The length of time it takes to hire an employee varies from country to country. Timelines can also be affected by an employee’s right-to-work status in their country. If the employee needs to undergo a right-to-work check or requires visa support, their start date may need to be extended to accommodate these procedures. (You can view more info on right-to-work processes and visa support here.)
The onboarding timeline starts once the admin completes the necessary onboarding tasks and the employee completes their worker profile in Plane. Then, Plane will start drafting the employment contracts using the information gathered from the onboarding tasks.
The employment contract draft is ready for review and approval in an average of 2 days if the employees have the right to work in the country, and no edits are made.
The onboarding process typically takes 1 to 4 weeks after the employee signs the electronic employment contract, depending on country-specific requirements. This timeline includes collecting the required onboarding documentation and completing the right-to-work check.
In some countries, a wet signature is required, and a physical copy of the employment contract will be sent to the employee for signing. Additionally, certain countries may require medical checks to be completed before the employee’s start date.
Add employee to Plane
To kick off the process, add your new employee to Plane.
Check out Onboard an international employee (EOR) in our help center for a detailed, step-by-step breakdown of how to do so.
Important Information
Our onboarding timeline relies on you and the employee promptly completing your assigned onboarding tasks. However, we will send email reminders to follow up if any steps remain incomplete.
Certain requirements, such as wet signatures, medical exams, right-to-work checks, translations, and visa sponsorship, can also affect the timeline mentioned above.
A few countries require new hire registration to be completed before the employee’s start date. If the information provided by the employee is incorrect, it can delay the onboarding timeline.
We recommend that employees start on the first day of a new month. This ensures they’ll be added to payroll in time to receive their first paycheck at the end of the month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does it take longer to onboard in some countries?
Some countries require new-hire registration, medical exams, and wet-signature contracts. Plane and our local team will assist the employee with the coordination and completion of these tasks.
What is the best date to onboard an employee?
We recommend that employees start on the first day of a new month. This ensures they will be added to payroll in time to receive their first paycheck at the end of the month.
What documents will employees need to provide?
All employees must provide the following documents and information at a minimum:
Local home address & proof of the same
Two forms of ID
Local tax number & Social Security number (if applicable)
Proof of right to work
Local bank account & proof of the same
I don’t know if my employee has the right to work. What should I do?
During onboarding, we ask employees to indicate their right-to-work status. If an employee is a non-national of the country in which they intend to work, we are required to request proof of their right to work. It is best practice for your team to request these documents directly from the employee to ensure a smooth onboarding process. Find more information on verifying right-to-work status here.
Can an employee sign the contract electronically?
Most countries recognize and allow electronic signatures. However, some jurisdictions will also require wet signatures. In jurisdictions where wet signatures are required, we will coordinate with the employee for signature.