The best countries to hire remote virtual assistants

The demands of running a business can quickly become overwhelming. Between packed inboxes, endless meetings, and mounting projects, entrepreneurs and executives often struggle to keep up with it all. That's where virtual assistant services come in.

What is a virtual assistant or VA? Simply put, they are remote professionals who provide administrative, technical, or creative support services to businesses and individuals. By outsourcing time-consuming tasks to a VA, you can free up your schedule to focus on big-picture strategizing and revenue-generating activities.

But with a global pool of VA talent, finding the perfect match for your needs can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. How do you know where to look? What skills should you prioritize? And once you find a promising candidate, how do you build a productive working relationship from afar?

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through every step of the hiring process and working with a virtual assistant—from identifying your needs and finding the right talent across top hiring locations to successful onboarding and maintaining a productive remote relationship.

How to hire a virtual assistant

Whether you’re researching how to find a virtual assistant or ready to start hiring, the process is similar to hiring a traditional employee, with a few key differences. Here are the steps to follow for a smooth and successful hiring process.

Step 1: Define your needs

Before you even think about posting a job ad, it's crucial to get crystal clear on what exactly you need from a VA. What tasks are eating up most of your time? What skills are missing from your current team? What projects have been sitting on the backburner that a VA could help bring to life?

Grab a pen and paper or open up a blank document and start brainstorming a list of all the activities you'd like to offload. Here are a few common areas where VAs can be a big help:

• Inbox and calendar management

• Data entry and database management

• Booking travel and accommodations

• Scheduling meetings and handling phone calls

• Customer service and support

• Social media management

• Basic bookkeeping

Once you've outlined the specific responsibilities you'd like to delegate, you can craft a clear, compelling job description to attract top-notch candidates. Be sure to include:

• A detailed list of tasks and expectations

• Required and preferred skills and qualifications

• Tools and technologies the VA will need to be familiar with

• Hours and availability requirements

• Pay range and benefits (if applicable)

The more specific and transparent you are upfront, the easier it will be to find a VA who's a perfect fit.

Step 2: Set a budget

Now that you know what you need, let’s explore pricing. Virtual assistant rates can vary significantly depending on factors like location, skills, experience level, and scope of work.

Entry-level rates generally range from $3-15 per hour, while experienced VAs with specialized skills typically charge $15-30 per hour. Highly specialized assistants or those with extensive business experience may command $30-100 per hour.

It's worth noting that working with a virtual assistant agency or platform will generally cost more than hiring a freelancer directly. However, these premium services can offer benefits like pre-vetted talent, backup coverage, and streamlined billing and communication.

When setting your budget, consider the value a VA will bring to your business, not just the hourly rate. If delegating a task to a VA frees you up to take on a new client or launch a revenue-generating project, it can be well worth the investment.

Step 3: Choose a hiring platform

With your job description and budget set, you'll need to decide where to find your virtual assistant. Online freelance platforms offer extensive talent pools with built-in tools for hiring and management. Popular job boards can connect you with qualified VAs actively seeking work. Virtual assistant agencies provide pre-vetted candidates and additional support services, though at higher rates. Don't overlook your professional network either—referrals can lead to great matches through trusted connections. 

Each option has its trade-offs between time investment, cost, and quality assurance. Consider starting with one platform to test the waters, then expand your search if needed. 

Step 4: Evaluate candidates

After posting your role, focus on candidates who demonstrate relevant skills and experience for your specific needs. Strong communication skills are needed for remote work; look for clear, prompt responses and good writing ability. 

Pay attention to their reliability, professionalism, and ability to work independently. During interviews, present real-world scenarios to assess their problem-solving skills and initiative. Also ensure their availability aligns with your schedule and workload requirements.

That being said, don't get too hung up on finding an exact match for your needs. Many skills, like basic web research and calendar management, are highly transferable. And a VA with a diverse background and willingness to learn can often adapt quickly to new challenges.

Step 5: Onboarding and training

Once you've selected your ideal candidate, start with clear expectations about roles, responsibilities, and communication protocols. Provide your VA with necessary tools and access—from software licenses to company documents and login credentials. 

While experienced VAs can adapt quickly, invest time in explaining your specific workflows and processes. Create detailed documentation they can reference, and schedule regular check-ins during their first few weeks. Remember to include them in team communications to help them feel connected despite working remotely.

This blog is based on information available to Rippling as of November 21, 2024.

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The top 10 best countries to hire virtual assistants

When exploring virtual assistant services globally, these listed countries stand out for their combination of skilled talent pools, competitive rates, and language proficiency:

1. Philippines

Business process outsourcing in the Philippines accounts for 10-15% of the global BPO market and contributes $30 billion to the country’s economy while employing more than 1.3 million Filipinos. In addition to Filipino (Tagalog), English is an official language. With more than 64% of Filipinos speaking it, it’s no surprise that the country is a major tech outsourcing hub. 

