Integrationskurse für Ausländer: Teilnahme beantragen

As a foreigner, you have the opportunity to take part in a state-subsidized integration course. In certain cases, you are even obliged to do so.

The aim of the integration course is to acquire "sufficient language skills" to be able to communicate in German in everyday life and to impart knowledge of the legal system, culture and history in Germany.

Note: EU citizens are not entitled to participate in an integration course. However, they can participate if there are enough places available. You must apply for participation at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

Successful participation in the integration course is completed with an examination for the German certificate (corresponds to language level B 1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

The course includes:

• Basic and advanced language course (600 lessons in total) to provide sufficient German language skills
• Orientation course (60 lessons) to impart knowledge of the legal system, culture and history in Germany

Note: The language courses consist of six course sections with different levels of proficiency. You can repeat individual course sections at your own expense or continue the course upon application to the BAMF (300 lessons) after you have

• have attended 600 lessons and
• have not passed the German certificate examination.

Tip: Integration courses are run by private and public providers who are approved by the BAMF. You can search for integration courses in your area on the BAMF website:

Confirmation of your eligibility or obligation to participate.

Please enquire at the BAMF or the responsible foreigners authority which additional documents are required.

The prerequisites for taking part in integration courses are

• You have
  • a residence permit for the first time
    • for the purpose of gainful employment (self-employment and employment),
    • for the purpose of family reunification,
    • for humanitarian reasons according to § 25 para. 1 and 2, 4a sentence 3 or 25b AufenthG
    • as a long-term resident in accordance with § 38 AufenthG or
  • The BAMF has granted you a promise of admission on the basis of an order by the Federal Ministry of the Interior to safeguard the special political interests of the Federal Republic of Germany (settlement permit pursuant to Section 23 (2) AufenthG) or the Federal Ministry of the Interior has ordered the BAMF to grant you a promise of admission as a resettlement refugee (Section 23 (4) AufenthG).
• You are staying in Germany permanently.

You are obliged to participate if you fulfill the above requirements and

• are unable to communicate in German in a simple manner or
• did not have sufficient knowledge of the German language at the time a residence permit was issued in accordance with § 23 Para. 2, § 28 Para. 1 Sentence 1 No. 1 or § 30 or
• receive benefits under the Second Book of the German Social Code (e.g. unemployment benefit II) and participation is provided for in an integration agreement or
• are in particular need of integration and the foreigners authority has asked you to participate.

Please note: Failure to comply with the obligation to participate can lead to the refusal to extend a residence permit or to the refusal of a settlement permit. If you receive benefits in accordance with the Second Book of the German Social Security Code, your benefits may be reduced by up to 30 percent. In addition, the Foreigners' Registration Office is entitled to charge you the expected course fees ahead of time.

§ Section 44 (3) AufenthG specifies cases in which there is no entitlement to participation.

When it comes to integration courses, the Residence Act provides different rules for the costs. Information on how much the course will cost you can be found on the following pages.

The Foreigners' Registration Office will inform you of your eligibility or obligation to participate. It will issue you with a corresponding confirmation. With this confirmation, you can - and if you are obliged to - register for an integration course with an approved course provider of your choice.

You are only entitled to participate once.

If you are obliged to take part in an integration course, you must register for a course immediately.

To the foreigners authority in whose district you usually reside (depending on your place of residence, the district administrator or the mayor) or the BAMF.

The BAMF is responsible for the integration courses.