having an active job or being in a venture/passion project with a financial plan that allows you to pursue it.
If you fulfill the requirements and are interested in joining Remote Year, you will first need to start your application online by filling a form with questions intended to let the organization know about yourself and your goals.
After completing the form, you will be able to schedule a call with one of the program’s consultants to get answers to any questions you may have, know if the program is a good fit for you, and select the best itinerary for you. This call should not take more than 15 minutes and will be really casual, as well as helpful.
If you are interested in joining the program but still are not authorized by your employer to work remotely, you can get help from Remote Year’s Enterprise Team who will help you prepare to pitch the idea.
There are different types of programs:
Itineraries
This is the most popular Remote Year program as it will allow you to travel to different monthly destinations during a period of 4, 6, or 12 months. In addition to the length, you will be able to choose between a selection of itineraries offering different countries on the same or different continents. This program allows you to jump straight into the digital nomad lifestyle.Destinations
This program will only last a month but it will let you take a break from your office to work in a new country while taking full advantage of all the benefits Remote year has to offer. It is a great way to dip your toes in the digital nomad lifestyle if you are still undecided.Villages
A new program that will let you live for a month in a destination within the United States. You might want to choose this option if you just want to experience working remotely from a new location that still feels familiar.
Once you have selected the program/itinerary that best fits your timeline and goals, you will be required to submit a down payment to secure your spot in the program and continue with the process.
At this point, you are officially part of the program and the Remote Year team will start planning your trip with all that entails: booking flights, looking for accommodations, organizing meetings with those who will be traveling with you, etc.
It is now time to plan your trip! Remote Year is not able to do all of the processes for you and as such, you will be responsible for some aspect of your planning by vaccinating as required, applying for visas, etc.
The onboarding team will keep an eye on you to ensure that everything is done on time and there are no delays on your trip, as well as to help you with any questions you have at any time.
How Long is Remote Year?
While Remote Year started as a 12-month program as the name suggests, it offers multiple programs you can choose from. These programs range from 1 month to 12 months in duration, which will directly impact the number of destinations you will visit.
The program can be divided into 4 groups based on duration:
1-month You can choose a single destination inside or outside of the United States.
4-month 4 cities in 4 different countries in a single region like Latin America or divided into 2 depending on your choice.
6-month 6 cities in 6 different countries in 2 regions or more depending on the program.
12-month This program includes all 12 destinations in 4 different regions.
Each program will take you to a different destination each month during its duration, which means the longer your program the more countries you will see.
How Much Does Remote Year Cost?
Providing the level of assistance that Remote Year provides certainly can’t be done for free and as such, the company charges for its services. There are 2 “categories” in which you could divide these payments: Down payment and monthly fees.
As the name suggests, the down payment must be paid in advance after talking with a Remote Year consultant and deciding the program is right to you. Once this happens and you have decided to continue with the process and choose your itinerary, you will have to pay an amount that varies depending on the length of the program.
Once the down payment is paid for, you have obtained all the documentation required to travel, and you arrive at your first destination, you will need to pay a monthly fee which will also vary depending on whether you selected a peak or non-peak program.
This fee could be considered as “paying rent”, as it will pay for your accommodation, tickets between remote year destinations, workspace, events, support, etc. It is important to note that if you choose a 1-month program, this monthly fee will be paid before the start of your program.
Itinerary program
12 months program Monthly Fee $2000 in all instances $5000
6 months program Monthly Fee Starting at $2000 depending on peak or non-peak itinerary. $4000
4 months program Monthly Fee Starting at $2000 depending on peak or non-peak itinerary. $3500
Destination program
1 month Monthly Fee $2000 in all instances. $1300
Village Program
1 month Monthly Fee $2000 in all instances. $850
These fees will cover a lot of your expenses during the program, which we will discuss in the next section but you will still need to have extra money for other expenses.
You will need to make estimations based on your specific lifestyle and expectations:
Are you planning to go shopping?
Partying every weekend?
Will you be looking for extra activities like side trips?
Are you planning on cooking or eating out every day?
These are questions only you can answer.
Where will your next adventure lead you?
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Where do You Travel To?
The destinations you will visit will vary depending on the program you choose. As we mentioned previously, there are 3 types of programs at this time: Itineraries, Destinations, and Villages.
Both the “Destination” and “Village” programs will allow you to travel to a single destination which will be out of or in the United States respectively. In both cases, you will be able to choose your destination from a Remote Year’s catalog.
In the case of the “Itinerary” program, you will be visiting a new destination each month during the duration of your program. This means that if you applied for the 12-month program, you will visit a total of 12 countries across 4 continents.
If you choose an “Itinerary” program with a duration of 6 or 4 months, you will have the option to choose programs based on different regions such as the 4-month “Remote Year Neruda”, which covers Latin America (Santiago, Lima, Medellin, and Mexico City).
Remote Year covers 12 destinations (outside the United States) in total, so make sure to choose wisely if you are not thinking about taking the 12-month program. The countries are:
Hanoi
Chiang Mai
Kyoto
Kuala Lumpur
Santiago
Lima
Medellín
Mexico City
Spit
Lisbon
Valencia
Cape Town
It is not uncommon for participants to organize side trips during the weekends, so you may be visiting more destinations if you decide to join them!
What is Included?
Paying for the Remote Year program will provide you with a lot of benefits that range from assistance on pitching remote working to your employers to access to meetups after the ending of your program.
Before your program starts, you will be receiving assistance from a consultant which you will be able to ask questions to, you will receive help from their enterprise team if you need help pitching the program to your employer, and will have the support of the onboarding team to get ready for your trip.
Once the program starts, you will need to pay for your trip to the first Remote Year destination, as well as the last trip to your original country. Your monthly fee includes most of the expenses you will incur each month:
Accommodation in a private room in an apartment shared with two other travelers maximum. Some destinations might have the option to upgrade to a studio or 1 bedroom apartment for yourself.
Travel expenses between itinerary destinations, including transportation from and to the airport in each of them.
24/7 coworking space within walking distance of your apartment with private call booths and reliable wifi connection.
Local experiences in every destination as well as social/professional events, side trips, and volunteering programs. These will vary depending on the program and can go from making knives with a master blacksmith in Vietnam to a side trip to Guatapé in Colombia.
Remote Nation Membership, a global community that will allow you to network with other travelers who have participated in the program.
Once the program is over, you will get to keep the remote nation membership and will have access to meetups organized by its members.
You will also have access to program leaders, local city teams, and travel teams which will help you with any issue you may have with scheduling or just provide you with recommendations if you are looking to add activities to it.
Author
Nadia Dardón is a freelance writer from Guatemala. In early 2022 she embarked as a digital nomad, traveling through Europe, focusing mostly on the literary history of each country. She has worked fully remotely for the past four years as a reader, writer, and content creator with experience creating pieces for different industries. She also has a personal blog where she writes about her cultural and literary travels.
