Top 15 Countries to Hire Excellent Virtual Assistants

Hiring a virtual assistant used to mean compromising: cheaper labor, but slower work, awkward hours, and a constant churn of freelancers. Not anymore.

We see companies hiring full-time experienced, reliable overseas VAs—people who match the quality of their best US hires, but cost 30–70% less to employ.

This guide breaks down the best countries to hire virtual assistants in 2025 based on cost, English proficiency, and time zone compatibility.

Whether you’re looking to scale support, marketing, finance, or operations—this is where to look and why.

Why Hire an Overseas Virtual Assistant?

Hiring VAs from other countries isn’t just about saving money—there’s a bigger upside. 

Compared to hiring a VA in the US, you tap into a wider talent pool, bringing fresh perspectives and expertise that can move your business forward.

Cost efficiency 

The cost savings from hiring VAs outside the US can be significant—but that’s not the whole story. 

You’re getting access to professionals who can align with your business’s goals, and you can reinvest those savings into growth.

Compensation expectations in many regions, like Latin America (LatAm), are lower than those of US-based virtual assistants, allowing you to access highly skilled professionals without incurring steep expenses. 

Access to diverse skill sets

International VAs bring a wealth of diverse abilities to the table.

Whether it’s proficiency in various software applications, expertise in digital marketing, or niche administrative skills, the abilities of the global talent pool are vast and varied, meaning you’re sure to find professionals with the specializations you need.

Round-the-clock productivity

By hiring VAs in different time zones, you can achieve continuous operational efficiency if that’s something you need. Various professional tasks can be managed overnight and be ready by the next business morning, giving you the ability to maintain momentum with 24/7 virtual assistants.

Language and cultural diversity 

International VAs enrich your team with linguistic and cultural diversity. This benefits businesses looking to expand into global markets, as the VAs can provide insights into cultural nuances and facilitate smoother communication with international clients.

Scalability and flexibility

Hiring VAs on a freelance basis offers you the ability to quickly scale your workforce up or down based on your current needs without the long-term commitment of full-time employees. This flexibility allows for agile responses to market demands and project requirements.

Fresh perspectives

Bringing in talent from varied backgrounds can infuse new ideas and innovative approaches into your business processes. 

The diverse viewpoints of international VAs often lead to fresh solutions and improvements that align with global best practices.

What Makes a Country Great for Hiring Virtual Assistants?

The best countries for hiring VAs offer a balance of four things:

• Time zone compatibility with the US for real-time collaboration
• Lower cost of living than the US, making hiring more affordable
• Large talent pool of skilled professionals with relevant experience (customer service, admin, tech, marketing)
• High levels of English proficiency for efficient communication

When those align, you can hire full-time support for often less than the cost of a US part-time contractor—without sacrificing quality or real-time support.

Why Location Strategy Determines VA Success (Not Just Cost)

Most articles about international VAs focus on hourly rates. That’s missing the full picture.

The companies that build successful virtual assistant relationships understand that location affects everything: communication quality, cultural fit, time zone compatibility, and long-term retention.

Get the location wrong, and even a skilled VA becomes expensive due to constant miscommunication, loss of productivity due to time delays, and turnover.

The time zone factor that isn’t considered enough

It’s not just about overlapping hours, it’s about workflow compatibility.

A 1–2 hour difference (like with Mexico or Colombia) means your VA can handle morning prep work and still be available for afternoon collaboration.

A 12+ hour difference means you’re essentially running two separate businesses that occasionally send each other status updates. Unless, of course, you require night shifts to match your business hours, which many businesses do. 

But even if that seems to work initially, constant night shifts take their toll on people. Someone who has to work from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. to align with your 9-to-5 schedule isn’t likely to be at their best.

Here’s what you risk if you prioritize cost over location fit:

• More revision cycles: When cultural context is missing, simple tasks require multiple rounds of feedback
• Management overhead: Different business practices mean more time explaining obvious (to you) concepts
• Performance decline: Night shift workers experience fatigue, leading to more errors and lower productivity over time
• Higher turnover: People burn out faster when working against their natural sleep cycles

Smart companies focus on the total cost of the relationship, not just the hourly rate.

