(Relocation) Will MBB allow you to live and commute internationally to your “home” office temporarily?

Hi there,

Personally, I have not heard of anyone who was doing this. 

I knew a few people who lived in a different city than their home office, but in the same country.

I guess it depends on factors like tax treatment of your income and tax treatment of business travel for the company. From what I remember, one issue is that some countries would not see this as business travel (since your travel starts and ends in a different country than where you are employed), hence not a deductible business expense.

I am sure there are many local differences as well -> It's best to discuss these admin things directly with recruiters.

All the best,

Florian

Hey!

MBB firms generally expect consultants to live within a reasonable commuting distance of their "home" office, especially in Europe, where collaboration and face-to-face interactions are highly valued. However, there is some flexibility. Temporary commuting from another country is often supported during a transition period, particularly if you are relocating for the role and need time to settle. Permanent international commuting is less common but may be accommodated on a case-by-case basis, especially for unique personal circumstances or senior roles. I had colleagues at McKinsey and BCG who commuted internationally temporarily while relocating, so it is worth discussing with HR during the application process to understand specific policies.

BR, Alessa :)

Hi there,

this might be a temporary setup at best in order to get settled in. Living in the UK but working in other European countries will have tax and working permit implications since the UK is no longer part of the EU. There will also be additional travel expenses getting you to and from your workplace that need to be sorted out.

I had a co-worker once who had a setup like this. A resulting factor was that this person regularly had to leave the UK on Sunday afternoons for travel since the Monday morning flight wouldn't get them to the project location in time. So overall, it was not a very rewarding experience.

You should assume that you need to live at least in the same country as the office that is formally your "home office".

Best

I’ve observed a few MBB principals and partners granted this flexibility after many years with the firm. For example, one Bain partner i know is based in MBB Saudi Arabia offices, working in KSA during the week and commuting to his home country in Europe, despite being affiliated with Bain ME offices.

However, such arrangements are rare and typically not extended to entry-level consultants.

Thanks Ashwin

Hey there,

Even within the same firms, this discretion can vary by region and different times.  Whilst it generally is not ideal nor recommended to live in a different country, I've seen it approved for consultants ranging from Business Analyst to Sr. Partners based on the individual case-by-case reasons. 

Have a chat with recruiting about this to understand that consulting firms position and discretion on this - but be ready to offer ideas of how to make it feasible and why it is necessary / important for you to do it. 

All the best

This is a unique case, and it’s best to discuss it directly with your recruiting contact. You can openly address topics like this—they shouldn’t affect your application process.

However, due to tax considerations, there’s a chance you may receive a “no.”

Best,

Alberto