Skip to content
HalloAmt
Start

Vocational language course B1, B2, C1: How do I get a spot?

A vocational language course is assigned by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). In most cases, you do not have to apply for it yourself: If you receive basic security benefits (formerly Bürgergeld), your Jobcenter issues you the authorisation to participate. If you are registered as unemployed or seeking work with the Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit), the Agency does this for you. Only employees, trainees and people in a recognition procedure who do not receive these benefits apply for the course directly at the BAMF. The requirement is usually language level B1, for example from the integration course. For people who receive basic security benefits, the course is free.

As of: 12.10.2026 · Editorial team HalloAmt · General information, not legal advice (see note at the end).

There is no application form for the vocational language course at the Jobcenter; you get the authorisation during a meeting. If you receive basic security benefits and your approval period is ending, HalloAmt goes through the continuation application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag) with you in your language and creates the finished PDF. Start continuation application →

What is a vocational language course?

Vocational language courses (Berufssprachkurse) are German courses for work. The legal basis is § 45a of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz) and the German Language Support Ordinance (Deutschsprachförderverordnung, DeuFöV). The courses usually build on the integration course (Integrationskurs) and are meant to improve your chances on the job and training market. The BAMF coordinates them; teaching takes place at language schools and other course providers.

The main types of courses:

CourseGoalRequirementScope
B1 courseB1Attended the integration course but only reached A2400 teaching units
B2 courseB2B1400 or 500 teaching units
C1 courseC1B2400 teaching units
C2 courseC2C1500 teaching units
Specialised coursese.g. for recognition in health professionsdepends on the course300 to 500 teaching units

A teaching unit lasts 45 minutes. The courses with the goal of B1 to C1 end with the German Test for the Workplace (Deutsch-Test für den Beruf). The exam is free, and if you do not pass, you can retake it once for free (§ 15 DeuFöV).

Which courses are currently available?

Because of the budget situation, the BAMF does not offer all types of courses. As of 5 October 2026, according to the BAMF:

  • Offered: B2 courses and so-called workplace-related courses, and since 1 October 2026 also C1, C2 and practical specialist courses again.
  • Only to a very limited extent: B1 courses, and only for people who are expected to be placed in a job after the course.
  • Still not offered: courses with the goal of A2, as well as the specialised courses for trade/technology and retail.

According to the BAMF's current planning, these rules will probably also apply for the first half of 2027. Ask during your meeting which courses are currently starting in your region.

Who can take part?

The following people can take part: people who have migrated from non-EU countries, EU citizens, and Germans whose first language is not German (§ 2 DeuFöV). In addition, one of these reasons must apply (§ 4 DeuFöV):

  • You are registered as unemployed or seeking work with the Employment Agency.
  • You receive basic security benefits (benefits under SGB II).
  • You are employed or already have an employment contract.
  • You need a certain language level for the recognition of your professional qualification or to access your profession.
  • You are doing an apprenticeship or have an apprenticeship contract.

German language skills: Usually you need level B1 (§ 4 para. 3 DeuFöV). The exception is the B1 course for people who attended the integration course but did not reach B1.

With a Duldung (toleration status), participation is only possible under strict conditions, including having held the Duldung for at least six months.

Can the Jobcenter require me to take part?

Yes. If you receive basic security benefits and your German skills are not sufficient for a job, the Jobcenter must work towards an integration course or a vocational language course with priority (§ 3 para. 4 SGB II). The course may therefore already be included in the cooperation plan (Kooperationsplan) that you draw up together with the Jobcenter (§ 15 SGB II).

The Jobcenter can also require you to take part through a written notice, for example if no cooperation plan is reached or you do not carry out agreed steps (§ 15a SGB II, § 45a para. 2 AufenthG; in this form since 1 July 2026). People who are required to take part get priority when courses are assigned.

What happens if I don't attend? If you do not start a vocational language course or drop out of it, despite having been informed in writing about the consequences, this counts as a breach of duty (§ 31 SGB II). Your basic security benefits can then be reduced by 30% of the standard needs amount (§ 31a SGB II), for three months (§ 31b SGB II). The reduction ends as soon as you fulfil your duty. If you can explain and prove a good reason for your behaviour, there is no reduction.

How to get a vocational language course – step by step

  1. Start the conversation. Speak directly to your contact person at the Jobcenter or the Employment Agency, for example: "I would like to take a B2 vocational language course. Can you issue me an authorisation to participate?"
  2. Get the authorisation to participate. The Jobcenter or the Agency issues the authorisation. It also states whether participation is mandatory for you.
  3. Choose a course provider. You choose the course provider yourself (§ 7 DeuFöV). The full range of courses is listed in KURSNET, the course search tool of the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit). Your contact person can also give you a list of suitable courses.
  4. Register. Register with the course provider using your authorisation. Important: If you do not register within three months, the authorisation expires (§ 6 para. 3 DeuFöV).
  5. Apply for travel costs. If you are entitled to them (see below), submit the application by the end of the course at the latest. Your course provider will tell you how the application is sent to the BAMF.

No benefits from the Jobcenter or the Agency? Employees, trainees and people in a recognition procedure apply to the BAMF themselves. The form is a Word file on the BAMF website; you send it by email or post to the responsible main BAMF office. For the application for employees, you need the employment contract, the residence permit (for EU citizens an ID), and, if available, the most recent language certificate.

What should I bring to the appointment?

