An integration course Germany (Integrationskurs) combines a German-for-everyday-life language course with an Orientierungskurs, running to 700 teaching units aimed at B1. Whether you can join, must join, and how much you pay depend on your personal status and a decision by the relevant authority – not an automatic, free offer for every foreign national. Once you know your status, BAMF-NAvI is the next step: the federal search tool for finding an approved course near you. This guide reflects the rules in force as of September 2026.
What is an integration course in Germany?
An integration course has two parts, both counted toward the final certificate.
| Part | Length | Content |
| Language course (Sprachkurs) | 600 teaching units | Everyday German: work, shopping, healthcare, dealing with authorities, writing emails, job interviews |
| Orientation course (Orientierungskurs) | 100 teaching units | German history, law, politics and society |
A teaching unit (UE) is 45 minutes, so 700 UE is roughly 525 clock hours. The outcome is a language level, usually B1, plus working knowledge of German institutions and everyday life – broader than a private German class, which teaches language only. Being written in English does not mean the course is taught in English: German is the language of instruction; this guide simply targets English-speaking readers researching the system.
Who can join an integration course in Germany?
Access falls into three routes.
| Route | Basis | What it means |
| Entitlement (Anspruch) | § 44 AufenthG | A one-off right to join, typically on first receiving a residence permit for work, family reunification or humanitarian reasons |
| Obligation (Verpflichtung) | § 44a AufenthG | The Ausländerbehörde, a Jobcenter or the Agentur für Arbeit requires attendance, usually because German is judged insufficient |
| Voluntary participation | § 44 (4) AufenthG | Possible within available course places for people without a direct entitlement, subject to a separate BAMF decision |
EU citizens and German nationals without sufficient German can also apply, but only as voluntary participants, subject to available places.
Entitlement, permission and compulsory attendance
Entitlement is tied to a specific document: it usually arises the first time someone receives a residence permit for employment, family reunification or certain humanitarian grounds, confirmed by the Ausländerbehörde at issue. Compulsory attendance is a separate decision, made either by the Ausländerbehörde (if German is judged insufficient) or later by a Jobcenter for Bürgergeld recipients. Main exceptions: people who already communicate adequately in German, minors in full-time education, and people who cannot reasonably attend for health or caregiving reasons – assessed case by case.
What changed in 2026?
In February 2026, BAMF stopped approving new voluntary participation under § 44 (4) AufenthG – asylum seekers, people with a Duldung and other applicants without a direct entitlement – citing sustainable financing. People with an existing entitlement or obligation were unaffected throughout. From 1 August 2026, an amended Integrationskursverordnung reopened a limited quota, prioritising Ukrainian refugees under § 24 AufenthG, German nationals without sufficient German, and EU citizens. If this applies to you, confirm current availability with BAMF or your provider rather than relying on older information.
How long does an integration course take?
There is no single fixed duration in months, because pace and weekly hours vary by provider and format:
- General course: 700 UE (600 language + 100 orientation), full-time or part-time, typically several months.
- Intensive course: 500 UE (400 language + 100 orientation), open only to people whose result on the initial placement test (Einstufungstest) suggests they can reach B1 in fewer hours.
- Special courses: for women, parents, young adults up to 26, or literacy learners, with adjusted pacing and content.
The Einstufungstest, taken before the course starts, sets your entry module so you are not repeating levels you already have.
How much does an integration course cost?
Entitled or obliged participants pay a reduced contribution (Kostenbeitrag) of currently 2.29 euros per UE. Self-funded participants without any entitlement pay the unsubsidised provider rate instead – one large provider quoted 458 euros per 100-UE module in 2026, roughly double, since no federal subsidy applies. A travel subsidy can be requested if the course is more than 3 km from home.
| Situation | Typical cost |
| Entitled or obliged participant | 2.29 €/UE (~229 € per 100-UE module) |
| Self-funded, no entitlement | Full provider rate (~458 € per 100-UE module, example above) |
| Travel over 3 km | Subsidy available on request |
Fee exemptions and the 50% refund
Exemption from the Kostenbeitrag is not tied only to citizenship or unemployment. It is granted on application, usually to people receiving Bürgergeld, social assistance or asylum-seeker benefits, or to anyone who can show the fee would create particular hardship, with supporting documents attached. Separately, anyone who pays the Kostenbeitrag and passes the final exam within two years (general course) or three years (special course) can apply for a 50% refund – it is not automatic.
