Language requirements for positions advertised in the International Professional category

As a highly mobile Organization operating in more than 100 countries, UNHCR is deeply committed to the principle of multilingualism and requires its international professional staff, upon recruitment, to demonstrate competence in at least two official UN languages. Therefore, candidates aspiring to join the international professional category must be able to demonstrate, at a minimum, proficiency at an advanced level (C1 or above) in either one of the two working languages of UNHCR (English and French) as well as knowledge of a second official UN language at an intermediate level (B2 or above).

A certificate is not required in respect of a UN language that is the mother tongue of the candidate. Otherwise, certification is obligatory.

We recommend that you carefully review the language requirements of the Job Opening you wish to apply for and note that excellent knowledge of a language requires proficiency at an advanced level (C1 or above) whereas for working knowledge proficiency needs to be demonstrated at an intermediate level (B2 or above).

The list of certificates recognized by UNHCR to prove language proficiency at C1 and B2 levels can be consulted at the table on this page.