Among female labour migrants, only 9% said they were beginners, 24% intermediate, and 67% advanced or native-level speakers. Women who arrived as international students reported still better command of the host language. Of male family migrants, 79% claimed to have advanced or native level — a much higher proportion than any of the three groups of migrant women. Better educated migrants generally find it easier to acquire a high standard of proficiency in the host county’s language, to navigate the host country’s institutions and access its job market.