'Integration Courses in Germany: Who Needs Them, How Much They Cost, and

An integration course in Germany is a BAMF program for migrants where German language learning is combined with basic knowledge about the country’s laws, history, politics, and everyday life. For some participants the course is voluntary, while for others it is a mandatory integration requirement connected to the Auslaenderbehoerde, Jobcenter, or the extension of their status.

A standard Integrationskurs consists of a language course and an Orientierungskurs. The goal is to reach a practical German level of A2-B1, pass the Deutsch-Test fuer Zuwanderer (DTZ), pass the Leben in Deutschland test, and receive the Zertifikat Integrationskurs.

What the Integrationskurs certificate gives you

The certificate confirms two things: sufficient knowledge of the German language and basic knowledge of German society. In practice, it may be needed for:

a Niederlassungserlaubnis, if the authority requires proof of language skills and knowledge of the legal order;
naturalization, where language skills and knowledge of the Rechts- und Gesellschaftsordnung are important;
communication with the Auslaenderbehoerde, Jobcenter, employers, and educational institutions;
a more confident search for a job, Ausbildung, or further language courses.

The certificate itself does not guarantee a residence permit, permanent residence, a job, or citizenship. It only covers part of the requirements. The remaining conditions depend on your status, income, length of residence, passport, family situation, and the specific procedure.

Who is assigned or allowed to take the course

The participation rules depend on status. Most often, an assignment or permission is connected to one of these situations:

a person has recently received an Aufenthaltstitel and needs to improve their German for integration;
the Auslaenderbehoerde issues a Verpflichtung zur Teilnahme, meaning an obligation to attend the course;
the Jobcenter or Sozialamt considers the course part of the integration plan;
a person came through family reunification and, when issuing or extending the residence permit, the authority sees a need for the course;
a late repatriate, refugee, or another participant has a separate right to participate;
a migrant has lived in Germany for a long time but applies to BAMF for a Zulassung because their German is still not sufficient for everyday life.

In initial situations involving refugees, late repatriates, family reunification, or a work visa, the consequences of refusal differ. So you should not transfer the rule from one category to another: you need to read the letter from the Auslaenderbehoerde, Jobcenter, or BAMF.

Berechtigungsschein: how to get onto the course

To enroll, you usually need a Berechtigungsschein or Verpflichtung. It is issued by the Auslaenderbehoerde, Jobcenter, another competent authority, or BAMF after an application.

The typical process looks like this:

Receive a referral, obligation, or permission to participate.
Find a school through BAMF-NAvI or the list provided by the authority.
Contact the Kurstraeger and register for an Einstufungstest.
Take the placement test.
Start with the appropriate module or, if your knowledge is sufficient, skip part of the course.

Waiting for a place depends on the city, the schedule, and the course type. In large cities, groups are often full in advance, so the start may not happen immediately after receiving permission.

How much the integration course costs

As of 2026, a participant who is not exempt from payment usually pays a Kostenbeitrag per teaching hour. BAMF materials for integration courses list a rate of 2.29 euros per Unterrichtseinheit. For a regular course of 700 Unterrichtseinheiten, this gives a benchmark of 1,603 euros for the full course if the participant pays for all 600 language hours and 100 hours of the Orientierungskurs themselves.

There may also be additional expenses for textbooks, travel, repeat exams, or extra classes. Textbooks are often purchased by module; the price depends on the school and the set of materials.

An exemption from payment is possible upon application, for example when receiving certain social benefits or in cases of proven financial hardship. Recipients of basic unemployment benefits should clarify the procedure through the Jobcenter and BAMF, because exemption usually does not happen automatically without an application or proof.

Refund of 50% of the cost

BAMF provides for an Antrag auf Rueckerstattung des Kostenbeitrages, meaning an application for a refund of 50% of the participant’s own contribution. This is usually possible if the participant successfully completed the integration course within the prescribed time and paid the Kostenbeitrag themselves.

Important details:

the refund applies specifically to the participant’s own contribution, not to all related expenses;
bank details and proof of successful completion are required;
it is better to check deadlines and eligibility for reimbursement using the current BAMF form;
if the training was fully paid for by the state, there is usually nothing to refund to the participant.

Classes in integration courses in Germany.

How the course is structured

A standard integration course lasts 700 Unterrichtseinheiten:

Course part	Volume	What is studied
Sprachkurs	600 UE	German for everyday life, work, authorities, healthcare, housing, shopping, letters, and phone conversations
Orientierungskurs	100 UE	History, legal system, culture, values, rights, and responsibilities in Germany

There are special formats: literacy courses, courses for parents or women, youth courses, courses for people with special needs, and an intensive course. Depending on the format, the total duration may differ from the standard 700 UE.

