Information on participation in the integration course

Prerequisites

PARTICIPATION POSSIBILITIES / COURSE TYPES / COURSE SEARCH
As a non-EU citizen (third-country national) you are entitled to attend an integration course,

• if you received a residence permit for the first time after January 1, 2005 and are staying permanently in Germany
• as an employee (§§ 18, 21 AufenthG),
• for reasons of family reunification (§§ 28, 29, 30, 32, 36 AufenthG);
• as a long-term resident (§ 38a AufenthG),
• if you received a residence or settlement permit for international law, humanitarian or political reasons after January 1st, 2005 and you are staying permanently in Germany
• by order of the Federal Ministry of the Interior to protect special political interests (§ 23 Para. 2 AufenthG) or
• by order of the Federal Ministry of the Interior for the resettlement of people seeking protection (resettlement refugees, § 23 Para. 4 AufenthG) or
• upon recognition as a person entitled to asylum (§ 25 Para. 1 AufenthG) or
• if refugee status or subsidiary protection is granted (section 25 subs. 2 of the Residence Act) or
• as a victim of a criminal offense under Sections 232, 233 or 233a of the Criminal Code after the criminal proceedings have ended, if humanitarian or personal reasons or public interests require continued presence in Germany (Section 25 (4a) sentence 3 of the Residence Act) or
• in the case of sustainable integration of those who have been tolerated (§ 25b AufenthG).

• you are a child, adolescent or young adult and you are starting school or continuing your previous school career in the Federal Republic of Germany,
• you have a recognizable low need for integration or
• if you already have sufficient knowledge of the German language (level B1 of the CEFR).

• by the immigration authorities: if you are entitled to participate and
• cannot communicate at least in a basic way in German (level A1 of the GER) (§ 44a Para. 1 S. 1 No. 1 lit. a) or
• do not have sufficient knowledge of the German language (level B1 of the GER) at the time the residence title is issued in accordance with Section 23 (2), Section 28 (1) sentence 1 no. 1 or Section 30 AufenthG (Section 44a (1) sentence 1 No. 1 lit. b).

Documents required

To register for an integration course, you need a certificate of eligibility, which the following authorities can issue:

• Immigration authorities (eligibility or obligation to participate)
• Basic security provider (participation obligation)
• Provider of benefits according to AsylbLG (obligation to participate)
• Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (admission, admission to repeat)
• Federal Office of Administration (confirmation of entitlement for late resettlers)

Please note

The immigration authorities can also oblige you to attend a course when issuing a residence permit in accordance with Section 25 (1) or (2) of the Residence Act (person entitled to asylum, recognition of refugee status or subsidiary protection) if you are only able to communicate in a simple manner in German (level A1 of the GER) be able to communicate.
In addition, you are obliged to take part in the integration course if you have a special need for integration and the immigration authorities ask you to take part (Section 44a (1) sentence 1 no. 3 of the Residence Act). A special need for integration can be assumed in particular if you, as the person responsible for caring for a minor living in Germany, do not have sufficient knowledge of the German language (level B1 of the GER) and you have therefore not yet been able to establish yourself
integrate into the economic, cultural and social life of the Federal Republic of Germany without state aid.

• by the provider of basic security:
• If you receive unemployment benefit II and participation in the integration course is provided for in the integration agreement according to SGB II (Section 44a, Paragraph 1, Sentence 1, No. 2 of the Residence Act).
• by the provider of benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (§ 44a Para. 1 S. 1 No. 4 AufenthG): If you receive benefits under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act and
• as an asylum seeker have a residence permit according to § 55 Para. 1 AsylbLG and a lawful permanent residence can be expected with you (good prospects of residence, which are currently given in the following countries of origin: Eritrea, Iraq, Iran, Somalia and Syria) and the Federal Republic of Germany for the is responsible for carrying out your asylum procedure or
• have a toleration according to § 60a Abs. 2 S. 3 AufenthG or
• hold a residence permit in accordance with Section 25, Paragraph 5 of the Residence Act.

• you are in Germany in vocational or other training,
• You can provide evidence of participation in comparable educational opportunities in Germany (e.g. public or private schools, vocational schools or private courses offered by employers or other providers) or
• Your participation is impossible or unreasonable in the long term (e.g. if you have a disability or are caring for disabled family members).

• if you are a German citizen, do not have sufficient knowledge of the German language (level B1 of the GER) and have not yet been able to integrate into the economic, cultural and social life in the federal territory without state help (§ 44 Para. 4 S. 2 alternative 1 AufenthG in conjunction with Section 5 (4) No. 4 IntV),
• if you are an EU citizen entitled to freedom of movement or your family members do not have sufficient language skills (level B1 of the GER) and you have not yet been able to integrate into the economic, cultural and social life in the federal territory without state help (§ 11 Para. 1 S 1 FreizügG/EU in conjunction with Section 44 (4) Residence Act and Section 5 (4) No. 4 IntV),
• if you are a non-EU citizen and obtained your residence permit before January 1, 2005 (Section 44 (4) sentence 1 of the Residence Act),
• if you are a non-EU citizen who had a legal right to attend an integration course but were prevented from attending for reasons beyond your control,
• if you are a non-EU citizen and
• as an asylum seeker have a residence permit according to Section 55 (1) AsylG and a lawful permanent residence can be expected with you (good prospects of staying, which are currently given in the following countries of origin: Eritrea, Iraq, Iran, Somalia and Syria) and the Federal Republic of Germany for the is responsible for carrying out your asylum procedure or
• have a toleration according to § 60a Abs. 2 S. 3 AufenthG or
• hold a residence permit in accordance with Section 25, Paragraph 5 of the Residence Act.

Deadlines

After receiving the certificate of eligibility to participate in an integration course


Contact a course provider near you as soon as possible (see WebGIS ).


If the certificate of eligibility has a validity date, you must register with a course provider before the validity expires. Registration after the validity has expired is no longer possible. If you have been obliged to take part in the integration course, you must register immediately and submit proof of this to the obligatory authority (foreigners authority, provider of basic security or provider of benefits under the AsylbLG).

Procedure

To take part in an integration course, you need a valid certificate of entitlement, which the following authorities can issue to you, depending on your residence status:

• Immigration authorities (eligibility or obligation to participate)
• Basic security provider (participation obligation)
• Provider of benefits according to AsylbLG (obligation to participate)
• Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (admission, admission to repeat)
• Federal Office of Administration (confirmation of entitlement for late resettlers).

Fees

Individual case dependent

Legal basis

§§ 43, 44 and 44a of the law on the residence, employment and integration of foreigners in Germany (residence law) ordinance on the implementation of integration courses for foreigners and late resettlers (integration course ordinance)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__43.html