Know the real cost of hiring abroad before you sign.
Country-by-country employment costs, Employer of Record pricing and decision frameworks, built from official government sources and providers' own documentation.
Portugal ยท cost snapshot
EstimateGross salary
โฌ42,000
- Social security (TSU), employer share
- +โฌ9,975
- Labour Compensation Guarantee Fund (FGCT)
- +โฌ32
- Workplace accident insurance
- +โฌ420
- Occupational health & safety services
- +โฌ150
- EOR fee (12 months)
- +โฌ6,240
Total annual cost
โฌ58,817
1.40ร salary
What you get
Research you can check, not opinions you have to trust
EOR decisions involve tens of thousands per hire. Every figure here links to the source it came from, so you can verify it before using it.
True cost of employment
Social security, mandatory insurance, extra salary payments and EOR fees, itemised at real salary levels for each country.
Provider pricing transparency
Published starting prices, pricing models and what is excluded. Taken from provider documentation, never from paid placements.
Decision frameworks
EOR vs local entity, EOR vs contractor, and break-even maths you can run with your own quotes.
Country guides
Start with the country you're hiring in
Employer of Record in Portugal
How to hire a full-time employee in Portugal without opening a local company: total cost, the rules an EOR must follow, and how providers compare on published pricing.
- Employer social security23.75% of gross pay
- Employee social security11% of gross pay
- Salary payments per year14 (12 + holiday + Christmas)
Employer of Record in Spain
How to hire a full-time employee in Spain without opening a local company: the true cost including Spain's capped social security, the labour rules that matter, and how EOR providers compare.
- Employer social securityโ32% of gross (capped)
- Contribution ceiling (2026)โฌ5,101.20 / month
- Salary payments per yearUsually 14 (12 + 2 extra)
Employer of Record in Germany
How to hire in Germany without a GmbH: employer costs under Germany's contribution ceilings, the 18-month rule that limits EOR arrangements, and how providers compare.
- Employer social securityโ21โ23% of gross (capped)
- Pension contribution ceilingโฌ101,400 / year
- Salary payments per year12 (13th month common)
Employer of Record in the Netherlands
How to hire in the Netherlands without a Dutch BV: employer premiums and the 8% holiday allowance, the two-year sick-pay obligation, the coming Wtta licensing regime, and how providers compare.
- Employer premiumsโ17โ20% of gross (capped)
- Holiday allowance8% of gross salary
- Maximum premium wage (2026)โฌ79,409 / year
Employer of Record in the UK
How to hire in the UK without a UK company: employer National Insurance and pension costs for 2026/27, the employment law changes now rolling out, and how EOR providers compare.
- Employer National Insurance15% above ยฃ5,000 / year
- Auto-enrolment pensionEmployer min. 3% of band
- Salary payments per year12
Employer of Record in Ireland
How to hire in Ireland without an Irish company: employer PRSI after the October 2026 increase, the new MyFutureFund auto-enrolment pension, key employment rules and how providers compare.
- Employer PRSI11.40% (from 1 Oct 2026)
- Auto-enrolment (MyFutureFund)1.5% employer (2026โ28)
- Salary payments per year12 (or weekly / fortnightly)
Employer of Record in France
How to hire in France without a French company: the true employer cost (among the highest in Europe), France's strict rules on placing staff with another company, and how EOR providers compare.
- Employer contributionsโ40โ49% for professionals
- Social security ceiling (PASS 2026)โฌ48,060 / year
- Salary payments per year12 (13th month common)
Employer of Record in Poland
How to hire in Poland without a Polish company: employer ZUS and PPK costs for 2026, the temporary-work rules that can affect EOR arrangements, and how providers compare.
- Employer ZUS + fundsโ20.5% of gross (capped)
- Pension base limit (2026)PLN 282,600 / year
- Salary payments per year12
Employer of Record in Mexico
How to hire in Mexico without a Mexican company: IMSS and Infonavit contributions, mandatory bonuses, the 2021 subcontracting reform that reshaped EOR in Mexico, and how providers compare.
- Employer contributionsโ33% incl. bonuses
- Aguinaldo (Christmas bonus)Min. 15 days' pay
- Profit sharing (PTU)10% of employer profit
Employer of Record in Brazil
How to hire in Brazil without a Brazilian company: the true cost of a CLT employee (often 1.5โ1.9ร salary), the rules that drive it, and how EOR providers compare.
- Employer chargesโ50% incl. 13th & vacation bonus
- 13th salaryMandatory (1 month)
- Vacation bonus1/3 of a month's salary
Employer of Record in the Philippines
How to hire in the Philippines without a local company: statutory contributions and 13th-month pay, the rules on contracting that shape EOR arrangements, and how providers compare.
- Employer contributionsโ8โ13% (capped) + 13th month
- 13th-month payMandatory (1/12 of basic pay)
- SSS salary credit ceilingPHP 35,000 / month
Employer of Record in India
How to hire in India without an Indian subsidiary: provident fund and gratuity under the new Labour Codes, how CTC offers work, permanent establishment risk, and how EOR providers compare.
- Employer statutory costsโ3โ6% of gross (PF + gratuity)
- Provident fund (EPF)12% of basic (wage ceiling โน25,000/mo from 17 Sep 2026)
- Labour Codes in forceSince 21 Nov 2025
Employer of Record in Australia
How to hire in Australia without an Australian company: superannuation, payroll tax and workers' compensation, the National Employment Standards and modern awards, labour hire licensing, and how providers compare.
- Superannuation guarantee12%, paid with each pay run from 1 July 2026
- Payroll taxSet by state, e.g. NSW 5.45% over A$1.2m, VIC 4.85% over A$1m, QLD 4.75% over A$1.3m
- National minimum wageA$26.44 / hour, A$1,004.90 / week (from 1 July 2026)
In research: Canada Colombia Argentina South Africa Singapore
Decision tools
Work out the right hiring model
Calculator
Salary cost estimator
Enter a salary and EOR fee to see total annual employer cost, with every contribution itemised.
OpenQuiz
Find the right EOR
Three questions about where you're hiring and what matters most, and you get a matched shortlist with reasons.
OpenComparison
Employer cost by country
Employer contributions, caps and the key EOR issue across all 13 country guides.
OpenHead-to-head
Compare EOR providers
Deel vs Remote, Deel vs Multiplier and more: published pricing, entity models and fit.
OpenDecision guide
EOR vs Local Entity
An EOR costs a flat fee per employee. A local entity costs a lot to set up and run but little per extra hire. This guide shows how to find the crossover for your company.
OpenDecision guide
EOR vs Contractors
Contractors are cheaper and faster to engage, but only when the relationship really is independent. Here is how to tell, and what misclassification can cost.
OpenHow we work
Built for scrutiny
We don't test providers or claim hands-on experience. We compile, compare and cite public information, and we tell you exactly where it came from.
- Employment rules and rates come from government and statutory sources.
- Provider data comes only from public pricing pages and documentation.
- Every page shows when it was last updated.
- Affiliate relationships never affect data, inclusion or order.
- Official sources cited
- 118
- Providers tracked
- 12
- Paid placements
- 0
- Last content update
- 8 October 2026
Hiring your first employee abroad?
Start with the true cost, then shortlist providers on published pricing and fit, and ask each one for an itemised quote.