According to Forbes, the Philippines is the sixth fastest-growing freelance market in the world, serving Europe, the US, Australia, and Japan. Low labor costs and a strong cultural affinity with the US make Filipino virtual assistants an attractive option.

• Average annual virtual assistant salary: PHP 378,073 or USD 6,433 

• Time zones: PHT, UTC+8:00

• Additional language skills: Filipino (Tagalog) 

2. India

India accounts for 65% of the offshore BPO market and has become a global outsourcing center with a nearly inexhaustible supply of high-quality, skilled workers—especially in software development. Labor costs are a fraction of those in the US due to India’s low cost of living.

Along with Hindi, English is an official language, with more than 200 million speakers. Large VA agencies are located in India, making it easy to find the right person. India’s time zone is beneficial for those in the US who prefer VA tasks (like social media management) to be completed overnight and ready first thing in the morning.

• Average virtual assistant salary: INR 309,828 or USD 3,669

• Time zones: IST, UTC+5:30 

• Additional language skills: Hindi, Bengali, and Punjabi

3. Canada

There are many advantages to hiring VAs from Canada. The country has a highly educated population (22% of university students graduated with a STEM degree) and a large tech sector. English and French are official languages and while the majority of Canadians speak English as their first language, 18% of the population is bilingual (English/French) and there is a growing group of people who speak English and another language such as Mandarin or Punjabi. Canadians also understand North American culture, so there’s less chance of getting your wires crossed. And Canada’s time zones are the same as in the US, meaning it’s easy to sync up with your VA. 

The lower value of the Canadian dollar—relative to the US dollar—means cheaper labor costs as well. BPO revenues in Canada are expected to reach USD 10.38 billion by 2029.

• Average annual virtual assistant salary: CAD 47,850 or USD 33,989

• Time zones: PT, UTC-7:00; MT, UTC-6:00; CT, UTC-5:00; ET, UTC-4:00; AT, UTC-3:00; NT, UTC-2:30

• Additional language skills: French, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Punjabi 

4. Malaysia

Because English is taught as a second language in Malaysia, more than 62% of the population speaks it and young tech workers are taking full advantage. Malaysia's BPO market reached $1.08 billion in revenue in 2021 and is projected to grow to $1.44 billion in 2024, with an 11.26% growth rate.

Malaysia is an attractive country for VAs given the low cost and availability of skilled labor. The Malaysian government has launched initiatives aimed at transforming the country into a digital nation and regional data hub. Malaysia’s time zone works well for VAs handling business tasks in Asia. 

• Average annual virtual assistant salary: MYR 45,849 or USD 10,255

• Time zones: MYT, UTC+8:00 

• Additional language skills: Malay 

5. Singapore

Singapore is an Asian business and tech hub with a highly educated multilingual population. The country's education system consistently receives top marks with students excelling in math, science, and language. Singapore’s literacy rate is 97.6% and 60% of those over 25 have a post-secondary education.

Malay is the national language and it, along with English, Mandarin, and Tamil are all official languages. In practice, the English language is the common language, spoken by 92% of Singaporeans outside the home. At home, that number drops to about half. In 2020, the business process outsourcing sector had revenues of $3.3 billion, with IT services, digital marketing, and accounting leading the way. These are all reasons why hiring a VA based in Singapore is a good choice, especially if you’re doing business in Asian markets. 

• Average annual virtual assistant salary: SGD 31,448 or USD 23,388

• Time zones: SST/SGT, UTC+8:00

• Additional language skills: Singaporean, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil

6. Mexico

Tapping into Mexico’s talent pool is a cost-effective option when looking to hire a virtual personal assistant. Not only are there cultural similarities (40 million Americans speak Spanish), Mexican time zones are the same as the US, which is highly beneficial if your VA is collaborating in real-time with your team members.

Over 175,000 Mexicans work in the BPO sector, generating $2.4 billion in revenue. Over 15 million Mexicans (12.9% of the population) speak English. Add to this the number of remote workers who have set up shop in Mexico and there are plenty of skilled VA candidates available. 

• Average annual virtual assistant salary: MXN 156,465 or USD 7,661

• Time zones: PT, UTC-7:00; MT, UTC-6:00; CT, UTC-5:00; ET, UTC-4:00

• Additional language skills: Spanish 

7. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom’s location between North America and continental Europe makes it ideally placed for VAs to handle tasks on both sides of the pond. The UK’s BPO market is growing and is expected to reach $33.76 billion by 2026. 

Half of UK citizens aged between 30 and 34 have a post-secondary education, which is one of the highest rates in Europe. This means finding a well-educated VA with just the right qualifications is effortless, especially given the number of freelancers and agencies based in the UK. Wages are very competitive with the US. 

