As of August 1, refugees from Ukraine with a residence permit, EU citizens, and German nationals are once again eligible to voluntarily participate in an integration course. According to a report by the Mediendienst Integration, this applies primarily to individuals who can improve their prospects on the job market.
In February 2026, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) had suspended course admissions for voluntary participants. This suspension has now been lifted for groups with “long-term positive prospects for remaining in the country.” It is still unclear how many admissions there will be, the Mediendienst reports. Asylum seekers and individuals with temporary stay status remain excluded.
Admission freeze partially lifted
The BAMF is currently processing applications received up until the admission freeze. There are more than 25,000 such applications. More than 300,000 refugees and migrants began an integration course in 2025, a particularly large number of whom were from Ukraine and Syria. The federal budget for the current year allocates more than one billion euros for integration courses. In 2025, over 1.3 billion euros were spent—more than originally budgeted.
Integration Course Content
Integration courses teach German language skills and provide information on the German legal system and history. They consist of a language course and an orientation course. The courses conclude with a test.
People who are unable to participate in integration courses can attend so-called initial orientation courses; this includes new immigrants, asylum seekers whose cases are pending, and those granted temporary residence status. According to the BAMF, these courses are set to be significantly expanded starting in November 2026.
Sources and Further Information:
https://mediendienst-integration.de/bildung/sprache/wie-viele-personen-nehmen-an-integrationskursen-teil/
https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/Integration/ZugewanderteTeilnehmende/Integrationskurse/integrationskurse-node.html
https://tuenews.de/mehr-berufssprachkurse-ab-oktober/
https://www.bamf.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/2026/260218-ausbau-sprach-und-erstorientierungskurse.html
https://tuenews.de/heftige-kritik-an-entscheidung-zu-integrationskursen/
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