Why cultural alignment matters more than perfect English

Here’s what we know: accent isn’t the problem. Business culture differences are.

A VA who speaks perfect English but doesn’t understand why you need something “by end of business” will cause more problems than someone with a slight accent who gets your urgency.

This is why companies increasingly choose Latin America over traditional offshore destinations, largely because similar business cultures mean less time spent on explanations and fewer misaligned expectations.

How Different Regions Stack Up

Latin America: The strategic sweet spot

Time zones: 0–2 hours from US Eastern time 

Cost savings: 30–70% compared to US salaries 

Talent depth: Strong in customer service, admin, marketing, and technical roles English proficiency: High, especially among professionals 

Cultural alignment: Similar business practices and work expectations

For more on the specific benefits of hiring VAs in LatAm, see our article on the 8 reasons why hiring VAs from LatAm is a smart move. 

Asia-Pacific: Technical expertise with trade-offs

Time zones: 12+ hours from US (requires night shifts or async work) 

Cost savings: Often the highest percentage savings 

Talent depth: Exceptional technical skills, large talent pools 

English proficiency: Varies by country (excellent in Philippines, Singapore) 

Best for: Companies comfortable with async workflows or 24/7 operations

Eastern Europe: Quality with moderate savings

Time zones: 6-9 hours from US Eastern time 

Cost savings: Moderate compared to other offshore regions 

Talent depth: High technical skills, strong education systems 

English proficiency: Generally good among professionals 

Best for: Technical roles requiring European market knowledge

‍

A note on the salary data in this table:

We know LatAm rates inside and out—that’s our specialty. 

The figures for other regions in this table are based on external averages pulled from reputable sources like Glassdoor, Indeed, and SalaryExpert.

But here’s the thing: those numbers often blend contractor rates (which tend to be higher to account for lack of benefits and time off) with full-time employee salaries. That means they can skew high or lack nuance (e.g., be based on only a handful of “reported” salaries).

What we can say with confidence is this:

• South and Southeast Asian countries (like India, the Philippines, and Indonesia) typically offer the lowest VA rates.
• Eastern European countries (like Ukraine) tend to fall in the mid-range.
• Latin America offers the most balanced value—significant savings plus strong overlap with US time zones, English proficiency, and cultural alignment.

This is the pattern we see again and again in our own hiring data, our salary guide, and every market report we track. 

15 Best Countries to Hire Excellent Virtual Assistants

In this section, we’ll explore the top countries where you can source exceptional offshore VAs.

Our rankings consider all four strategic factors, not just cost. Here’s how top countries balance these elements:

Tier 1: Strategic Leaders (Excellent across all factors)

1. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is renowned for its political stability and emphasis on education, which have helped it build a highly skilled workforce. The country’s solid tech ecosystem supports a variety of specialized services, including tech support and assistance in administrative duties. 

Costa Rican VAs excel in fostering strong client relationships due to their English proficiency and understanding of US business practices.

Costa Rica offers excellent English proficiency and strong US business cultural understanding, with good time zone alignment, though cost savings are more moderate—making it ideal when communication quality is your top priority.

2. Mexico

As a neighbor to the US, Mexico provides a strategic advantage for businesses looking to hire VAs.

Mexican VAs are known for their strong educational background and versatility in handling various technical and administrative tasks. 

The country’s established infrastructure for remote work and the availability of tech-savvy professionals provide an environment where you can find specialized skills that align with your dynamic business needs.

3. Argentina

Argentina is a prime location for finding VAs due to its wealth of skilled professionals and high levels of English proficiency. The country boasts a robust tech scene, offering VAs who excel in software development, creative industries, and data analysis. 

Buenos Aires, in particular, is a thriving center for innovation and creativity, ensuring a supply of talent that is diverse and adaptable.

