# How to choose an offshore development team | Miyagami > How to choose an offshore development team: seven checks on vetting, overlap, security and contracts. Shortlist within 3 working days. Source: https://www.miyagami.com/resources/articles/how-to-choose-an-offshore-development-team [Home](https://www.miyagami.com/)/ [Resources](https://www.miyagami.com/resources)/ [Articles](https://www.miyagami.com/resources/articles)/ [Hiring](https://www.miyagami.com/resources/articles/hiring)/ How to choose an offshore development team # How to choose an offshore development team **[Dale Wesdorp](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-wesdorp/)** Co-founder, Miyagami [Hiring](https://www.miyagami.com/resources/articles/hiring)3 min read 3 November 2026 To choose an offshore development team, check seven things: who actually does the work, how engineers are vetted, how much your working hours overlap, how security is handled, who owns the code, what the contract commits you to, and what happens when the fit is wrong. A vendor that answers these plainly is usually worth a trial. One that stays vague is not. ## Who will do the work Ask for the names and profiles of the engineers who will join, and speak to them before you sign. A common pattern is a strong sales team and a junior delivery team. Insist that the people you interview are the people you get, and ask how long they have worked for the vendor. ## How are engineers vetted Ask what is tested, by whom and how. A reliable process puts candidates in front of a senior engineer and has them work on real code, not only a multiple-choice test. Ask whether you can see the results. Our article on [assessing an engineer's AI ability](https://www.miyagami.com/resources/articles/how-to-assess-an-engineers-ai-ability) lists what to look for in that process. ## How much overlap will you have Time zones decide how easily you can pair, review and ask questions. Vietnam overlaps with Europe in the CET afternoon. Overlap with US time zones is small, so plan for asynchronous work there. Compare your options in [offshore vs nearshore](https://www.miyagami.com/resources/articles/offshore-vs-nearshore-software-development). ## What about security and compliance Look for ISO 27001 certification, GDPR compliance and clear data residency. Ask how laptops, repository access and offboarding are handled. For engagements in the Netherlands, check the [Dutch DBA rules](https://www.miyagami.com/resources/articles/offshore-development-dutch-dba-law), and for the UK, IR35. ## Who owns the code IP should transfer to you, ideally on payment, and all code should live in your own repositories. Avoid contracts where the vendor keeps tools, accounts or documentation that you need to run the product. ## What should the contract say Look for a clear price per engineer, a short minimum period and a plain description of how you can scale the team. Be careful with long lock-ins, hidden fees and volume clauses. Ask how a [dedicated team](https://www.miyagami.com/resources/articles/what-is-a-dedicated-team-model) is structured and who is responsible for replacing a person who leaves. ## What is a good way to test the vendor Start with a small team and a real task, and judge the result after the first weeks. Look at code quality, communication and how problems are raised. A short minimum term lets you check the fit without long commitment. ## What are the common mistakes The most common mistake is choosing on the lowest monthly price. A cheaper engineer who needs constant correction costs more than a senior one who works independently. A second mistake is skipping the trial: a few weeks of real work tells you more than any presentation. A third is leaving integration to chance. Give new engineers access to repositories, tools and people on day one, name a buddy, and agree how code review works. Finally, plan the exit. Know how you would hand over work, retrieve your code and end the engagement if the fit is wrong. Vendors confident in their quality have no problem discussing this openly. ## How should you compare shortlisted vendors Use the same questions with each vendor and score the answers in a table: engineer profiles, vetting detail, overlap hours, certification, contract length and replacement terms. Ask each vendor for two references from clients with a similar product and team size, and speak to them directly. Differences between vendors usually show up quickly when you compare like with like, and the weakest answers are easy to spot. ## What this means when you hire through Miyagami Every engineer is tested by an AI-native tech lead who works with AI every day. Our engineers work from Vietnam, with a CET afternoon overlap, and you can meet them before you decide. Engineers join your team full-time from €5,600 a month, with a shortlist within 3 working days and no recruitment fee. We replace at our cost if the fit is wrong, and we don't do part-time. See [how we vet](https://www.miyagami.com/how-we-vet) and [pricing](https://www.miyagami.com/pricing). ## Short answers Is offshore development cheaper? Usually on the monthly price. Compare the full cost of a local hire, including taxes and recruitment time. How do you avoid quality problems offshore? Meet the engineers, test them on real code and start with a small team and a clear first task. What time zone works best with Vietnam? European teams overlap in the CET afternoon, which suits standups and pairing. Who owns the code in an offshore engagement? You should. Get IP transfer in writing and keep the code in your repositories. We test for this Every engineer we place goes through two assessments: one without AI tools, one with. Both scorecards are published. [How we vet](https://www.miyagami.com/how-we-vet) Related - [Offshore vs nearshore software development](https://www.miyagami.com/resources/articles/offshore-vs-nearshore-software-development) - [What is an offshore development center](https://www.miyagami.com/resources/articles/what-is-an-offshore-development-center) - [What is a dedicated team model](https://www.miyagami.com/resources/articles/what-is-a-dedicated-team-model) - [How long does it take to hire an offshore engineer](https://www.miyagami.com/resources/articles/how-long-to-hire-an-offshore-engineer) Hiring for this? Senior AI-native engineers, a shortlist in three working days and a hire within five. [Get a shortlist](https://www.miyagami.com/shortlist) Let's talk ## Get a shortlist within three days You share the roles and the stack in a short form or a thirty-minute call. Within three working days you get named senior engineers to review, each with both scorecards, and you can hire within five. [Get a shortlist](https://www.miyagami.com/shortlist) Reviewed on **Clutch** 42 reviews [ISO 27001 Certified](https://trust.miyagami.com/) Book thirty minutes with Dale The calendar is provided by HubSpot, which sets its own cookies. Load it here, or book on HubSpot's page. [Open booking page](https://sales.miyagami.com/meetings/dwesdorp)