(cover photo: Having coffee in Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco)
I made it a goal to write a little every day, at least 500 words. I think that writing and creating non-GPT content (what is the name for GPT? haha) improves the website, I develop the Spanish theme a little, since I write almost 90% in English for work and in the process I generate content and express myself, which is always good.
This topic, emigrating and being a dev at the same time, is something that I have wanted to write for a while, and I have been thinking about it and never do. Let's get to what I think.
First and foremost, debunking myths: the 3 NOs of emigrating.
1. Do you need a European passport to emigrate?
The answer is no, it is not necessary. Then we delved deeper, but being Argentine you already have a lot of possibilities without a European passport.
2. Do you need a title to emigrate?
The answer is also no. Obviously some visas ask for a degree, but again, there are options.
3. Is it worth emigrating for monetary reasons alone?
No, the truth is that from Argentina as a dev you can make a lot of money and get salaries equal to or better than in Europe (you will surely have less expenses).
But why did I leave?
First and foremost, because I wanted to. Desire to know other aspects of life. Thirty years living in AMBA, frequenting the same places, with a comfortable and good life, I wanted to move things up a bit. From Argentina it is difficult to travel often, the life of the digital nomad is another myth for another post, and being in Europe allows you to see many places very quickly. Also, when you leave your comfort zone you find yourself doing different things, it is a challenge, and like everything, it has its good and bad things.
But the main thing to note is that it doesn't necessarily have to be forever. You can come back whenever you want and another thing they always tell you is that as you get older it gets harder. Age complicates things for you, you are more tired, you are less tolerant, perhaps you have children and logistics are more difficult or there are other family reasons.
So, if I always felt like it, I had the possibility and I was at the limit of whether to leave or stay, I said let's go, and we left. I came as a couple, which obviously makes some things easier for you and complicates others. You are not alone, which can be a very common thing if you have just moved, but at the same time it scares you in the sense of going out and looking for friends. Many times, out of convenience, you stay and stop doing that. Also, living as a couple gives you the possibility of combining two salaries to rent something shared, which if you are alone is more difficult in the capitals, since rents are expensive.
But hey, those are things about emigrating in general, where does the issue of being a dev come in?
Do you remember the myth of the digital nomad? Work from wherever you want, work from Bali or Costa Rica, it doesn't matter. Well, beyond the fact that that is somewhat idyllic, a little work with the computer solves that. I came to Barcelona with a job from the United States and continued working for almost a year until I changed to something local. Arriving and having a salary is tremendous, and as a dev, that salary is generally good, which makes it very easy for you.
On the other hand, although it is true that from Argentina there are many opportunities to earn good money and work in serious companies, the truth is that from Europe you have the possibility of working as just another employee, that is, not as a contractor, and it has its benefits. Even though you can get a good salary, you will have a lot of vacations, probably nice offices if that is something you like, and you may get more benefits that are quite nice beyond the nice salary. In addition, job opportunities open up for you in a lot of super interesting companies that are local to the EU, that is, from working in neobanks, well-known tourism applications, crypto space, the tech topic is quite developed.
I was lucky enough to get a job at Ed Tech (think similar to Udemy, which as a self-taught person is something I love), and I have several annual trips to different offices, meeting people, sharing cultures with people from all countries, and the truth is that I am absorbing a lot. It's been over a year since I moved in now, and everything feels like a whirlwind.
Beyond the work itself and the possibilities you have, dev salaries are good. Although they are better in the US, and from Argentina you will live very well as a contractor, in Europe with a salary of 3k per month or more you will also live excellently, and you will have many comforts that there are not in Argentina. This is where the personal part comes in, what it is that you value. Maybe you only care about tranquility and not much else, well, then maybe you should go somewhere quiet in Argentina. Here, what you get is tranquility in big cities, which means there is security, millions of different events, a lot of people from everywhere and other things are experienced. Being able to walk at 2-3 AM through the center without any worries is very pleasant, as well as finding routes in perfect condition to go to the mountains or take a ski getaway is unforgettable.
And again, I write to you from the position of someone who is 32 years old. If you are 45 and have 3 children, maybe all of this seems like nonsense to you, and it's perfect, I understand.
Let's close with the 3 NO's:
#### 1. Do you need a European passport to emigrate?
It's not necessary, clearly. If you want to come to Europe there is a digital nomad visa in some countries, but I would recommend the one for Spain. With a salary of 3k as a contractor you are in. As an Ibero-American (that is, Argentine) living for two years as a digital nomad, you can become a Spanish national, you come, you live for a few years, you experience new things, eventually you become Spanish and you don't need a visa for the US, and you can enter and leave Europe as a local.
But there are also other countries that are interesting as well, such as Japan (digital nomad visa), Uruguay and even Brazil where you can arrive and apply for residency. Imagine living for a few years in Floripa, with a view of the sea, learning Portuguese in depth and a few hours from Buenos Aires. Not bad, right?
#### 2. Do you need a title to emigrate?
It's also no. I mean, there are visas that require it, but even to go to the US, if you are really crack, you can opt for the O1. I am a fan of the US, if I could I would live in Miami without hesitation, I love it, it is my place in the world for many reasons. But beyond that, again, there are digital nomad visas, and there are even countries where experience supersedes degree (to some extent) enough to collect points for a skilled worker visa.
#### 3. Is it worth emigrating for monetary reasons alone?
Unless they offer you a salary of more than 120K living in a cheap place, I would say no. You save more earning 70K from Argentina than earning 120K living in Switzerland. It all depends, but if you don't even like where you're going and you leave everything aside, it's a recipe for evil, I think.
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We will see what destiny has in store for us.
*Barcelona, 1/24/25*
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> Original article in Spanish: El combo de emigrar como dev