Integration Courses

• Instruction Sheet for Integration Course
• What is an integration course?
• The orientation course
• Taking the final examination
• Advantages of attending the integration course
• Due participation in the course
• Costs for the integration course
• Repeating the follow-up language course
• Course overview

Instruction Sheet for Integration Course

for immigrants who already have long-term residency in Germany time, citizens of the European Union as well as German citizens who do not have an adequate command of German.
If you already have long-term residency as an immigrant in Germany, or if you are a citizen of the European Union, or if as a German you do not have an adequate command of the German language, you can submit an application to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees for authorisation to attend an integration course. Children, adolescents and young adults who are still attending school cannot take part in the integration course.

What is an integration course?

The general integration course consists of a language course with 600 hours and an orientation course organised over 60 lesson hours. The language course consists of modules of 100 lesson hours each. The first 300 hours are called the basic language course, while the subsequent 300 lesson hours represent the follow-on language course. In the language course you learn the vocabulary you need to speak and write in everyday situations. This includes contact with authorities, conversations with neighbours and colleagues, writing letters and completing forms.

The orientation course

informs you about life in Germany and provides knowledge about the legal system, the culture and the recent history of Germany.
There are also special integration courses, for example for women, parents, young people as well as for participants who cannot read or write properly. These courses last for 960 hours. If you learn particularly quickly, you can attend an intensive course. This lasts for only 430 hours. The course provider carries out an assessment before the beginning of the course to decide which is the right course for you and which module you should tackle first.

Taking the final examination

The final examination consists of a language test and the test relating to the orientation course. If you can prove in the language test that you have a sufficient command of German, and if you pass the test relating to the orientation course, you have successfully completed the integration course and are awarded the “Integration Course Certificate”.
If you were not successful, you will only be given a certificate confirming the results you achieved.
Participation in the final examination is free of charge.

Advantages of attending the integration course

Immigrants from a country that does not belong to the European Union must meet certain requirements if they wish to obtain an unlimited right of residence in Germany. Among other things, they must have an adequate command of the German language as well as basic knowledge of the legal and social system and of living conditions in Germany. These requirements have been met when such persons have successfully completed the integration course. Moreover, this also allows them to acquire German citizenship earlier if desired.
The knowledge of the German language acquired in the integration courses also makes everyday life easier in Germany and improves immigrants’ chances on the labour market.
Authorisation by the Federal Office to attend the integration course, and registration with the course provider.
Please fill in the application for authorisation to attend, fully and legibly. You can also consult a course provider near you to help you to submit your application. Then send the application to the regional agency of the Federal Office responsible for your place of residence.
When you are authorised to attend an integration course, you will receive written confirmation from the Federal Office (Certificate of Eligibility). At the same time you will also be given a list of the course providers that offer integration courses near your place of residence.
Your authorisation to attend the integration course is valid for two years. In the letter of confirmation, under “Authorisation is valid until …”, you will find a date up until when you can register for an integration course with a course provider. You should therefore register as soon as possible and submit your Certificate of Eligibility to the course provider!

Due participation in the course

You should participate in the course in due form in order to achieve the goal of the integration course. This means regularly attending classes and taking part in the final examination. Due participation in the course is also important for you if you wish to receive a travel allowance or repeat the lesson hours of the language course at a later date. Your course provider will provide you with written confirmation of your participation at your request.
In general, it is only possible to change course provider upon completing a section of the course.

Costs for the integration course

You must pay the course provider a contribution of € 1.55 for every lesson of the integration course. This amount is to be paid at the beginning of each module of 100 hours and before the orientation course. If you do not attend classes, the contribution to costs for the lessons you have missed cannot be refunded. If you have no income of your own, the person who is obliged to pay for your maintenance must pay your contribution to the costs.
You can be exempted from contributing to costs if you receive unemployment benefit II or social assistance, or if you find it difficult to pay the contribution because of your low income. You must apply in writing to the regional office of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees responsible for you (see list of addresses).
Please enclose verification of your financial need (copy of the relevant certificate, such as a notification of unemployment compensation II, social benefits, housing benefits, student loan [Befog], child allowance, benefits pursuant to the Act on Benefits for Asylum Seekers, exemption from day care fees, exemption from radio and television licence (GEZ) fees, local social ticket, etc.). Please submit the application before you begin the course, if possible.
Reimbursement of the contribution to the costs
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees can reimburse you for 50% of the contribution of the costs which you have already paid if you have successfully taken the final examination after 8 December 2007. However, this only applies if no more than two years have passed between the issuance of confirmation of eligibility to attend the course and the completion of the final examination. You will have to file an application to the competent regional office of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in order to receive reimbursement.

Repeating the follow-up language course

If you were unable to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of German in the language test, you will be able to repeat up to 300 lesson hours of the language course on a one-time basis and take the language test again free of charge. However, this requires you to have attended the lessons regularly.
Participation in the language test is not necessary if you are attending a literacy course.
You will have to file an application with the competent regional office of the Federal Office in order to repeat lesson hours.

Course overview

• Integrationskurse
• Lesen und Schreiben
• Orientierungskurse