Important Information
Onboarding through Plane typically takes between 2.5 to 4 weeks
The exact timeline may vary depending on the employee's country and right to work status
We recommend new employees start on the first day of a new month to ensure timely payroll processing
Still got questions?
If you have questions, feel free to start a live chat from the website or contact support@plane.com. You can also visit our help center.
Welcome to the exciting journey of onboarding your new team member with Plane! We're thrilled to be by your side, ensuring a smooth and successful onboarding experience. We understand that hiring international employees can present its share of challenges and considerations. Rest assured, we're here to lend our support every step of the way. In this guide, we'll walk you through our onboarding process, so you feel confident and informed as we embark on this adventure together.
Navigating the onboarding process can vary based on the employee's location and their right to work status in their respective country. If additional steps such as right to work checks or visa support are required, the start date may need adjustment to accommodate these procedures.
Below are our estimated timelines for onboarding international employees based on their location. Please note that while we strive to adhere to these timelines, variations may occur based on individual circumstances.
Estimated Onboarding Timelines by Region
Region
Timeline
Africa - Central & South
2.5 weeks
Africa - North
2.5 to 4 weeks
APAC - North
2.5 weeks
Europe - East & UK
2.5 weeks
Europe - North
2.5 to 4 weeks
Europe - South
2.5 to 4 weeks
GCC & Middle East
2.5 to 4 weeks
LATAM
2.5 to 4 weeks
Caribbean
2.5 weeks
Canada
1 to 2 weeks
General Onboarding Process
Let's take a peek into the steps involved in the employee onboarding journey and the tasks required by the owner or admins of your Plane account.
Step 1: Add employee to Plane
To initiate the onboarding process, the first step is adding your new employee to Plane. Refer to our detailed guide, "How to hire and onboard an international employee," for a step-by-step walkthrough.
Step 2: Approve employment cost and security deposit
Upon adding the employee to Plane, you'll receive a notification to approve the cost of employment and security deposit. This typically takes one to two business days. The cost of employment varies by country, while the security deposit equals one month's expected payroll and employer taxes. Once confirmed, we'll process the security deposit, serving as a safeguard in case of any payment issues.
Step 3: Complete onboarding tasks and approve offer summary
Next, within the Plane platform, complete all guided onboarding tasks. Ensure to address important to-dos such as:
Additional incentives: Review the contract and approve any applicable incentives, such as a one-time signing bonus, one-time or recurring allowances or stipends, or a guaranteed annual bonus.
Supplemental health insurance: Review the options available for supplemental health benefits, decide the plan you want to offer (if multiple options are available), and cost share of the monthly premiums.
Right to work: Review the right to work check and ensure that your employee has the right to work in their country, in compliance with local regulations.
Background check: Plane conducts a background check against international criminal records as part of the onboarding process. The time frame for completion can vary depending on the country, how quickly the employee uploads the required documents, and the number of countries in which the employee has resided. We’ve seen background checks take anywhere from less than one week to up to one month to complete.
Step 4: Employee accepts offer summary and completes profile
Once the offer summary is approved and sent to the employee, they'll need to officially accept it. We'll then prompt the employee to complete their profile on Plane to finalize the onboarding process.
Step 5: Plane generates formal employment contract
Plane generates the employment contract and submits it for your approval. This typically takes five business days after the employee profile is completed.
Step 6: Contract approval by employer and employee
Both parties review and approve the employment contract via Plane to ensure alignment and understanding. We recommend that both parties complete this step as soon as possible to avoid any delays.
Step 7: Employee signs contract
Once all parties have approved the contract via Plane, we will instruct the employee to sign the employment contract.
Step 8: Plane collects additional information
We gather any additional information and documents from the employee to finalize the onboarding process.
Step 9: Onboarding completion
Once all steps are completed and required documentation is collected, Plane will notify you of a successful employee onboarding. Congratulations!
Important notes
Timely completion of assigned onboarding tasks is essential. Email reminders will be sent for any pending tasks.
Specific requirements such as wet signatures, medical exams, and visa sponsorship may impact the timeline
Some countries may require new hire registration before the start date, potentially causing delays
Starting on the first day of a new month is advisable for timely payroll processing
We utilize Bamboo HR for onboarding in some countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about onboarding employees outside of the US with Plane: