Access to voluntary integration courses will soon be available again
According to various media outlets—including the *Süddeutsche Zeitung* —the federal government plans to partially lift the suspension on admissions to voluntary integration courses. Representatives of the SPD and the Federal Ministry of the Interior are reported to have reached a compromise following weeks of negotiations.
According to the plan, certain groups will once again be able to participate in integration courses free of charge and on a voluntary basis starting June 1, 2026. However, access will no longer be open to everyone as it was in the past. Instead, a quota system is planned. This means that the government will only cover the costs for a limited number of voluntary participants.
It is not yet clear how many spots will be available. The number will depend on the available budget funds and will be determined during the next budget negotiations.
Background: Voluntary integration courses have been suspended since early 2026
Integration courses are among the most important services available to migrants in Germany. They consist of approximately 600 hours of German language instruction and 100 hours of orientation classes. Topics covered include politics, history, rights and responsibilities, and life in Germany.
In addition to individuals with a legal entitlement, people without a specific entitlement have also been able to participate on a voluntary basis if spots were available. This required approval from the BAMF.
These voluntary courses primarily benefited asylum seekers with pending cases, individuals granted temporary leave to remain, refugees from Ukraine with residence permits under Section 24 of the Residence Act, individuals with humanitarian residence permits under Section 25(5) of the Residence Act, EU citizens, and Germans with special integration needs.
However, since late 2025, voluntary admissions have been severely restricted. In early February 2026, the BAMF officially announced that no new voluntary admissions would be granted “until further notice.”
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) cited the sharp rise in costs as the reason for the measure. According to the federal government, spending on integration courses has risen from less than 500 million euros in 2021 to around 1.3 billion euros in 2025. According to media reports, the federal government plans to limit spending to about 600 million euros per year in the future.
These groups once again have a good chance of making the cut
In the future, eligibility to voluntarily enroll in an integration course should no longer depend solely on whether there are open spots available. Instead, the Residence permit and the individual’s need for integration.
Special consideration will be given to refugees from Ukraine who have been granted temporary protection under Section 24 of the Residence Act. EU citizens and their family members will also have better opportunities to participate free of charge in the future—especially if they are already working or wish to return to work. Starting in June 2026, free spots will once again be available for these groups.
In addition, individual cases should also be taken into account. This means that, under certain conditions, individuals outside the priority groups may also be granted a spot. However, there is no guarantee of this. The decision is at the discretion of the relevant authorities.
These groups have fewer opportunities to take elective courses
The new rule significantly worsens the prospects for asylum seekers currently in the process and for those with temporary stay permits. In the future, they will generally no longer be eligible to participate in government-funded integration courses.
However, exceptions may be possible in this case as well. If sufficient budgetary funds are available, individual applicants could be admitted on a discretionary basis. However, there will still be no general entitlement.
Introductory courses are to be expanded
Instead of regular integration courses, the so-called initial orientation courses for asylum seekers and individuals granted temporary residence status are to be expanded. According to current plans, this is set to take place starting in November 2026.
These courses are significantly shorter than standard integration courses. They consist of about 300 class sessions, which is less than half the length of a standard integration course.
The course provides an introduction to the German language as well as basic information about life in Germany. This includes topics such as work, housing, health, education, government agencies, and daily life in Germany.
Federal Council Calls for the Return of Voluntary Courses
The new rule comes just a few days after a decision by the Federal Council. On May 8, 2026, the federal states had called on the federal government to lift the enrollment freeze on voluntary integration courses.
The Federal Council criticized the fact that exclusion from voluntary integration courses could have negative consequences for integration, social participation, and the labor market. It noted that a good command of German is crucial for finding work, supporting oneself, and settling in Germany in the long term.
The states also emphasized that integration courses are not only important for people with secure residency status. Those seeking permanent residency must also have the opportunity to learn German early on.
Conclusion: What does the new regulation mean for those affected?
Anyone who is legally entitled to an integration course may continue to participate in it. This includes recognized refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, and individuals with residence permits for employment purposes. For them, nothing will change under the new rule.
For Ukrainian refugees granted temporary protection under Section 24 of the Residence Act, the chances of enrolling in a voluntary integration course are improving again. EU citizens will also be more likely to qualify for free enrollment in the future.
The situation remains more difficult for asylum seekers and individuals with temporary residence status. In the future, regular integration courses will no longer be offered to them. Instead, introductory orientation courses will be expanded. Participation in a regular integration course will be permitted only in exceptional cases.
Many details of the new policy remain to be determined. The key factors will be how the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) implements the new rules, the size of the quota, and how much funding the federal government allocates for voluntary integration courses in the coming years.