As well, both tech infrastructure and data protection are rock solid in the UK. Even though it is no longer part of the EU, the UK’s data protection law is based on the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

• Average annual virtual assistant salary: GBP 31,336 or USD 39,594

• Time zones: BST, UTC+1

• Additional language skills: Continental European languages, South Asian languages

8. Brazil

Brazil is one of Latin America’s IT hubs. The country has a young workforce and about 23% of 25-34 year-olds have a post-secondary education. Brazil’s business process outsourcing is growing and is projected to reach an estimated $8.56 billion by 2027.

There are several large virtual assistant services in the country and VAs can be found on popular freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and other job boards and sites that post virtual assistant jobs. Time zones work well for the US East Coast and Europe.Brazil’s official language is Portuguese and just 5% of the population—about 10 million people—speak fluent English. However, that number is growing as more young Brazilians learn English.

• Average annual virtual assistant salary: BRL 48,493 or USD 8,365.91

• Time zones: ACT, UTC-5:00; AMT, UTC-4:00; BRT, UTC-3:00; FNT, UTC-2:00

• Additional language skills: Portuguese 

9. Australia

Australia’s pool of VA talent offers recruiters an abundance of workers with different skill sets, suitable for any niche. English is the official language, and while it’s closer to British English than American, it’s just as easy to understand. 

Australians are highly educated, with most completing secondary school. About 35% of the workforce holds a bachelor’s degree or higher. The work culture in Australia is very similar to North America and technical infrastructure is robust and dependable. The cost of hiring in Australia is lower owing to a favorable exchange rate. 

• Average annual virtual assistant salary: AUD 59,445 or USD 38,314

• Time zones: AEST, UTC+10:00; ACST, UTC+9:30; AWST, UTC+8:00

• Additional language skills: Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese

10. Indonesia

With its low labor costs, Indonesia is another good choice for hiring a qualified VA. As with most countries, contracting can be done directly or through an agency. 

With a population of nearly 280 million, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world. English isn’t widely spoken, but that’s beginning to change. The government is encouraging Indonesians to learn English and many schools teach it as a second language. A rough estimate is that 10% of the population speaks passable English. That’s still more than 25 million people. 

A growing IT sector has had a positive effect on Indonesia’s outsourcing industry, which is now valued at just under $2 billion. This is expected to grow 10% by 2030. 

• Average annual virtual assistant salary: IDR 138,629,168 or USD 8,704.36

• Time zones: WIB, UTC+7:00; WITA, UTC+8:00; WIT, UTC+9:00

• Additional language skills: Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin.

*Note: Salary data is gathered from several sources. Exact values vary depending on updated currency exchange rates, seniority levels, and geographical location within each country. 

Hiring remote virtual assistants across the globe with Ripping

Managing a remote, globally distributed team comes with its fair share of challenges—from payroll and compliance to communication and cohesion. But with Rippling global HR platform, you can streamline your entire hiring lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding.

Rippling allows you to:

• Automate VA onboarding with localized contracts, background checks, and compliance requirements

• Manage all HR functions in one hub to track information and performance.

• Handle global payroll and invoicing in 50+ currencies

• Easily stay compliant with overtime, leave, and termination requirements

• Manage international benefits like health insurance and pensions

• Foster culture and collaboration with powerful employee engagement tools

Say goodbye to spreadsheet wrangling and compliance confusion. Rippling makes it easy to build the global team of your dreams, so you can focus on making those dreams a reality.

How to hire a virtual assistant FAQs

What does a virtual assistant do?

Virtual assistants can handle an impressive range of tasks, both personal and professional. Common activities include:

• Administrative tasks like email, scheduling, and data entry

• Customer service and support

• Marketing and social media management

• Event planning and coordination

• Bookkeeping and expense tracking

• Proofreading and editing

Some VAs also offer specialized skills like graphic design, web development or copywriting. Think of a VA like a Swiss Army knife— they're adaptable, versatile, and can tackle almost anything you throw their way.

How much does hiring a virtual assistant cost?

Virtual assistant rates vary widely based on experience and location. Entry-level VAs typically charge $3-15 per hour, while experienced assistants with specialized skills range from $15-30 per hour. Premium VAs with advanced expertise may charge $30-100 per hour. Agency platforms generally cost more but provide additional services like talent vetting and management support. 

How do I find a trustworthy virtual assistant?

Start by using reputable hiring platforms or agencies that pre-screen their candidates. Look for VAs with detailed portfolios, positive client reviews, and verifiable work history. During interviews, assess their communication skills and ask for specific examples of past work. Request references and conduct a paid trial period to evaluate their reliability and work quality. Remember that building trust takes time—start with smaller, low-risk tasks before sharing sensitive information or responsibilities.