Foreign nationals
- Regulations for foreign nationals who obtained their first residence title after 1 January 2005
- Regulations for foreign nationals who have been living in Germany for an extended length of time
Foreign nationals have a legal entitlement to attend an integration course if they received their first residence title on or after 1 January 2005. Foreign nationals who have been living in Germany for an extended length of time may be permitted by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees to take up available places.
Regulations for foreign nationals who obtained their first residence title after 1 January 2005
Attending an integration course
Foreign nationals who have received a residence title in Germany since 1 January 2005 are entitled to attend an integration course if
- they are permanently resident in the Federal Republic and
- they have received a residence permit for gainful employment, for bringing their family with them, on humanitarian grounds or for being entitled to long-term residence in accordance with § 38 a of the Residence Act (AufenthG), or
- they have received a settlement permit in accordance with § 23, para. 2 of the Residence Act.
Entitlement to attend a course does not, however, apply:
- to children, young people and young adults who attend school or who are continuing their school career in the Federal Republic of Germany,
- if there is little recognisable need for integration, or
- if the foreign national already has sufficient language skills. (In this case, the individual is, however, entitled to attend an orientation course).
Obligation to attend
Newly-arrived immigrants are obliged to attend an integration course if they cannot make themselves understood in simple German (§ 44 a paragraph 1, section 1 no. 1a of the AufenthG) or in adequate German (§ 44 a paragraph 1, section 1 no. 1b of the AufenthG). The local immigration office will decide if there is an obligation to attend.
Newly-arrived immigrants can be obliged to attend if they receive unemployment benefit II and the obligation is set out in the Jobseekers’ Agreement (§ 44 a, paragraph 1, no. 2 AufenthG). In such cases, the obligation will be imposed by the basic security provider.
An obligation can be revoked if the foreigner cannot be expected to attend a part-time course in addition to pursuing his gainful employment. In addition, the exceptional circumstances concerning obligation set out in §44 a, paragraph 2 of the AufenthG are to be noted.
The cost of the integration course
One lesson costs EUR 2.54/2.60 per attendee. Attendees will contribute EUR 1.20 per lesson and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees will contribute the balance. For a course consisting of 660 lessons, the attendee will be required to pay a total of EUR 774 for taking part in the course. The one-off final test is free of charge.
Recipients of unemployment benefit II and social welfare benefit will, on application, be exempted from contributing to costs by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in accordance with § 9, paragraph 2 of the IntV. Other attendees can apply for exemption from contributing to costs if they can prove that payment of the contribution to costs will cause particular hardship. In such cases, the BAMF will carry out a means test.
Persons entitled to attend courses who receive unemployment benefit II and who are obliged to attend an integration course by a basic security provider or who have been exempted from contributing to course costs may apply to have any travel expenses reimbursed that are incurred in relation to proper attendance at the course. Attendees who do not receive unemployment benefit II and who are obliged to attend a course by a local immigration office can receive an allowance towards their travel expenses.
Regulations for foreign nationals who have been living in Germany for an extended length of time
Attending an integration course
Foreign nationals who received a residence title in Germany before 1 January 2005 do not have a legal entitlement to attend an integration course. They may, however, be permitted to attend an integration course if there are sufficient places available by applying to the BAMF, in accordance with § 44, para. 4 of the Residence Act. This condition also applies to foreign nationals with a residence title issued in accordance with § 104 a, para.1 or § 23 para. 1 of the Residence Act.
Obligation to attend
Foreign nationals who received a residence title before 1 January 2005 may be obliged to attend if they receive unemployment benefit II and the obligation is set out in the Jobseekers’ Agreement (§ 44 a, paragraph 1, no. 2 AufenthG). In such cases, the obligation will be imposed by the basic security provider.
In accordance with § 44 a, paragraph 1 no 3 of the AufenthG, foreign nationals are obliged to attend courses if they have special integration needs. Anyone who has not yet managed to integrate into the economic, cultural and social life of the Federal Republic of Germany without state help is deemed to have a special need for integration. The particular need for integration will be established by the local foreign affairs office.
The obligation is to be revoked if it is not reasonable to expect the foreign national to attend a part-time course in addition to earning a living. In addition, the exceptional circumstances concerning obligation set out in § 44 a, paragraph 2 of the AufenthG are to be noted.
According to these rules, it is not possible to oblige anyone to attend an integration course
- if they have already begun professional or another type of training in Germany or can prove that they are attending a comparable training programme or
- if long-term attendance at the integration course is impossible or unreasonable (because they are looking after a family member, for example).
The cost of the integration course
One lesson costs EUR 2.54/2.60 per attendee. Attendees will contribute EUR 1.20 per lesson and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees will contribute the balance. For a course consisting of 660 lessons, the attendee will be required to pay a total of EUR 774 for taking part in the course. The one-off final test is free of charge.
Recipients of unemployment benefit II and social welfare benefits can, on application, be exempted from contributing to the costs of the course. On application, other attendees may be exempted from contributing to the cost of the course if paying for the course constitutes particular hardship. In such cases, the BAMF will carry out a means test. People who are entitled to attend courses, who receive unemployment benefit II and are required by a basic security provider to attend an integration course or who have been exempted from contributing to costs in accordance with § 9, paragraph 2 of the IntV by the BAMF will have any travel expenses incurred in connection with proper attendance at the course reimbursed. Attendees who do not receive unemployment benefit II and who are obliged to attend a course by a local immigration office can receive an allowance towards their travel expenses.