Our 2025 State of LatAm Hiring Report, which analyzed 2,000 placements with 500 companies, found that Argentina was the top location for hiring executive assistants.

{{state-latam-hiring}}

4. Colombia

Supported by the country’s strong emphasis on education and technological development, Colombian VAs offer expertise in customer service, project management, and digital marketing. 

Colombia’s time zone overlaps with Eastern Standard Time or Central Daylight Time (depending on the time of year) in the US. 

This helps facilitate seamless communication and collaboration, making it an attractive option for businesses seeking quick integration into their daily operations.

5. Brazil

Known for their exceptional customer service, many Brazilian VAs also speak both English and Portuguese. 

The country’s emphasis on developing IT skills ensures access to professionals who can handle complex tech-related tasks and support digital transformation initiatives.

Brazil trades slightly less convenient time zones (2 hours ahead of EST) for access to the largest talent pool in LatAm, strong cost savings, and bilingual capabilities—ideal when you need specialized skills or Portuguese language support.

Tier 2: Cost-Focused options 

6. The Philippines

The Philippines remains a popular choice globally for outsourcing VAs, with a vast talent pool of professionals who specialize in customer service, administrative support, and content writing. 

Strong English language skills and cultural affinity with US practices make Filipino VAs invaluable in roles that require direct interaction with an international clientele.

The Philippines excels in English proficiency and has massive talent pool depth with strong cost savings, but requires managing a 12-13 hour time difference—best for companies comfortable with async workflows or 24/7 operations.

If you’re torn between the Philippines or one of the LatAm countries, see our article that directly compares hiring VAs in the Philippines vs. LatAm countries. It also includes a list of companies to find top VAs, depending on which you choose.

7. Peru

Peruvian VAs bring a balance of technical and interpersonal skills, offering a range of services, from administrative support to specialized technical assistance. 

The country’s growing connectivity infrastructure enhances the efficiency and reliability of its workforce, making Peru a compelling option for businesses looking for VAs they can consistently count on.

8. India

India has long been a leader in outsourcing, thanks to its large, educated, and English-speaking workforce. The country offers a diverse array of skills, ranging from IT and software development to finance and content creation. 

India maximizes cost savings and technical talent depth with good English proficiency, but requires managing significant time zone differences—best for companies prioritizing specialized skills and maximum budget efficiency over real-time collaboration.

9. Malaysia

Thanks to its competitive rates, Malaysia shines as an economical choice for VA services. VAs in the Southeast Asian country are also benefiting from professional growth thanks to the government’s recent investment in digital skills development initiatives.

The combination of governmental support and a skilled workforce positions Malaysia as an attractive destination for outsourcing virtual assistance.

Malaysia offers strong cost savings and growing technical talent with moderate English proficiency, but faces the same 12-13 hour time zone challenge as other Asian countries—suitable for companies seeking affordable technical skills with async workflows.

10. Indonesia

Indonesia is a hotspot for hiring VAs, particularly because of its large, young workforce that offers a competitive edge in terms of pricing and adaptability.

The country’s rapid adoption of digital technology is empowering a new generation of tech-savvy VAs skilled in a wide range of specialized tasks, from administrative support to digital marketing.

Moreover, Indonesia’s cultural diversity and strategic location make it an excellent choice for companies looking to expand their presence in Southeast Asia.

Indonesia emphasizes cost savings and a young, adaptable workforce with growing digital skills, but requires managing significant time zone differences and varying English proficiency levels—suitable for companies prioritizing affordability and Southeast Asian market access.

Tier 3: Niche Markets (Specific use cases)

11. Canada

Canada is an excellent choice for hiring VAs, offering the following benefits:

• Time zone similarities with the US, facilitating real-time communication
• English-speaking talent (and often French), allowing for easier communication with in-house teams and clients
• Cultural compatibility with US-based staff
• Lower average salaries than the US

Canada maximizes time zone compatibility and English proficiency with complete cultural alignment, but offers the most modest cost savings—ideal when seamless integration matters more than budget optimization.

