Integration course with a settlement permit
All information on the integration course requirement when applying for a settlement permit in Germany.
Here you learn ...
what the integration course is
when integration courses are required for settlement permits
everything about the integration course with the EU Blue Card
what exceptions there are to the obligation to take the integration course
Table of Content
1. What is an integration course?
2. Alternatives to the integration course
3. Integration course for settlement permit with Blue Card?
4. Exceptions to the integration course
5. Conclusion Integration course settlement permit
1. What is an integration course?
In order to be granted a settlement permit , basic knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany is required ( Section 9 (2) Sentence 1 No. 8 of the Residence Act ). This requirement is proven by law if an integration course has been successfully completed ( Section 9 (2) Sentence 2 of the Residence Act ). While completion of the integration course is not legally mandatory, in administrative practice many immigration authorities require a corresponding integration course certificate. Only in Berlin has “basic knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany” been tested during the initial interview without an integration course. However, this administrative practice has now changed, so that in Berlin too an integration course is required for a settlement permit .
As a rule, one of the following certificates is required to apply for a settlement permit:
a certificate of successful completion of the integration course
Certificate of successful completion of the orientation course
Certificate of successful completion of the “Life in Germany Test”
Certificate of successful completion of the naturalization test
2. Alternatives to the integration course
If none of the above-mentioned certificates are available or obtainable, proof of basic knowledge of the legal and social system can also be considered through the following options:
four years of successful attendance at a German general education school and last report card with at least an overall grade of “sufficient”
Transfer to the tenth grade of a general education German school (integrated secondary school, Realschule, Gymnasium or Gesamtschule)
German vocational qualification or equivalent educational level acquired
successfully completed a qualified vocational training in Germany
Completion of a degree at a German university/university of applied sciences
a doctorate from a German university
obtain state approval to practice the profession independently ( approbation )
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3. Integration course for settlement permit with Blue Card?
Skilled workers with an EU Blue Card, in particular, are often faced with the question of whether or not they must complete an integration course to apply for a permanent residence permit. This question is not straightforward and is frequently answered incorrectly, even by experienced lawyers and government officials. According to Section 9 (2) Sentence 5 of the Residence Act, an integration course may be waived if the foreign national is not entitled to participate. According to Section 44 (3) Sentence 1 No. 2 of the Residence Act, this is not the case if there is a "recognizably low need for integration." According to Section 4 (2) of the IntV, such a recognizably low need for integration exists if the foreign national holds a university or university of applied sciences degree (which will often be the case with an EU Blue Card).
In principle, foreign nationals with a university or university of applied sciences degree are not required to attend an integration course to obtain a settlement permit. Paradoxically, however, this exception only applies to the settlement permit pursuant to Section 9 of the Residence Act and not to the settlement permit for skilled workers pursuant to Section 18c Paragraph 2 of the Residence Act, since Section 18c Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Residence Act do not refer to Section 9 Paragraph 2 Sentence 5 of the Residence Act. This means that skilled workers with a university degree must attend the integration course to obtain a settlement permit pursuant to Section 18c of the Residence Act, even though holding a university degree actually constitutes an exception to the integration course requirement.
4. Exceptions to the integration course
However, there are further exceptions to the integration course requirement . Not everyone applying for a settlement permit can or is required to attend an integration course. The German Residence Act provides for exceptions to the participation requirement – particularly in cases of health or personal circumstances.
According to Section 9, Paragraph 2, Sentence 3 of the Residence Act, the requirements for participation in an integration course may be waived if a physical, mental, or psychological illness or disability makes participation impossible. In such cases, a corresponding medical certificate is sufficient as proof. Important: Age alone is not sufficient for exemption from participation. This can only be considered if age-related illnesses are present.
According to Section 9, Paragraph 2, Sentence 4 of the Residence Act, the integration course requirement may be waived in individual cases for reasons of unreasonable hardship . This decision is at the discretion of the responsible immigration authority. Typical examples of such hardship cases include:
A chronic illness or disability that makes participation in the course permanently difficult but not completely impossible.
Caring for a close relative makes participation unreasonable.
There is an age-related illness, e.g., in the case of persons who are already of retirement age. A medical certificate is also required in this case.
Summary of this Page
The integration course plays a central role in the application for a settlement permit in Germany. While completing a course is not legally required, in practice it is almost essential – even in cities like Berlin, where different regulations previously applied. In many cases, a corresponding certificate is required to demonstrate the necessary knowledge of the legal and social system. However, alternatives exist: Those who have attended a German school, completed a university degree, or completed qualified training in Germany can prove this knowledge in other ways. The situation is complex for holders of the EU Blue Card: While there is generally no entitlement to an integration course for those with a university degree – and therefore no obligation – this does not apply without restrictions. Therefore, the integration course is still required, particularly for those with a settlement permit under Section 18c of the Residence Act. Finally, the Residence Act also provides exceptions for persons who cannot reasonably be expected to attend a course for health or personal reasons. In these cases, an individual assessment by the immigration authorities is always required. Overall, it can be said that anyone seeking a settlement permit should plan the integration course as an important component – unless a clearly defined exception applies.
