Executive Summary
On Call International examines the growing travel risk exposure facing freelancers, journalists, nonprofit contractors, and digital nomads as these workers become a larger part of the global workforce. The blog highlights how traditional travel risk management (TRM) frameworks have not kept pace with changing work and travel patterns, leaving many independent workers vulnerable to legal, security, health, and operational risks.
Key takeaways:
-
- Freelancers face growing legal, security, and travel risks.
- Visa enforcement and remote work regulations are becoming stricter.
- Cybersecurity, surveillance, and identity-based threats are increasing.
- Stronger travel risk management and duty-of-care support are needed.
- Preparation, insurance, and awareness of local laws help reduce risk.
Freelancers, including journalists, nonprofit contractors, and digital nomads, now form one of the fastest-growing segments of the global workforce. Yet protections for these workers have lagged behind the rapid shifts brought on by the pandemic, creating a fragmented and increasingly risky environment.
The growing presence of freelance workers in volatile regions underscores a structural imbalance driven by cost pressures and evolving travel habits such as ‘bleisure’, where business trips are extended for personal time. This blended approach often falls outside corporate travel policies and blurs the lines of employer responsibility, even for traditional employees.
The vulnerabilities extend well beyond logistics. Gig workers frequently travel without access to pre-trip briefings, emergency protocols, or post-travel reviews. The blurred line between employee and contractor complicates enforcement of Travel Risk Management (TRM) standards, often leaving individuals to manage their own safety. NGOs and media outlets can also rely heavily on freelance stringers and fixers without providing adequate support, further widening the protection gap.
Lacking awareness of local laws or visa restrictions, many of these workers risk deportation, financial penalties, or even detention, while traveling without insurance or medical evacuation coverage exposes them to significant personal and financial risk.
For example, in February 2025, two French freelance journalists were denied entry to Georgia over their coverage of post-election protests. Weeks later, United States Customs and Border Protection detained two German backpackers who admitted to working remotely while traveling, while across Southeast Asia, digital nomads have been fined or deported for earning income on tourist visas, a rule once loosely enforced.
Navigating Identity, Security and Digital Threats
Identity-based scrutiny adds another layer of concern. Depending on the destination, travelers may face discrimination or harassment based on gender, race, nationality, or LGBTQ+ status. Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, and the Middle East have heightened instability, endangering local and foreign freelancers alike, and without contingency planning, sudden unrest can strand workers or place them directly in harm’s way.
Cyber threats compound these challenges as gig workers rely on personal devices and public Wi-Fi, often without the protection of corporate networks. This leaves them vulnerable to hacking, identity theft, and digital surveillance. Those engaged in high-profile or sensitive work, such as journalists and influencers, face even greater exposure, as location data or online content can be exploited, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence and biometric surveillance has already led to cases of travelers being flagged or detained at borders.
It is also essential to understand visa categories, entry requirements, and local laws related to sensitive issues and freedom of expression. Staying informed through open-source alerts or paid-for risk services can help identify emerging threats before they escalate. Reviewing and removing online content that may conflict with local norms can reduce scrutiny at borders or checkpoints.
Reducing travel risks requires a coordinated effort from both workers and employers. Freelancers should secure comprehensive insurance that includes emergency services, healthcare, and liability protection, while carrying digital and physical contracts will help establish legal standing and clarify assignments.
In addition, workers should verify whether tools such as virtual private networks or encrypted messaging apps are legal in the destination country, while avoiding real-time posting online abroad can also reduce exposure to surveillance or unwanted attention.
Strengthening TRM for an Evolving Workforce
Looking ahead to 2026, in addition to encouraging these workers to adopt best practices, employers should strengthen institutional support to address role-specific and operational vulnerabilities. TRM should begin before contracts are signed and include safety briefings, vetted insurance, and clear cybersecurity protocols.
Defining the scope of support available during a crisis will help freelancers manage risks independently while clarifying organizational responsibility. Partnering with a third-party TRM and emergency assistance provider can help close these protection gaps through flexible services that include 24/7 assistance, location tracking, and evacuation planning.
Traditional TRM models no longer meet the needs of a distributed, digital workforce. Regulatory reforms in 2026, particularly in Australia and the European Union, may redefine how platform workers are protected and how employers are held accountable. Organizations that integrate duty of care, technology, and flexible TRM frameworks will not only set the new standard but also help shape the protections needed for tomorrow’s mobile workforce.
About On Call International
When traveling, every problem is unique–a medical crisis, a political threat, even a missed flight. But every solution starts with customized care that ensures travelers are safe and protected. That’s why for over 30 years, On Call International has provided fully-customized travel risk management and emergency assistance services, protecting millions of travelers, their families, and their organizations. Visit https://www.oncallinternational.com and follow us on LinkedIn to learn more.
