Integrationskurs (integration course) in Berlin

Legal basis

§§ 43 to 44a AufenthG; the Integrationskursverordnung (IntV, Integration Course Ordinance), particularly § 5 (admission) and § 9 (cost contribution). § 44a AufenthG as amended by the law of 27.10.2025 (BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 256), effective from 30.10.2025.

Entitlement (§ 44 AufenthG)

Foreign nationals with a durable stay are entitled to one-time course participation if they are granted, for the first time, an Aufenthaltserlaubnis for the purpose of employment (§§ 18a to 18d, 18g, 19c and 21), for family reunification, or on humanitarian grounds (Abs. 1). The entitlement expires one year after the title was granted or upon its lapse, unless obstacles outside the foreign national's own control existed (Abs. 2). There is no entitlement for schoolchildren, where integration needs are evidently low, or where sufficient German language skills already exist (Abs. 3). Per the BAMF (residence titles from 2005 onward): a durable stay exists for residence permits valid for more than one year, or where the stay has already lasted at least 18 months. The precise entitlement check in an individual case is a matter for the immigration authority and the BAMF.

Obligation (§ 44a AufenthG)

Obligated to attend is anyone who is entitled under § 44 and cannot communicate at least in a simple way in German, or who demonstrates insufficient language skills. The obligation ends, apart from through withdrawal or revocation, only upon proper completion of the course (Abs. 1a). Exceptions apply, among others, for comparable educational offers within vocational training, or where attendance is impossible or unreasonable (Abs. 2). Failure to comply can lead to coercive measures and cost contributions (Abs. 3).

2026 status: admission freeze and readmission

Per reports on the BAMF's provider circular from February 2026 (including Flüchtlingsrat NRW and taz of 09.02.2026), no new admissions for voluntary participation under § 44 Abs. 4 AufenthG were granted from that point on; admissions already granted remained valid. This was justified by financial risks and the need to secure sustainable funding. Per the report from Flüchtlingsrat NRW, participation as a self-payer remained possible. The figure of around 129,500 affected people comes from taz and is not a BAMF figure.

Per the BAMF information letter "Wiederzulassung von bestimmten Personengruppen nach § 44 Abs. 4 AufenthG" (readmission of certain groups under § 44 Abs. 4 AufenthG, as of August 2026), the suspension is being ended "within available course places". As of 1 August 2026, the BAMF is readmitting certain groups on application. Per § 5 Abs. 4 S. 2 IntV as amended by the Federal Government, priority is given to: (1) foreign nationals holding a residence permit under § 24 AufenthG, (2) German nationals and other EU citizens without sufficient German skills for employment or training, and family members of both groups. Processing follows order of application receipt; only complete applications are considered; both groups are treated equally. For EU citizens, the following count as "available again to the labor market": people entitled to Arbeitslosengeld under § 136 SGB III, people exempted from the cost-contribution obligation under § 9 Abs. 2 S. 1 Nr. 3 IntV, and people who were employed in Germany without having acquired entitlement to Arbeitslosengeld. Applications must be filed digitally via the Bundesportal.

This does not follow from the available information letter, which refers only to "certain groups". People obligated to attend under § 44a AufenthG are not affected by the freeze (per Flüchtlingsrat NRW / reports on the provider circular).

Structure and completion (BAMF)

Language course: 600 teaching units (UE), up to 900 UE in special courses, 400 UE in the intensive course; orientation course: 100 UE; total 700 UE (general) to 1,000 UE (special courses). Literacy course: a maximum of 1,300 teaching hours (per the BAMF homepage). Full-time and part-time courses, youth integration courses. Completion: the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ), level B1, and the "Leben in Deutschland" test; the Integrationskurs certificate follows. Repeating individual course sections is possible, even after already completing 1,200 UE (BAMF); a separate online application exists for repetition (300 teaching hours).

Costs and exemption

The cost contribution amounts to 50 percent of the cost-reimbursement rate applicable at the time of registration (§ 9 IntV). Per the BAMF FAQ, a teaching hour "usually" costs 2.29 euros, and a 700-hour course around 1,603 euros (BAMF page; states "as of 01.08.2022"; the amount can change via the cost-reimbursement rate without the law itself being amended). Exemption on application: receipt of benefits under SGB II or XII (the BAMF FAQ names "Grundsicherungsgeld, Arbeitslosengeld, or Hilfe zum Lebensunterhalt"), low earned income (gross monthly wage below a threshold; the specific threshold was not confirmed: no confirmed information is available for this), or unreasonable hardship. A 50 percent refund of the cost contribution is available for successfully passing the final test within two years (§ 9 IntV; three years for special courses).

Implementation in Berlin

The BAMF (regional office per BAMF-NAvI) is responsible for admission and assignment; which regional office is responsible for Berlin was not confirmed: no confirmed information is available for this. Courses are offered by admitted providers, searchable via BAMF-NAvI. Berlin's Volkshochschulen offer "Integrationskurs – Beratung und Einstufung" (service.berlin.de): 30 to 45 minutes, no fees, in all 12 districts; you need your passport and residence title, and if applicable the obligation notice from the immigration authority or Jobcenter and the Jobcenter's decision notice. A complete list of Berlin course providers was not confirmed: no confirmed information is available for this.

Contradictions and uncertainties

The BAMF homepage and the information letter, dated August 2026, describe readmission; media and advocacy-group reports from February 2026 describe the freeze as being "until further notice". Both apply, sequentially, at their respective times. The text of § 44 AufenthG contained no date annotation. The cost contribution of 2.29 euros is documented with the date 2022; whether it remains unchanged in 2026 is stated by the BAMF only as "usually".