One of the seven factors to check before choosing a country, with a sortable table for the 21 countries.
By AtiveSite · Published 06/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
English is enough in some international workplaces, but many employers require the local language, especially in healthcare, education, public services and customer-facing roles. Learning the language before moving improves your options.
| Country ⇅ | Official / main languages ⇅ | What to expect ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| Norway | Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk) | High cost of living; Norwegian needed in many jobs; non-EEA workers need a residence permit; regulated professions need authorisation. |
| Switzerland | German, French, Italian, Romansh | High living costs, competitive recruitment and immigration restrictions for many non-EU/EFTA applicants. |
| Denmark | Danish | Danish helps in many jobs; high cost of living. |
| Netherlands | Dutch | Many companies work in English, but housing is tight in major cities. |
| Germany | German | German is essential for many positions, although international companies also hire in English. |
| Australia | English | Visa eligibility and occupation-specific requirements must be checked carefully. |
| Canada | English, French | Several skilled-immigration pathways exist, but eligibility and selection vary. |
| New Zealand | English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language | A smaller labour market means fewer opportunities than in larger economies. |
| Sweden | Swedish | Swedish helps in many jobs. |
| Finland | Finnish, Swedish | Finnish is demanding; many jobs require it. |
| Iceland | Icelandic | A small economy: research vacancies before planning a move. |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourgish, French, German | High living costs, multilingual workplaces. |
| Austria | German | German is valuable in most sectors. |
| Ireland | English, Irish | Housing costs are high in Dublin. |
| Belgium | Dutch, French, German | French, Dutch and sometimes German improve prospects. |
| Singapore | English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil | Work authorisation is required for foreign employees. |
| United Arab Emirates | Arabic (English widely used in business) | Evaluate contract, accommodation, insurance, hours and visa arrangements carefully. |
| United Kingdom | English | Check the immigration route and whether the employer is authorised to sponsor workers. |
| United States | English | Immigration procedures, healthcare costs and benefits differ by state and employer. |
| Japan | Japanese | Japanese is a significant advantage and mandatory for many occupations. |
| France | French | French is essential for many positions, especially customer-facing and public-service roles. |
Measured for Norway: language signals in NAV live ads.
Average salary by profession · Cost of living · Taxes and social contributions · Immigration requirements · Professional recognition · Family and long-term opportunities
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