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Integration and literacy courses Admission requirements for integration and literacy courses

The admission requirements for integration and literacy courses in accordance with Section 44 of the Residence Act (AufenthaltsG) have been changed. As of December 1, 2025, only the following foreigners are entitled to participate in an integration course funded by the BAMF:
  • Foreigners with a certificate of eligibility/obligation from the job center
  • Foreigners with a certificate of obligation from the foreigners authority

For all other foreigners , participation in the integration course is possible as a self-payer, without entitlement to funding from the BAMF.
These include the following target groups:

  • Asylum seekers with a residence permit according to § 55 paragraph 1 AsylG
  • Foreigners with a tolerated stay permit according to § 60a paragraph 2 sentence 3 Residence Act
  • Foreigners with a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 Residence Act or Section 25 (5) Residence Act
  • Ukrainians
  • EU citizens

The Volkshochschule (VHS) Lahr offers two different German integration courses as well as the orientation course. The individual modules build on each other and meet the requirements of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Lateral entry is possible at any time, provided places are available.

Interested parties can obtain personal advice with all the necessary information from the VHS Lahr. The consultation is for integration courses with literacy as well as for general integration courses. Please book an appointment for a consultation. After booking an appointment, you will receive an appointment confirmation. The consultation takes place in the VHS center "Haus zum Pflug", Kaiserstraße 41, room 1.23 or 1.24, 77933 Lahr.

Booking an appointment

Persons with entitlement/obligation from the Jobcenter or the Foreigners' Registration Office:
Please bring the following documents with you

  • Your current residence permit/ID card
  • Your certificate of eligibility/obligation from the job center/foreigners authority to attend the integration course

Self-payers:
Please bring the following documents with you

  • Your current residence permit/ID card
  • if applicable, your LahrPass, if you have one

General integration courses comprise 6 modules with a total of 600 teaching units of language course as well as a module with 100 teaching units of "orientation course" and lead to the target level B1.

The courses conclude with the scaled examination "Deutschtest für Zuwanderer", which certifies the B1, A2 or below A2 level, depending on the result.

Further information can be found at

https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/Integration/ZugewanderteTeilnehmende/Integrationskurse/integrationskurse-node.html

Integration courses with literacy are aimed at participants who are not literate and comprise 9 modules with a total of 900 teaching units of language course, in which the Latin alphabet, reading and writing are taught; as well as a module with 100 teaching units of "orientation course".

Further information can be found at

https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/Integration/ZugewanderteTeilnehmende/Integrationskurse/SpezielleKursarten/Alphabetisierung/alphabetisierung.html

The orientation course is a compulsory part of the integration course, comprises 100 teaching units and provides knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany.

The orientation course concludes with the "Living in Germany" test, which is recognized for naturalization.

Further information can be found at

https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/Integration/ZugewanderteTeilnehmende/Integrationskurse/InhaltAblauf/inhaltablauf-node.html

The most frequently asked questions

General integration courses take place 4 times a week in the mornings or afternoons with 5 teaching units per course day, or 3 times a week in the evenings with 4 teaching units per course day.

Integration courses with literacy training take place 3 to 4 times a week in the mornings with 5 teaching units per course day.

  • 458.00 euros for self-payers (without entitlement/obligation from the job center/foreigners authority)
  • 229.00 Euro for admission according to § 44a para. 1 sentence 1 and sentence 3 AufenthG by the foreigners authority
  • 0.00 Euro for cost exemption by the BAMF (e.g. if you receive benefits from the job center), hardship case regulation, foreigners according to § 44a para. 1 sentence 1 and sentence 3 AufenthG

Participants who have paid a cost contribution of 229.00 euros per course module and have successfully taken the B1 and "Living in Germany" examinations can apply for a 50 percent refund of the cost contribution paid within 2 years of the issue of the participation authorization.

The application can be made directly online at: https://verwaltung.bund.de/leistungsverzeichnis/DE/leistung/LeiKa/102854640

or on site at the VHS.

Further information can be found on the Internet at
https://www.bamf.de/DE/Themen/Integration/ZugewanderteTeilnehmende/Integrationskurse/TeilnahmeKosten/teilnahmekosten-node.html

Register in good time. For a language visa, the course must comprise at least 20 teaching units per week.

Upon cash payment of the total course fee of 2,748.00 euros, you will receive a visa certificate to present to the consulate.

Once you have been granted a visa, you are obliged to attend the course regularly. The visa certificate or the notice of refusal must be presented to the VHS when you deregister.

If you do not have a visa 14 days before the start of the course, please contact us, otherwise the course fee cannot be refunded.