The Language Barrier Guide: How Hard Is It to Learn the Language Where You Want to Move?

“But I do not speak the language” is the number one reason Americans hesitate to move abroad. It is also one of the most misunderstood barriers. Some countries require years of language study. Others — including several of the most popular expat destinations — you can navigate entirely in English.

The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) has been training diplomats in foreign languages since 1947. Their difficulty ratings, based on 70+ years of data from English-speaking learners, are the gold standard for estimating how long it takes to learn a language. We have mapped these ratings to the most popular relocation destinations so you can factor language into your decision.

The FSI Language Difficulty Scale

The FSI classifies languages into four categories based on how many classroom hours an average English speaker needs to reach “Professional Working Proficiency” (the level where you can handle daily life, work conversations, and bureaucracy):

• Category 1 (Easy): 24-30 weeks / 600-750 hours. Languages closely related to English: Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish.
• Category 2 (Medium): 30-36 weeks / 750-900 hours. Similar to English but with more complex features: German, Indonesian, Malay.
• Category 3 (Hard): 44 weeks / 1,100 hours. Significant linguistic differences: Thai, Vietnamese, Greek, Czech, Polish, Turkish.
• Category 4 (Super Hard): 88 weeks / 2,200 hours. Completely different systems: Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Arabic.

Explore each language below to see the countries where it is spoken, the local English proficiency, and tips for learning.

The English Shortcut: Countries Where You Do Not Need a New Language

If language learning is a dealbreaker, there are two tiers of countries where you can live comfortably in English:

Tier 1: Native English-Speaking Countries

Eight countries in our database have English as a primary or official language. No language barrier at all — just occasional slang confusion.

Tier 2: Near-Universal English Proficiency

Several non-English countries have such high English proficiency that daily life, work, and even bureaucracy can be handled in English. The Netherlands, Scandinavian countries, and the UAE are the standouts.

How Long Will It Actually Take You?

FSI hours assume full-time classroom instruction with native speakers. Most self-learners study 5-10 hours per week using a mix of apps, classes, and practice. Use the calculator below to estimate your personal timeline.

The Expat Language Cheat Code: The 80/20 Rule

Here is a secret most language courses will not tell you: you do not need full fluency to live comfortably abroad. Research shows that the most common 1,000 words in any language cover about 85% of daily conversation. The most common 3,000 words cover 95%.

For practical expat life, you need what linguists call “survival-plus” proficiency:

• Ordering food, buying groceries, getting a taxi
• Basic medical communication (pain, allergies, medications)
• Rental discussions (price, duration, utilities)
• Emergency phrases (help, police, hospital)
• Small talk (weather, family, where are you from)

This “survival-plus” level can be achieved in 8-12 weeks of consistent study for Category 1 languages — well before you move. For Category 3-4 languages, even 4-6 weeks of basics makes an enormous difference in daily comfort.

Language Learning Strategy by Timeline

Moving in 3+ Months: The Ideal Scenario

Start with an app (Duolingo, Babbel, or Pimsleur) for daily habit building, add weekly conversation practice on italki ($5-15/hour for a native tutor), and consume media in the target language (podcasts, TV shows with subtitles, music). By move day, you will have survival-plus proficiency for Category 1-2 languages.

Moving in 1-3 Months: The Accelerated Path

Focus exclusively on spoken phrases using Pimsleur or Michel Thomas method. Skip grammar textbooks. Memorize the 100 most useful phrases for daily life. Book 3-5 italki sessions per week. You will not be fluent but you will be functional.

Moving in Under 1 Month: The Emergency Kit

Download Google Translate (with offline language pack). Learn 20 critical phrases. Get a pocket phrasebook. Plan to do intensive language school after arrival — many countries offer subsidized courses for new residents (Sweden's SFI, Germany's Integrationskurs, France's OFII courses).

The Hidden Advantage: Why Struggling With a Language Is Good

Here is the counterintuitive truth: the language barrier, while uncomfortable, is one of the best things about moving abroad. Learning a language as an adult rewires your brain, builds cognitive reserve (shown to delay dementia by 4-5 years), and creates deeper cultural integration than any expat who stays in the English bubble will ever experience.

Locals notice and appreciate the effort. A stumbling attempt at Portuguese opens more doors in Lisbon than fluent English ever will. The struggle is the feature, not the bug.

Making Your Decision

Here is our framework for factoring language into your relocation decision:

1. If language is your top concern: Choose an English-speaking country or one with very high English proficiency (Netherlands, Scandinavian countries, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia).
2. If you are willing to learn: Category 1 languages (Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian) can be learned to survival level in 2-3 months. These open up the most popular expat destinations.
3. If you have time and motivation: Category 2-3 languages (German, Thai, Vietnamese) require more commitment but are achievable. In-country immersion accelerates learning dramatically.
4. If you want a deep cultural challenge: Category 4 languages (Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Arabic) are a multi-year commitment. Consider whether the destination's other qualities justify the investment.

The language barrier is real, but it is also surmountable. Millions of Americans have learned new languages as adults and built thriving lives abroad. The question is not whether you can learn — it is whether the destination is worth the effort.

Use our country matching quiz to find destinations that fit your priorities, then factor in the language using this guide. Or compare any two countries side by side — including their language requirements.