How to find and apply for an integration course
- Check your status and whether you already hold a Berechtigungsschein or Verpflichtung from your Ausländerbehörde, Jobcenter or the Agentur für Arbeit.
- If not, contact the relevant authority to request admission or confirm your obligation.
- If you may qualify for a fee exemption, apply for it separately, with supporting proof.
- Search BAMF-NAvI for an approved ==BAMF integration course== provider near you and confirm places, schedule and format.
- Register, submit your documents, sit the Einstufungstest and confirm enrolment.
- Agree the start date, attendance requirements and exam dates with the provider.
Providers generally help with steps 4 to 6 once the paperwork from steps 1 to 3 is in place.
Documents to prepare
For the authority: identity document, current residence permit, and (where relevant) proof of benefits for a fee exemption. For the school: the authority’s Berechtigungsschein or Verpflichtung confirmation, identity document, and any prior German certificates. Keep a fee-exemption confirmation as a separate document.
Online courses and practical arrangements
Not every course is approved for online delivery – confirm with the provider. Online courses still run to a fixed weekly timetable and need your own computer and stable internet; exams are typically in person. Some providers offer childcare, but this is a feature of specific courses, not a standard part of every one, so ask directly.
Integration course tests and certificates
The course ends with two tests. The Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) measures language ability at A2 or B1. The Leben in Deutschland (LiD) test has 33 questions on society, law and history; 15 correct answers pass the course requirement, while 17 or more also counts toward the separate naturalisation test if needed later. Passing both at the required level earns the “Zertifikat Integrationskurs” – it does not itself grant a residence status or citizenship, but supports later applications.
If you do not reach B1
If you finish the language course without reaching B1, you can apply to BAMF for a one-off repeat of up to 300 additional teaching units, including one free repeat of the language exam. This is not automatic: it needs an application, a new admission decision, and normally that your original hours are used and the test was failed.
Common mistakes to avoid
- A Berechtigungsschein is permission to apply, not a confirmed course place.
- A fee exemption must be applied for; it is not automatic just because you receive benefits.
- 700 UE means 700 units of 45 minutes each, not 700 clock hours.
- Compulsory attendance and document deadlines are not optional; missing them can affect your residence status or benefits.
- Tell the authority and provider before moving city or changing job situation mid-course, not after.
What comes after an integration course?
The right next step depends on your goal. A further general German course suits consolidating B1 or moving toward B2. A Berufssprachkurs (job-related German, also BAMF or Agentur für Arbeit funded) adds occupation-specific vocabulary, usually targeting B2 or C1. A professional Weiterbildung – training in the tools and workflows of a specific job rather than more German – fits once you have the language level a role needs. DWW Akademie, for example, runs an accounting course adapted for B1–B2 German with DATEV and Lexware, aimed at exactly this stage. Admission and funding conditions differ for each and are worth checking separately.
FAQ
Is the integration course free for everyone? No. There is no blanket free integration course Germany policy: entitled or obliged participants pay a reduced 2.29 €/UE contribution, waivable on application for hardship or benefit receipt; people without any entitlement usually pay the full provider rate.
Who has to attend an integration course? Only people the Ausländerbehörde, a Jobcenter or the Agentur für Arbeit formally require to attend, usually because German is judged insufficient – not everyone who is eligible to join.
What happens if I do not pass the final test? You can apply to BAMF for a one-off repeat of up to 300 additional teaching units, plus one free repeat of the language exam, once your original allowance is used and the application is approved.
Can I complete an integration course online? Some providers offer BAMF-approved online courses, but not all do, and exams are usually in person, so confirm the format before enrolling.
Does the certificate help with future citizenship applications? It can. A Leben in Deutschland result of 17 or more correct answers also counts toward the naturalisation test, and completing an integration course can shorten the residence period required for naturalisation in some cases – check current rules with your Ausländerbehörde.
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