Integration course 2026: who gets a place and what changed for the DTZ

What changed in 2026?

Three circulars from Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) to course providers shaped the year. They do not affect everyone: if you have a right to the course, or the immigration office or job centre obliged you to attend, the stop did not apply to you. It only covered admission on application "within available places" under § 44(4) of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz).

Who was hit by the admission stop?

The February circular names the groups: asylum seekers, people with a toleration under § 60a(2) sentence 3 AufenthG, people from Ukraine and EU citizens. From then on they could no longer be admitted to free places. The BAMF's reason was money: courses run beyond one budget year, so spending is to follow the funds actually available.

Who can get a place again since 1 August?

Circular 13/26 ends the suspension on 1 August 2026, but only within the course places the federal budget allows. The amended Integration Course Ordinance (§ 5(4) sentence 2 IntV) sets who comes first:

• People with a residence permit under § 24 AufenthG, mainly refugees from Ukraine.
• Germans and other EU citizens without enough German for work or training who are meant to return to the labour market: people entitled to unemployment benefit (§ 136 SGB III), people exempt from the course fee under § 9(2) sentence 1 no. 3 IntV, and people who worked in Germany without gaining a right to unemployment benefit.
• Family members of both groups.

Both groups are admitted in equal shares, in the order applications arrive. Asylum seekers and people with a toleration are not on this priority list.

Can I pay for the course myself?

Yes. The February circular already says course providers can take people who cannot get admission as self-payers. The provider sets the price, so ask them directly.

What changes for the DTZ?

The German Test for Immigrants (DTZ) itself stays the same: the same parts, the same points, A2 or B1 at the end. What is new is the timing. For every integration course starting from 1 September 2026, the orientation course is to follow the language course closely, and the DTZ takes place normally only after the orientation course (circular 11/26). If you need the DTZ result early, for an application for example, raise it with your provider when the course is planned.

How the A2 or B1 result is worked out is explained in our article DTZ exam: how many points for B1. You can practise the DTZ under real timing here.

What to do now

1. Check how you get into the course. If you have a right to it or were obliged to attend, the stop never applied to you. Your letter from the immigration office or job centre says which.
2. If you apply under § 44(4): check whether you belong to a priority group, attach every document and apply online.
3. Talk to the course provider: free places, paying yourself, and the new DTZ date after the orientation course.
4. For citizenship: any recognised B1 certificate counts there, not only the DTZ. See German B1 for citizenship.

Whether you are admitted is decided by the BAMF case by case. This article explains the rules; it is not legal advice. Migration advice services and course providers can help.