The advent of remote working has radically changed the way we look at employment, geography and international work rules. All it takes is a laptop and a Wi-Fi connection to do what used to require physically crossing borders with lots of paperwork and official authorisations. This change has put long-standing immigration policies and work permit procedures to the test and raised an important question: Are borders starting to disappear for remote workers?

This article explores the future of work permits, the growing shift to skill based permits, and how companies can legally hire across borders.

Are Borders Really Disappearing For Remote Work?

The boundaries are not completely disappearing, but when it comes to remote working, they are clearly becoming more blurred. As companies and workers embrace flexibility, international collaboration and digital technologies that make geographic location less important, the concept of being tied to a specific physical location for employment is disappearing. Remote working has enabled cross-border employment in ways that would have been unthinkable a decade ago as now one can live in one country and easily work for a company in another.

Although national borders will not disappear completely, the future of employment authorisations is moving towards more freedom. Moving ahead we can expect

• More countries to introduce visas for digital nomads to attract talent from around the globe.
• Bilateral agreements to simplify international remote work.
• New tax systems to treat remote work.

Legal and financial institutions will need to change to keep pace, even as the importance of physical borders is diminished by remote work. The result will be a society where work permits are easier to obtain but still controlled, combining independence with government oversight.

Put simply, boundaries are being bent — not broken. The emergence of remote working is changing the way we think about location and employment, but the legal and pragmatic frameworks of nation states continue to determine how global remote working actually works.

The growing shift from Location Based to Skilled Based Work Permit

The decline of location-based work permits marks a significant shift in the global labour market, driven by technological advances, changing workplace norms and increasing demand for flexibility. Traditionally, work permits were closely tied to a specific location or employer, which often restricted the mobility of foreign workers and their employment opportunities. These restrictions were primarily designed to control immigration, protect local labour markets and ensure that foreign workers only filled jobs where there was a labour shortage. However, with the rise of remote working and digital nomadism, these traditional frameworks are increasingly being challenged.

In the past, work permits were tied to a specific nation and a specific company. Today, qualifications determine more than geography. This is leading to new visa concepts, with more than 50+ countries offering digital nomad visas, such as Portugal's D7 visa, Estonia's digital nomad visa, Barbados' welcome stamp and Spain's digital nomad visa.

How can an EOR help companies Legally Hire Across Borders ?

For companies that want to recruit talent from abroad without setting up a local office or dealing with complicated international employment rules, an Employer of Record (EOR) is like a shortcut. Below is how an EOR such as Swapp Agency enables companies to legally recruit across borders and has become a popular option.

1. An EOR takes care of local compliance, payroll and tax filings, contract and benefits administration based on local laws from day one.

2. Minimises legal and financial risks.

3. Simplifies offboarding and onboarding.

4. Provides scalability and speed.

5. Advises the global HR strategy.

An EOR basically serves as a legal link between the company and the foreign employee. While the EOR manages the legal, financial and administrative aspects of the employment relationship, the company retains authority over the employee's position, duties and performance. Companies seeking to expand internationally without legal complications can benefit greatly by working with an EOR.

Bottom Line

As a result of increasing remote working, the traditional notion that employment must be tied to a specific territory is being challenged, further changing the future of work authorisation. This does not mean that borders are disappearing completely, but that they are becoming more flexible and less restrictive for people working remotely.

The strict borders that used to regulate international employment are gradually giving way to a future of work that is more connected and mobile. This evolution is happening as governments continue to adapt and new solutions such as Employers of Record emerge.