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Integration course; application for participation

If you want to learn German, you can take part in an integration course under certain conditions.

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Online services

  • Antrag zur Teilnahme am Integrationskurs
  • Antrag auf Zulassung zur Teilnahme am Integrationskurs

    Wenn Sie die deutsche Sprache erlernen wollen, können Sie unter bestimmten Voraussetzungen an einem Integrationskurs teilnehmen.

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Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge
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Procedure details

The integration course teaches

  • German language skills and
  • knowledge of the legal system, culture and history of Germany

Every integration course consists of a language course and an orientation course.

There are different types of integration courses:

  • General integration course: this course consists of 600 lessons in the language course and 100 lessons in the orientation course.
  • Special integration courses: These courses consist of 900 lessons in the language course and 100 lessons in the orientation course. They are available for
    • Immigrants with literacy needs (literacy course)
    • people who have not learned the Latin alphabet (secondary literacy course)
    • people with low literacy levels
    • People with disabilities (e.g. with a visual or hearing impairment)
  • Intensive courses: These courses are suitable if language learning is easy for you and you want to and can achieve the course goal particularly quickly. An intensive course consists of 400 lessons in the language course and 30 lessons in the orientation course.

Integration courses are available as full-time and part-time courses.

Before you can take part in an integration course, you will need a certificate of eligibility. This is your participation permit with which you register with an integration course provider.

If you want to take part in an integration course voluntarily, you must first apply to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). You will then receive a certificate of eligibility.

If you are entitled to take part in an integration course as a late repatriate or as a family member, you will receive the certificate of eligibility from the Federal Office of Administration (BVA).

You can apply for participation in the integration course

  • if you are legally and permanently resident in Germany and
  • if you have no or insufficient knowledge of the German language (below level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

Further requirements:

  • You have one of the following residence permits:
    • as a skilled worker
    • as a researcher
    • as a self-employed person
    • for the purpose of family reunification
    • as a person entitled to asylum (on humanitarian grounds), a person entitled to subsidiary protection, a recognized refugee or a recognized refugee
    • as a long-term resident in another member state of the European Union
    • as an immigrant residing for reasons of special political interest, e.g. Jewish immigrant, humanitarian admission program
  • Your stay in Germany is permanent. This is the case if you
    • have a residence permit for at least one year or
    • have had a residence permit for more than 18 months, unless your stay is temporary.

If you do not fall into one of the above groups, you can apply to attend an integration course if you

  • have a permanent and legal residence permit (for example as a citizen of the European Union or as a family member) and
  • do not have sufficient German language skills.

In this case, admission is possible as long as course places are available.

If you have German citizenship, you can also apply to take part in an integration course if you

  • do not have sufficient knowledge of the German language and
  • are in particular need of integration.

You can already be admitted to an integration course during an ongoing asylum procedure if you

  • have a residence permit.

You can also be admitted to the course

  • if you have a tolerated stay permit because
    • urgent humanitarian or personal reasons or
    • significant public interests require your continued temporary presence in Germany.
  • if you have a residence permit because
    • your departure is impossible for legal or factual reasons and
    • you are prevented from leaving the country through no fault of your own.

Admission is not possible:

  • if there is a recognizably low need for integration,
  • if you already have sufficient knowledge of the German language,
  • if you are subject to compulsory education,
  • if you are a young adult taking up school education or training or
  • are continuing your school career in Germany.

  • Required Documents
    • Application for participation in the integration course (online or by post)
    • Copy of passport or identity card
    • Copy of the current residence permit
    • Copy of a power of attorney, if applicable

You can apply for participation in the integration course online or by post.

Apply online:

  • Complete the online application for admission to the integration course.
  • Use the upload function to add the required documents.
  • Log in via your BundID account and send the application. To do this, you must identify yourself with
    • the online function of your identity card,
    • the online function of your electronic residence permit or
    • your tax administration software certificate (ELSTER).
  • The BAMF will check your application and contact you if there are any questions or missing documents.
  • If you are authorized to take part in an integration course, you will receive written confirmation from the BAMF.
  • Register with a course provider as soon as possible using the certificate of eligibility.
  • Choose a course provider in your area. You can search for this on the BAMF website, the BAMF-NAvI, a map-based information system, for example.
  • You will be admitted to the course subject to availability.

Submit your application by post:

  • You can either complete the form on the BAMF website or download it and then complete it.
  • Print out the form and sign it.
  • Send the form together with copies of the required documents to the BAMF regional office responsible for you.
    • You can find the BAMF regional office responsible for you using your zip code via the BAMF-NAvI on the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (under "Authorities").
  • The BAMF will check your application and contact you if there are any questions or missing documents.
  • If you are authorized to take part in an integration course, you will receive written confirmation from the BAMF.
  • Register with a course provider as soon as possible using the certificate of eligibility.
  • Choose a course provider in your area. You can research this on the BAMF website, for example (BAMF-NAvI).
  • You will be admitted to the course subject to availability.

  • Own contribution per lesson (45 minutes): EUR 2.29
  • Total cost contribution for the general integration course EUR 1,603
  • You can apply for a cost contribution exemption:

If you do not receive a cost exemption, you can apply to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) for a refund of 50 percent of your paid cost contribution. To do so, you must provide proof of successful participation in the integration course within 2 years for a general integration course or within 3 years for a special integration course after the initial issue of the authorization to participate: Passing the "Deutsch-Tests für Zuwanderer" (DTZ) and the "Leben in Deutschland" (LiD) test.

You must submit the application before the start of the integration course.

Deviations are possible. (2 to 4 weeks)

There are no indications or special features.

  • Objection
  • Action before the administrative court

Status: 23.10.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bundesministerium des Innern
Source: Federal Portal
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