12. South Africa

South Africa is becoming a sought-after destination for VA services, offering cost-effective solutions for businesses worldwide. The country’s VAs are known for their proficiency in English and multiple local languages like Afrikaans, as well as expertise in areas such as marketing, customer service, and accounting.

South Africa combines excellent English proficiency with competitive cost savings and multi-language capabilities, though faces a 6-7 hour time difference—good for companies needing strong communication skills with some time zone flexibility.

13. United Kingdom

The UK is a prime location for businesses seeking English-speaking VAs, especially those with expertise in digital marketing and social media management. 

VAs in the UK are known for their exceptional customer service and communication skills. They also have a strong understanding of the European market, which can be particularly beneficial for US companies looking to expand their reach across the Atlantic.

The UK maximizes English proficiency and European market expertise but offers limited cost savings and moderate time zone differences—best for companies prioritizing communication quality and European business knowledge over budget optimization.

14. Ukraine

Ukraine is another excellent option for hiring VAs, providing a combination of skilled professionals and cost-effective rates.

The country’s strong educational system produces highly qualified VAs capable of handling a wide range of complex tasks. Many remote professionals in Ukraine are proficient in English, and they tend to have a strong work ethic, valuing directness, punctuality, and adaptability.

15. Singapore

As a hub for educated, digitally proficient professionals, Singapore stands out as a top location for hiring VAs. The country’s remote workers are proficient in English and Mandarin, making it ideal for organizations needing bilingual support in these languages.

Although costs for VAs in Singapore may be higher than those in other countries on this list, there is still potential for labor cost savings compared with hiring in the US.

Choosing Singapore means prioritizing English proficiency and professional business experience over cost savings, with premium pricing and significant time zone differences—ideal for companies needing Asia-Pacific market expertise and bilingual English/Mandarin capabilities.

‍

How to Hire International Virtual Assistants

Hiring VAs from other countries can significantly expand your talent pool and offer cost-effective solutions for your business. 

However, navigating the international hiring process requires a strategic approach. Below are three effective methods to hire VAs from abroad, each with its own set of advantages.

Use online freelancing platforms

Online freelancing platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr provide vast pools of VAs from around the world.

These platforms allow you to post job listings, review candidates’ profiles, and communicate with potential hires. They also offer secure payment options and dispute resolution services to ensure a smooth working relationship.

Partner with remote hiring companies

Working with recruiting and staffing companies that specialize in sourcing remote VAs worldwide or in specific regions can help you navigate finding the ideal VA in unfamiliar markets.

These agencies handle the sourcing and vetting process and often provide additional support, such as international payment and compliance. They’ll help you overcome any of the challenges of hiring offshore VAs and make the process as easy as hiring in the US.

For example, when you hire a VA with Near, you’re connected with pre-vetted professionals based in LatAm who have skill sets suited to your specific business needs.

Furthermore, you’ll receive support throughout the recruitment process and even after a placement is made..

Network in industry groups

Sometimes the best hires come from good old-fashioned word of mouth. Industry groups on LinkedIn or through trade associations can be goldmines for finding VAs who’ve already proven themselves with businesses like yours.

The advantage here is simple: you’re getting recommendations from people who’ve actually worked with these VAs. They know if someone delivers on time, communicates well, and handles the specific challenges your industry faces.

Start by joining relevant LinkedIn groups or industry associations, then participate in discussions about remote work and hiring. When you find companies that have successfully built remote teams, ask about their experience. Most business owners are happy to share what worked (and what didn’t) when they know you’re facing the same challenges.

The conversations you have in these groups often reveal practical insights you won’t find anywhere else—like which project management tools actually work for international teams or how to structure contracts that protect everyone involved.

Legal and Compliance Essentials for International VAs

Here’s the reality: hiring international VAs isn’t complicated, but there are a few boxes you need to check to stay compliant. 

Most of this is straightforward paperwork, and getting it right from the start saves headaches later.

