Migration to Europe; What are the best countries for those who do not know the language?

If you are an English speaker and you plan to immigrate to Europe in 2022, you will probably consider a country where you will have the least problems with its citizens in terms of language and verbal communication upon arrival.

Although learning the common language of your new country should be a priority, it usually takes a lot of time.

While you will try to gradually familiarize yourself with the grammar and articles written in the local language when you first arrive, it will be reassuring to know that you can still communicate in English if necessary.

In some European countries, English is widely spoken, this is an added value for English-speaking immigrants.

This is while in other countries there is a need to know and master the local language to apply for long-term residence and citizenship.

What are the best European countries for English speakers?
People whose mother tongue is English usually have problems in learning a foreign language. The results of a study by the European Commission in 2020 showed that 62% of Britons questioned could not speak a second language.

On the other hand, it is said that 56% of the residents of EU member states can speak more than one language.

An international study on the concerns of immigrants before traveling abroad also shows that the biggest fear of these people is related to language barriers.

So if you want to immigrate to Europe but are worried about language barriers, it is better to prioritize countries where English is widely spoken.

A global company active in the field of education known as "Education First" EF has ranked the English Language Proficiency Index in European countries.

The company collected the English test results of 2 million people around the world, including in 35 European countries, to rank them. Each country has been assigned a rank for the points it has obtained out of 800 possible points.

Citizens of Nordic countries have the best English skills
According to the classification of "First Education" company, European countries have taken eight of the top ten ranks for English speakers.

In this ranking, Croatia took the 10th place, but the Northern European countries have won the highest place. Finland and Sweden are in 9th and 8th places, and Denmark is in 3rd place.

Austria has won the second place with 641 points out of 800 possible points. The first rank of this classification is assigned to the Netherlands, in such a way that between 91 and 93 percent of the citizens of this country say that they have the ability to communicate in English.

Italy has the lowest rank among European countries; Therefore, if you are an English speaker and intend to travel to this country, it is better to register in Italian language classes in advance.

Staying in which European countries requires knowledge and language skills?
If you are aware of your problems in language learning, beware of countries that require foreign citizens to pass a language test in order to apply for residency.

Germany is one of the countries where foreign immigrants are required to have language skills in order to obtain permanent residence and citizenship.

According to the current regulations in Germany, having the B1 level of German language education as defined in the "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages" is required to apply for residence.

In Norway, it is not necessary to learn the language for temporary residence; While in order to obtain a permanent residence permit, one must have full command of the language.

Permanent residence in Switzerland also requires familiarity with one of the common languages, namely German, French or Italian. For this purpose, applicants must have A2 level in conversation and A1 level in writing.

France and Sweden are also currently reviewing language requirements for granting long-term or permanent residence permits.

In which European countries is there the least need to learn a language?
In many countries, there is no need to learn a language for a residence permit, and language skills are only required to apply for citizenship.

For example, Spain only requires a certificate of Spanish language learning at the A2 level, which is slightly above the beginner level, to accept the citizenship application.

This level of language certificate is also sufficient for Portuguese citizenship, but in countries like Italy and France, to apply for citizenship, you must have at least a B1 language education certificate.