Neither the Jobcenter nor the Employment Agency has a fixed list for this. The authorisation to participate includes, among other things, your residence status and information about your level of education (§ 6 DeuFöV). We therefore recommend bringing:

  • Your most recent language certificate, for example from the integration course
  • Your residence permit or ID
  • School and professional certificates, with translation or recognition decision if available
  • Your customer number at the Jobcenter or the Employment Agency

A language certificate recognised by the BAMF that is no older than six months can be taken into account by the course provider for level placement.

What does a vocational language course cost?

For people who receive basic security benefits, the course is always free. Otherwise, participation is also generally free. Only employees whose gross income is above a certain limit pay a cost contribution (§ 4 DeuFöV). For 2026, the limit is:

HouseholdGross limit per month
without a child2,788.50 €
with one child3,633.50 €
with two or more children4,478.50 €

If your income is above this, you pay 2.56 € per teaching unit, so for 400 teaching units that is 1,024 €. The employer can cover this contribution. If you pass the exam within two years, you can apply to get 50% of the contribution back. Employees who additionally receive basic security benefits or unemployment benefit do not pay a contribution.

Travel costs: If you receive basic security benefits, unemployment benefit, social assistance or benefits for asylum seekers, the BAMF pays a flat-rate allowance on application (§ 10 DeuFöV). The course location must be at least three kilometres away from your home (shortest walking distance). You must submit the application by the end of the course at the latest.

Childcare: Ask the course provider about this. Whether childcare is available varies from place to place.

Integration course or professional language course – what is the difference?

Integration course (Integrationskurs)Professional language course (Berufssprachkurs)
Legal basis§§ 43 to 44a AufenthG§ 45a AufenthG, DeuFöV
Contentgeneral German (600 teaching units) and an orientation course about life in Germany (100 teaching units)German for work, technical language
GoalB1 and the "Living in Germany" test (Test Leben in Deutschland)B1 to C2, depending on the course
Accessentitlement to participate, an obligation (for example through the Jobcenter), or approval by the BAMFentitlement to participate through the Jobcenter, the Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit), or the BAMF
Costs2.29 € per teaching hour; free if the Jobcenter has approved or obliged you; exemption on request, for example with basic security benefit (Grundsicherungsgeld)generally free

Usually the integration course comes first, then the professional language course. For the integration course, since August 1, 2026 the following applies: the BAMF again allows people without a fixed entitlement to apply, giving priority to people with a residence permit under § 24 AufenthG as well as German and EU citizens with a connection to the labor market. You should submit the application online through the Bundesportal, and the BAMF rejects incomplete applications.

Is there information in my language?

The BAMF has translated its information sheet on professional language courses (Merkblatt zu den Berufssprachkursen) into many languages, including Arabic, Bulgarian, English, Polish, Romanian, Turkish, and Ukrainian. Note: The information sheet is dated June 2025. The income limit for the cost contribution shown there is outdated since April 30, 2026; the amounts in the table above apply instead.

Many authorities still write "Bürgergeld." This is the same benefit: since July 1, 2026 it is called basic security benefit (Grundsicherungsgeld), and until the end of 2026 authorities are allowed to use both names.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I apply for a professional language course?

If you receive basic security benefit (Grundsicherungsgeld, formerly Bürgergeld), apply at the Jobcenter. If you are registered as unemployed or seeking work with the Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit), apply there. Employees, apprentices, and people in a recognition procedure who do not receive these benefits apply directly to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, BAMF).

Is the professional language course free?

Generally yes. Anyone receiving basic security benefit (Grundsicherungsgeld) never pays anything. Only employees with a higher income pay a cost contribution of 2.56 € per teaching unit; in 2026 the limit is 2,788.50 € gross per month without a child. Anyone who passes the exam within two years can apply to get half of the contribution back.

What German skills do I need for a professional language course?

Usually level B1, for example from the integration course. For a B2 course you need B1, for a C1 course you need B2. Anyone who did not reach B1 in the integration course can join a B1 course, but the BAMF currently offers this only to a very limited extent.

Can the Jobcenter require me to take a professional language course?

Yes. If you receive basic security benefit (Grundsicherungsgeld), the Jobcenter can require you to participate through a written notice. If you then fail to start the course without a good reason, or drop out, your basic security benefit (Grundsicherungsgeld) can be reduced by 30 % of the standard needs amount.

What is the difference between an integration course and a professional language course?

The integration course (Integrationskurs) is the general German course up to level B1, with an orientation course about life in Germany. The professional language course (Berufssprachkurs) builds on this and teaches German for work, usually up to B2 or C1. The BAMF organizes both courses.

Do I get travel costs for the professional language course?

If you receive basic security benefit (Grundsicherungsgeld), unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld), social assistance (Sozialhilfe), or benefits for asylum seekers (Asylbewerberleistungen), the BAMF pays a flat-rate allowance on request. The course location must be at least three kilometers' walking distance from your home, and the application must be submitted before the course ends.

After the course: further training or retraining

After the course, publicly funded further training or retraining with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) can be the next step. In individual cases, a professional language course can also be combined with further training. Bring this up at your next appointment.

If you receive basic security benefit (Grundsicherungsgeld), your approval period continues to run during the course. HalloAmt goes through the renewal application (Weiterbewilligungsantrag) with you question by question in your language and creates the finished PDF for the Jobcenter. You can only get the entitlement to participate in the course itself from the Jobcenter, the Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit), or the BAMF. Fill out the renewal application with HalloAmt →

This page offers general, carefully researched information (as of 12.10.2026) and does not replace legal or official advice. Course offerings, amounts, and responsibilities may change; the Jobcenter, the Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit), or the BAMF decide on individual cases. For binding information, please contact your Jobcenter, your Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit), a migration counseling service, or a lawyer. We cannot guarantee completeness or that the information is up to date.

Sources