What is the Integrationskurs and is it worth taking?
Moving to Germany comes with a lot of paperwork, appointments, and acronyms you’ve never heard before. One of the first things many newcomers encounter is the word “Integrationskurs.” Maybe your local immigration office mentioned it, maybe a friend told you it’s mandatory, or maybe you just stumbled across it while trying to figure out what comes next. Either way, this article gives you a clear, honest breakdown of what the German integration course actually involves, who needs to take it, what it costs, and whether it’s genuinely useful for learning the language.
What is the Integrationskurs and who is it for?
The Integrationskurs is a government-funded language and orientation program in Germany designed for immigrants who are new to the country. It combines German language instruction with a civics component called the Orientierungskurs, which covers German society, law, history, and democratic values. The course is organized and funded by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
The program primarily targets non-EU citizens who have recently received a residence permit and are planning to stay in Germany long-term. This includes people who moved for work, family reunification, or humanitarian reasons. EU citizens are generally not required to attend, though they can apply to participate voluntarily if spots are available.
The integration course is not a single class but a structured program designed to bring participants from zero German knowledge up to a functional level. It is meant for adults, and the content reflects that, focusing on practical communication skills needed for everyday life in Germany.
How does the Integrationskurs work in practice?
The Integrationskurs consists of up to 700 hours of instruction in total. The language component runs for 600 hours and takes learners from complete beginner level up to B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The remaining 100 hours are dedicated to the Orientierungskurs, which covers civic knowledge about Germany.
Courses are offered by a wide range of approved providers across Germany, including adult education centers (Volkshochschulen), private language schools, and community organizations. You can usually choose between full-time and part-time schedules, which makes it easier to fit around work or childcare.
If you’re looking for a BAMF-approved provider, SprachHaus is one of the leading language schools in Germany for Integrationskurse. In addition to courses at its campus in Cologne, SprachHaus also offers a wide range of live online Integrationskurse, making it possible to participate from anywhere in Germany. With experienced teachers, flexible schedules, and classes designed specifically for adult learners, it’s an excellent option whether you prefer to learn in person or online.
lingoni recently visited SprachHaus in Cologne and took a behind-the-scenes tour of the language school. In this video, you get to meet the team, and see how Sprachhaus supports learners on their journey to improving their German.
Here is a quick overview of how the program is structured:
- Language instruction: 600 hours, covering speaking, listening, reading, and writing from A1 to B1
- Orientierungskurs: 100 hours focused on German law, history, culture, and civic values
- Final exam: The “Leben in Deutschland” test (for the civics component) and the DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) for the language component
Class sizes vary by provider, but sessions typically run in small to medium-sized groups. The quality of instruction can differ significantly between providers, so it is worth reading reviews or asking other immigrants in your area before enrolling.
Who is required to take the Integrationskurs?
Attendance at the Integrationskurs is mandatory for certain groups of immigrants. If you are a non-EU citizen with a permanent residence permit or a specific type of temporary residence permit, and you cannot demonstrate sufficient German language skills, you will likely be required to attend. The immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) or the Jobcenter can issue a formal obligation to participate.
You are generally required to attend if:
- You are a non-EU citizen with a long-term residence permit and little to no German knowledge
- You receive social benefits and your German is assessed as insufficient
- You are a spouse who joined a partner already living in Germany
- You are a recognized refugee or person with subsidiary protection status
If participation is mandatory and you refuse without a valid reason, it can have consequences for your residence status or benefit entitlements. However, many people also attend voluntarily because they want to learn German in a structured way and benefit from the subsidized cost.
How much does the Integrationskurs cost?
The standard contribution for participants is currently around 2.23 euros per lesson hour, which means the full 700-hour course costs approximately 1,560 euros in total. However, many participants pay significantly less or nothing at all, depending on their financial situation.
You may be eligible for a full fee waiver if you receive social benefits such as Bürgergeld or Asylbewerberleistungen. In these cases, the cost is covered entirely. People with low incomes who do not receive benefits can apply for a reduction through BAMF. If you complete the course successfully and pass the final exam within a set timeframe, you may also be eligible to have a portion of the fees refunded.
The cost structure is designed to make the program accessible. For most immigrants in financial need, the actual out-of-pocket expense is very low or zero.
What certificate do you get after the Integrationskurs?
After completing the Integrationskurs, participants who pass both final exams receive the “Integrationskursnachweis,” which confirms successful completion of the program. This document shows that you have reached B1 level in German and passed the “Leben in Deutschland” civics test.
The language exam is called the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) and is administered by approved testing organizations such as telc or the Goethe-Institut. Passing it confirms your German is at B1 level, which is considered a functional everyday communication level.
This certificate matters for several practical reasons:
- It can support your application for a permanent residence permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis)
- It demonstrates language integration to employers and public authorities
- It may be required when applying for German citizenship, where B1 is the minimum language standard
If you do not pass on the first attempt, you are allowed to retake the exam. BAMF also allows participants to repeat parts of the course if needed.
Is the Integrationskurs enough to become fluent in German?
The Integrationskurs takes you to B1 level, which is not fluency. B1 means you can handle familiar everyday situations, understand simple texts, and communicate on routine topics. It is a solid foundation, but it falls short of the B2 level most employers expect, and well short of the C1 or C2 level that native-like fluency requires.
Whether the course is “worth it” depends on your goals. If your aim is to meet legal requirements, get a basic grip on the language, and learn about life in Germany, then yes, it delivers real value, especially at a subsidized cost. But if you want to work in a professional environment, pursue higher education, or simply feel confident in more complex conversations, B1 is a stepping stone, not a destination.
Many participants find that the course gives them a strong structural base but that they need additional practice and input to actually consolidate what they have learned. The classroom setting alone is rarely enough to build the kind of active language use that comes from regular, varied exposure to German.
How lingoni helps you go further after the Integrationskurs
If you have completed or are working through the Integrationskurs and want to keep building your German beyond B1, we at lingoni offer a structured path to do exactly that.
Our German online course covers levels A1 through B2, so you can pick up right where your integration course left off and continue progressing at your own pace. Here is what you get:
- Video lessons taught by qualified native speakers, covering real-life language situations
- Interactive exercises including fill-in-the-blank tasks, sentence building, listening comprehension, and picture descriptions
- Worksheets and podcasts to train reading, writing, and listening skills
- Milestone Tests at the end of each level, so you know exactly when you are ready to move on
- Flexible scheduling that works around your job, family, and other commitments
If you already have some German from the Integrationskurs, you can take a milestone test to skip straight to your current level rather than starting from scratch. The course also prepares you for official exams like Goethe, telc, DSH, and TestDaF if certification is your goal. Try it and see how much further you can go.