If you’re working with a reputable hiring partner, they’ll typically handle most of this for you. If you’re going it alone, it’s worth consulting with an accountant or attorney who understands international contractor relationships.

Tax implications and documentation

For US businesses hiring international VAs:

• W-8BEN forms are required for foreign contractors to certify their foreign status
• 1099-NEC reporting for payments over $600 annually
• No withholding requirements for foreign contractors (in most cases)
• Keep detailed records of all payments and contracts

Important distinction: Virtual assistants are typically hired as independent contractors, not employees. If you want to hire your VA as an employee, you’ll need to use an EoR unless you have an entity in their country. 

Misclassification can create significant legal and tax complications. Consult with a qualified accountant familiar with international contractor relationships.

Data protection and privacy considerations

Essential security measures:

• Nondisclosure agreement (NDAs) before sharing any business information
• Secure communication channels (avoid unencrypted email for sensitive data)
• Limited access to systems based on role requirements
• Regular security training and password management

Industry-specific compliance:

• Healthcare: HIPAA compliance requirements for any patient data access
• Financial services: Additional security and background check requirements
• Legal: Attorney-client privilege considerations for document handling

Essential contract elements:

• Clear scope of work with specific deliverables
• Payment terms and currency specifications
• Intellectual property ownership clauses
• Termination procedures and notice requirements
• Dispute resolution mechanisms

Pro tip: Use contracts governed by US law (specify which state) to simplify any potential legal issues. Most quality international VAs are familiar with US business law.

Final Thoughts

The companies getting ahead aren’t just cutting costs—they’re accessing talent that would be impossible to find (or afford) locally. 

Whether you need someone who can handle customer service during your business hours, manage complex administrative tasks, or bring specialized skills to your team, the right VA can make a real difference.

The key is choosing strategically. Look beyond average rates and focus on the total value: time zone compatibility, communication quality, cultural fit, and the depth of talent available.

If you’re ready to explore Latin American talent specifically, we can find you an A-player VA who has the skills you need and works during your hours.

We know the talent landscape across the region and focus on matching you with someone who’ll integrate seamlessly into your team from day one.

Want to see your options? Get a list of pre-vetted VA candidates. No obligation, just real candidates you can interview for free. You only pay once you make a hire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there legal considerations or challenges when hiring virtual assistants in different countries?

There are certainly legal considerations to be aware of when hiring VAs based in other countries. You must comply with local labor laws and international tax regulations. This includes having VAs complete W-8BEN forms to certify their foreign status and avoid withholding taxes.

It’s crucial to account for data protection and privacy laws and to clarify contractual agreements to navigate these challenges effectively.

What strategies can I use to manage a virtual assistant effectively?

Some best practices for managing VAs include establishing clear expectations, using project management software to track progress, and providing regular feedback.

It’s also beneficial to implement a well-defined onboarding process and ongoing training opportunities to ensure your VAs are aligned with your business goals.

See more tips in our guide to effectively managing virtual assistants. 

Which country is best for hiring a virtual assistant?

It depends on your goals. Countries in Latin America (LatAm) offer time-zone compatibility and strong English proficiency for US businesses. 

The Philippines has a long history of being the go-to place to hire excellent English-speaking VAs. 

The key is aligning a country’s strengths—such as language, time zone, cost, or specialization—with your exact business needs.

How do I pay an overseas VA?

You can use platforms like Wise, Payoneer, Deel, or work with an staffing and recruiting agency like Near that handles payments for you.

How do I know if my industry is suitable for hiring overseas VAs?

Industries with proven success:

• E-commerce: Customer service, order processing, inventory management
• Digital marketing: Content creation, social media, SEO, advertising
• Professional services: Administrative support, bookkeeping, research
• Technology: Customer support, documentation, project management
• Real estate: Lead generation, administrative support, market research

Industries requiring caution or careful consideration:

• Healthcare: HIPAA compliance requirements for patient data
• Financial services: Additional security and regulatory considerations
• Legal: Attorney-client privilege and confidentiality requirements

Government contracts: Citizenship and security clearance requirements.