Usually there are Vollzeit and Teilzeit options. Full-time study suits those who can learn intensively; evening, daytime, or part-time formats are chosen by working people, parents, and people with time limitations. Online elements are possible with some providers, but final exams are usually organized in person.

Einstufungstest: why you should not overstate your level

Before the course starts, the school conducts an Einstufungstest. It is needed not to judge the person but to ensure the right starting point. If the test shows existing knowledge, the participant may be placed not in the first module but in a later one.

Overstating your level is not beneficial. In the first modules, they cover basic grammar, pronunciation, letters, everyday dialogues, and vocabulary that is later needed for more difficult topics. If you start too high, you can lose pace and end up waiting for the next group in order to move back down.

Students will have to absorb a large amount of new information about the German language and life in Germany.

What is covered in the modules

Initial modules

At the beginning, participants learn the alphabet, pronunciation, numbers, personal details, and simple questions and answers. German for the doctor, the shop, transport, school, neighbors, and basic communication with authorities is introduced.

Intermediate modules

Then come family, housing, work, hobbies, education, shopping, health, banks, insurance, and ads. Participants practice understanding letters, making phone calls, arranging appointments, asking for information, and explaining a problem.

The course starts with the basics: the alphabet, pronunciation, and simple everyday dialogues.

Final language modules

Closer to the end, a larger share of the course is devoted to DTZ preparation. Participants read longer texts, write formal letters, learn to describe a situation, express an opinion, and conduct a dialogue. For example, they need to be able to write to the Auslaenderbehoerde, an employer, a school, a shop, or a landlord.

The textbook is often also a workbook, so reusing it can be inconvenient.

Orientierungskurs

The final block is devoted to Germany as a state and society. The lessons cover democracy, fundamental rights, history, responsibility after the Second World War, German reunification, freedom of religion, equal rights, forms of living together, and the responsibilities of residents.

Attendance and absences

If participation is mandatory, absences can have consequences: the school reports attendance, and the Jobcenter or Auslaenderbehoerde may take violations into account. The specific rules on certificates, permitted absences, and exclusion from the group are set by the contract, the provider, and the authority. It is better to confirm illness with a medical certificate, especially if there are several absences.

The DTZ exam

The language part ends with the Deutsch-Test fuer Zuwanderer. According to BAMF, the DTZ consists of written and oral parts. The written part lasts 100 minutes and includes Hören, Lesen, and a short letter. The oral part takes about 15 minutes: the participant introduces themselves and speaks with the examiners and another participant on assigned topics.

The overall DTZ result can be A2 or B1. To receive the Zertifikat Integrationskurs, you need an overall result of B1.

What is usually tested

Hören: understanding announcements, conversations, messages, and everyday situations.
Lesen: understanding notices, instructions, letters, timetables, and short texts.
Schreiben: a short letter based on a practical situation.
Sprechen: introducing yourself, describing a situation, and a dialogue with a partner.

It is best to check current BAMF, g.a.s.t., or telc materials for exam details, task formats, and grading, because specific task variants and rules may be updated.

The Leben in Deutschland test

After the Orientierungskurs, the Leben in Deutschland test is held. It contains 33 questions, each with four answer choices. The time limit is 60 minutes.

To pass the test as part of the integration course, a minimum of 15 correct answers out of 33 is enough. If the result is also needed as proof of knowledge for naturalization, a higher threshold applies: at least 17 correct answers out of 33.

BAMF provides an official online catalog of questions. As of 2026, the BAMF online trainer lists a catalog of 310 questions, including federal and state-level questions.

If the exam is not passed

If the DTZ does not produce a B1 level, the participant may, under certain conditions, apply to repeat up to 300 Unterrichtseinheiten of the language course and retake the language exam free of charge. BAMF separately points to this option for some participants, especially after full completion of the language course in certain formats.

If there is no right to a free repeat, retakes and additional classes are usually paid for by the participant or by an authority if it confirms support. It is better to check the retake fee with the specific exam center, because the amounts change.

An example of a B1 certificate after successfully completing integration courses.

Common mistakes

Thinking that a referral automatically means free training.
Not submitting a separate application for exemption from the Kostenbeitrag.
Choosing a school only by the nearest address without checking the schedule and start dates.
Overstating your level in the Einstufungstest and ending up in a group that is too difficult.
Ignoring letters from BAMF, the Jobcenter, or the Auslaenderbehoerde.
Confusing the Integrationskurs certificate with an automatic right to permanent residence or citizenship.
Preparing only for the language exam and forgetting about Leben in Deutschland.

Summary

An integration course is not just a language school. It is an official BAMF program with rights, obligations, payment rules, possible benefits, and exams. Before enrolling, you need to understand your status, obtain a Berechtigungsschein or Verpflichtung, choose a Kurstraeger, and check who pays for the course. For most participants, the main goal is to pass the DTZ at B1, pass Leben in Deutschland, and receive the Zertifikat Integrationskurs.