Can you work abroad without speaking the local language?
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Yes. For most jobs abroad, you need your native language and English, not Portuguese, Greek or Spanish. Still, it’s one of the biggest doubts before people apply: is my English good enough, and will I feel at home in a city where I don’t speak the language? Below, you read which languages you use at work, what level of English employers ask for and how much Portuguese, Greek or Spanish helps in daily life in Lisbon, Athens and Valencia.
Quick Answer
Our vacancies don't ask for the local language: you can work in Lisbon, Athens or Valencia without speaking Portuguese, Greek or Spanish
Companies abroad hire Dutch and German speakers to help customers from their home market
English is the second requirement: usually B1 or B2, sometimes C1
The local language helps after work, not at work
Why do companies abroad hire Dutch and German speakers?
Many international companies run their European customer service from one central location, such as Lisbon, Athens or Valencia. From there, they help customers in several countries at once, so they need native speakers for every market. Few Dutch or German speakers live there, so these companies hire people who are ready for an adventure abroad. Most of these jobs are in customer service, sales, technical support or content moderation: roles that revolve around your native language.
If you speak Dutch, you might help a bol.com customer whose order never arrived or who wants to return something, or support a Netflix viewer who can’t log in or has a question about their subscription. If you speak German, you might show a customer how to descale their new coffee machine. Every conversation happens in the language you grew up with. Your mother tongue isn’t a bonus here. It’s the core of the job.
What level of English do you need to work abroad?
Most vacancies ask for English at B1 or B2, and some ask for C1. The exact level differs per vacancy. How much English you actually use depends on the employer. At some companies your training, internal systems or team meetings are in Dutch or German, at others it’s in English.
B1 or B2 is usually enough when your team works in Dutch or German and you only help a handful of English-speaking customers. C1 comes up when you also serve customers in English and most communication with your colleagues happens in English, for example in an international team. Once you live abroad, your English grows almost by itself, in a chat with your flatmate or while planning a weekend trip with new international friends. 💪
Every vacancy lists the level under “What do I bring?”, so you can check our vacancies abroad and see right away which jobs match your English.
I hadn’t spoken English since school and was sure my level wasn’t good enough. Now my best friends here come from all over the world, and I don’t even notice that I’m speaking a different language anymore.
Which languages do you need in Portugal, Greece and Spain?
Working in Lisbon without Portuguese
While working in Lisbon, you get by in English in most cafés, shops and supermarkets, especially in central neighbourhoods like Baixa and Alfama. A simple bom dia (good morning) and obrigado (thank you) goes a long way at your local pastelaria.
Working in Athens without Greek
In Greece, the alphabet is the real hurdle, not the language itself. If you're working in Athens, metro signs and many street signs are also in English, so getting around is easier than it looks. Learn kalimera (good morning) and yamas (cheers) and you'll see faces light up. ☀️
Working in Valencia without Spanish
In Spain, a few Spanish words make daily life easier. When you’re working in Valencia, you do your job fully in your own language. After work, a cheerful hola (hello) to your neighbour or un café con leche, por favor (a coffee with milk, please) at the café on the corner quickly makes you feel at home.
Is it worth learning the local language?
Yes, for your life outside work. Fifteen minutes a day with a language app already helps you order lunch and chat with your neighbours. Some of the employers we work with at Yobbers even offer a free language course, so check the perks in the vacancy. For tips on your first weeks, read how to get by in a country where you don’t speak the language. get by in a country where you don't speak the language.
I thought I had to speak Spanish before I could feel at home here. It turned out the other way round: the more at home I felt, the more Spanish I picked up.
How do you find a job abroad in your own language?
At Yobbers, we match Dutch- and German-speaking candidates with jobs abroad, and applying is free. You already have the most important skill: your native language. Browse our Dutch- and German-speaking jobs abroad and find the city that fits you.