Integration courses in high demand
Integration courses are an important tool for integration in Germany. They teach basic German language skills and provide knowledge about social life, the legal system, and core values. The aim is to help migrants find their way around everyday life independently and participate actively in social life.
An integration course pursuant to Section 43 of the Residence Act consists of two parts: a language course and an orientation course. In addition to language acquisition, the course also teaches the basics of history, culture, and everyday life in Germany.
Demand for integration courses has been high for years. In 2023 and 2024, around 363,000 people took part in integration courses – more than ever before. The largest group was made up of people with Ukrainian citizenship, followed by participants from Syria and Afghanistan.
BAMF intensifies checks on voluntary admissions
According to various media reports, including the news portal Welt, the BAMF is currently exercising significantly stricter control over voluntary registrations for integration courses. This affects individuals who are not legally entitled to an integration course and therefore require special approval from the BAMF.
As health insurance providers have reported to Welt, applications have either not been processed at all or only to a very limited extent since the end of November 2025. It is not yet clear whether this is a temporary measure or a permanent reorientation.
Adult education centers report cancellations and delays
The impact is being felt particularly by those responsible for integration courses, above all adult education centers. The German Adult Education Association has stated that numerous planned courses cannot currently take place.
According to the association's estimates, around 30 to 40 percent of interested participants nationwide are unable to start. Courses have to be postponed or canceled because the required number of participants is not reached. Migrants are thus forced to wait indefinitely.
Who is specifically affected?
Not all migrants are equally affected by the restrictions. The decisive factor is whether there is a legal entitlement to an integration course or merely the option of voluntary participation.
Recognized refugees, persons entitled to subsidiary protection, and persons who have come to Germany for the purpose of taking up employment, for example, have a legal right to participate in an integration course. These groups are not affected by the current restrictions and can continue to participate in integration courses.
The situation is different for people who are not entitled to participate but merely have the option of doing so voluntarily. These include, among others:
- Asylum seekers
- Persons with temporary protection under Section 24 of the Residence Act, i .e. generally Ukrainians
- Persons tolerated under Section 60a (2) sentence 3 of the Residence Act
- EU citizens
- Germans with special integration needs
- Persons with a national ban on deportation
These individuals can only participate in an integration course if they have previously received approval from the BAMF and there are free places available on the course. According to consistent media reports, they are currently particularly affected by the restrictions, as their applications are only being reviewed to a limited extent or are being put on hold.
Ministry of the Interior refers to internal review
The Federal Ministry of the Interior, which oversees the BAMF, stated in response to an inquiry from the Green Party that the applications are currently undergoing an "internal review." The ministry did not specify how long this review would take or when regular decisions would resume.
At the same time, the ministry stated that the federal budget continues to allocate large sums of money for integration courses . Critics counter that these funds will remain ineffective if courses cannot start due to a lack of admissions.
Sharp criticism also came from the Green Party parliamentary group. Migration expert Filiz Polat accused Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) of obstructing language and integration courses. The lack of approvals is severely limiting the range of courses offered by adult education centers, which is denying many refugees access to integration courses.
Background: More integration courses since 2015
When integration courses were first introduced in 2005, they were primarily aimed at people with secure residence status. Since 2015, and again since 2022, access has been gradually expanded to enable asylum seekers to receive language support at an early stage.
It is currently unclear whether the stricter screening of applications is only temporary or whether access to integration courses will be made more restrictive on a permanent basis. For those affected and course providers, the current situation means uncertainty above all else. One thing is clear, however: delays in accessing integration courses not only affect individuals, but also have an impact on integration, the labor market, and social participation as a whole.
