ROUTE

The Integration Course

700 hours to B1 at half price (or free), a success refund — and the certificate that speeds up PR and covers the citizenship language bar.

✓ Checked: 15/08/2026

The integration course is not an optional language school but a state programme in two parts: a long language block up to level B1 and a short orientation course on how the country works. For many arrivals it costs considerably less than the market rate, and for some nothing at all.

1

STEP

Your Right to the Course — and How to Claim It

600 hours of German to B1 plus 100 hours of orientation. New permit holders often have an entitlement; benefit recipients attend free.
2

STEP

Integration Course: Choosing the School and Starting

Between admission and the first desk lie the provider choice, the placement test and the waiting list. The right school saves months — and shapes what your German becomes.
3

STEP

The Finale: Two Exams, One Certificate

The DTZ (German to B1) plus the Leben in Deutschland test. Together: the Integration Course certificate — the key to PR and citizenship.

COSTS AND DEADLINES

What you pay for on this route

Own contributionthe rate is set by the BAMF, not by statute: § 9 (1) IntV = 50 % of the reimbursement rate; free on benefits, 50 % back if you pass within 2 years€2.29 per lesson, full course ~€1,600

Amounts follow official fees as of each step’s verification date. Your city may charge a different rate — check the step itself.

› More about this route

This three-step route covers everything: who is entitled or obliged to attend and how to obtain admission, choosing a provider and starting, and the finale with two examinations producing one certificate.

That certificate is worth more than people assume: it satisfies the language requirement for permanent residence and for naturalisation, and passing within the set period brings back part of the fee you paid. A rare case of the state paying you for the result.

WHERE PEOPLE MOST OFTEN LOSE MONEY AND TIME

Enrolling privately without checking entitlement to the state course. Across seven hundred hours of tuition the price difference is substantial.
Delaying the start after admission. Admission is time-limited, and waiting lists at popular providers run into months.
Missing classes. Attendance affects the funding and, where participation is obligatory, your standing with the authority.
Not sitting the examination within the period. The partial refund depends precisely on passing in time.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ROUTE

Who is entitled to the course?▾

The group is wider than assumed: a large share of arrivals holding residence permits, plus EU citizens where places are free. Some receive not an entitlement but an obligation, imposed by the authority.

What does it cost?▾

Participation is state-subsidised, so the contribution per teaching hour sits well below the market rate for language courses. On low income or while receiving certain benefits, full exemption is possible.

What does the certificate give me?▾

It evidences your language level and basic knowledge of the country’s legal and social order, satisfying the language requirement for permanent residence and naturalisation. Passing on time also brings a partial refund of the fee.

How long does the course run?▾

The language part covers several hundred hours up to B1, plus the short orientation course. In intensive format that means months; in evening format considerably longer.

WHAT USUALLY COMES NEXT

German CitizenshipNaturalisation under the current rules: 5 years (spouses of Germans: 3), B1, the test, dual citizenship allowed — with a check of your path.German Permanent ResidencyThe permanent status: 5 years (skilled workers 3, Blue Card 21–27 months), 60 contribution months, B1 — step by step, matched to your permit type.Degree RecognitionHalf of newcomers need no recognition at all — check anabin in 5 minutes. Otherwise: ZAB for €208 or the professional authority, with paths to close deficits.