Befreiung vom Kostenbeitrag zum Integrationskurs Gewährung

If you receive social benefits or are financially needy, you can take part in an integration course free of charge under certain conditions. This also applies to employees whose gross salary does not exceed a certain amount.

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) is a higher German federal authority and is responsible, among other things, for the cost exemption for the integration course.

You can apply for cost exemption for the integration course if

• you receive unemployment benefit, citizen's benefit or benefits for living expenses (social assistance),
• you are employed and your gross salary does not exceed 33% of the annual contribution assessment ceiling for general pension insurance. The amount is increased by 10 percent of the annual contribution assessment ceiling in the general pension insurance scheme for one child and by 20 percent for two or more eligible children in accordance with § 32 of the Income Tax Act,
• you are financially needy for other reasons.

Please submit an application to your regional BAMF office in good time before the start of the course. The application for cost exemption can also be submitted together with the application for admission to the integration course or the application for one-time admission to repeat 300 language lessons of the integration course.

Retroactive cost exemption for the period before your application is not possible.

You can apply for cost exemption for the integration course online or in writing to the BAMF.

You must submit the following with your application

• current proof (copy of notification) of receipt of
  • unemployment benefit
  • citizen's allowance
  • Benefits for living expenses (social assistance)
  • Salary statement or valid employment contract showing a gross monthly salary with, if applicable, corresponding proof of child allowances
• Alternatively: current proof (copy of notification) of financial need, such as
  • receipt of housing benefit or
  • exemption from the broadcasting fee (GEZ) or
  • other proof or decision from another body regarding financial need

You can apply for a cost exemption from the integration course if

• you receive unemployment benefit, citizen's benefit or benefits for living expenses (social assistance).
• You are employed and your gross salary does not exceed 33 percent of the annual contribution assessment ceiling for the general pension insurance. The amount is increased by 10 percent of the annual contribution assessment ceiling in the general pension insurance scheme for one child and by 20 percent for two or more eligible children in accordance with § 32 of the Income Tax Act.
• you are financially needy for other reasons.

There are no costs.

You can submit your application for cost exemption online directly via the federal administration portal or in writing to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

Online procedure:

• Complete the online application for exemption from the integration course fee.
• Upload the required documents.
• Submit your application.
  • Note: You will need the online ID function of your ID card with PIN or your electronic residence permit with PIN or your tax administration software certificate (ELSTER) for the online application.
• You will receive a notification that your application has been approved or rejected.

In writing by post:

• You can complete the form on the BAMF website or via the federal portal and print it out or download it, print it out and complete it by hand.
• Sign the completed form.
• Attach the required supporting documents to your form.
• Send the form to the BAMF regional office responsible for you.
• The BAMF will check your application and contact you if there are any questions or missing documents.
• You will receive a notification that your application has been approved or rejected.

An application is usually required before the start of the course.

Persons entitled to participate who have been exempted from the cost contribution obligation are obliged to inform the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees immediately if they are no longer granted the benefits or assistance described above, if the amount of their gross remuneration exceeds the values applicable to them or if the circumstances that led to the assumption of unreasonable hardship have ceased to exist.

• Objection
• Complaint

• Exemption from the cost contribution to the integration course Granting
• Cost waiver for attending an integration course for financially disadvantaged persons
• Applications can be submitted:
  • Recipients of social benefits or
  • those in financial need for other reasons
  • Employees whose gross salary does not exceed 33% of the annual contribution assessment ceiling for general pension insurance. The amount is increased by 10 percent of the annual contribution assessment ceiling for general pension insurance in the case of one child and by 20 percent in the case of two or more eligible children in accordance with § 32 of the Income Tax Act.
• the application should be submitted early (before the start of the course)
• Information from: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
• Application via: Applications must be submitted online or in writing to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
• Responsible: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)