Integration courses and accompanying programs — what each EU state offers

What we're talking about — and what we're not

When people talk about "integration courses," most EU states mean a package of three elements:

• Language course in the national language, usually with a target level of A2 or B1 (CEFR; see our article on Language as Strategy)
• Orientation or civics course on law, history, society, and culture of the host country (typically 50–100 hours)
• Agreement or contract between the state and the migrant setting out mutual obligations

These programs are explicitly designed for third-country nationals (EU citizens are formally exempt from the obligation but can usually participate voluntarily). They supplement — but do not replace — regular education and career entry pathways. If you want to get a degree recognized (see our article on Qualification Recognition), you go through a separate process.

The obligation structure is legally interesting: In most EU states, participation is legally mandatory — refusal can make it harder to renew residence permits or reduce social benefits. In others, it is offered and funded but not enforced. Check which mode applies in your destination country on the country detail page before you arrive.

The most important programs at a glance

Germany — BAMF Integration Course

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees organizes the integration courses as a combination of:

• 600 language lessons (target level B1)
• 100 orientation lessons (law, history, values, political system)
• Final tests: Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) and Test Leben in Deutschland

Who is eligible:

• Mandatory for persons with certain residence permits who speak German below B1 — such as family reunification migrants, social benefit recipients, holders of a settlement permit without language proof
• Eligible (but not mandatory) for holders of many other residence permits, including students and employees
• EU citizens can participate on request if places are available

Costs: Mandatory participants and social benefit recipients pay 0 €; everyone else pays 2.29 € per lesson (around 1,600 € in total for 700 hours). If you pass the B1 exam within two years, half of the contributions already paid will be refunded.

Waiting times vary by region — in big cities often 2–6 months, in medium-sized cities shorter.

France — Contrat d'Intégration Républicaine (CIR)

The CIR has been the central program since 2016. It is managed by the Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration (OFII). Mandatory for almost all newly migrated third-country nationals applying for a residence permit of ≥1 year.

Components:

• An introductory event with individual needs assessment
• If necessary: French language course (target: A1, raised to A2 in many cases since 2019). Number of hours: 100, 200, or 400 depending on prior knowledge
• Civics course "Formation civique" (24 hours, in modules on the Republic, democracy, equality, women's rights, secularism, values of the Republic)
• Optional: Career orientation and further education

If you complete the program with proven language progress, your residence permit will be extended after 1 year; permanent residence is linked to A2 French, and naturalization requires B1.

Advantage: relatively standardized and one of the most explicit and enforcement-oriented programs in the EU. Disadvantage: less flexibility for advanced language learners.

Netherlands — Inburgering

The Dutch Inburgering system is one of the oldest and most detailed in the EU and was reformed in 2022. It is managed by DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs).

Components:

• Dutch language course (target level B1 since 2022; previously A2)
• Kennis Nederlandse Maatschappij (KNM) — knowledge of Dutch society
• Module on the labor market and participation (with concrete practical orientation)
• Inburgeringsexamen — state exam with six components

Mandatory for all new third-country nationals with a residence permit of ≥3 years. If you do not pass the Inburgeringsexamen within 3 years, you risk fines and possibly the refusal of permanent residence.

Costs: for most mandatory participants municipally funded since the 2022 reform (previously migrants had to bear the costs themselves, which made the reform necessary). Low-income earners receive learning reimbursements.

Spain — regionally structured programs

Spain has no nationwide uniform integration program. Instead, the autonomous regions (Comunidades Autónomas) are responsible. Important programs:

• Cataluña: the Servei d'Acolliment with Catalan and Spanish language courses plus modules on the labor market and law
• Madrid Comunidad: Centro de Atención y Mediación with Spanish language courses and career orientation
• Andalucía, País Vasco, Valencia: each with its own structures

In addition, NGOs and church welfare associations play a central role: Cáritas, Cruz Roja, Cepaim, ACCEM organize language courses, counseling, housing search, and legal support. These offers are often free and multilingual (on request Arabic, Wolof, Russian …).

Spanish language skills for residence extension are formally not required, but for naturalization they are: A2 language exam (DELE) plus the cultural exam CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España).

Italy — Accordo di Integrazione

Italy introduced the Accordo di Integrazione in 2010, a points contract: Upon entry, the person starts with 16 points, collects more through language/culture course participation, and loses points for violations. If you have 30 points at the end of the 2-year period, you have fulfilled the agreement; below 0, your residence permit may be revoked.

Language goal: A2 Italian. Civics component: 10 hours.

In practice, the program is very differently implemented regionally — some provinces offer well-developed Centri Provinciali per l'Istruzione degli Adulti (CPIA), others have thin offerings.

Austria — Integration Agreement

The Integration Agreement is mandatory for most third-country nationals. Stages:

• Module 1: German A2 + values and orientation course (8 hours) — target within 2 years
• Module 2: German B1 — target within 5 years

If you do not fulfill Module 1, you may risk residence extensions; Module 2 is a prerequisite for the unlimited settlement permit.

Course providers are state-certified; costs vary by provider, with funding programs for those in need.

Scandinavia — well-developed, often free programs

• Sweden: the Etableringsprogrammet for recognized refugees and family members (third-country nationals in regular migration participate in the municipal SFI — Svenska för Invandrare; free for all adults)
• Denmark: Danskuddannelse with three level lines depending on prior education; paid by the state, migrants sign a contract with the municipality
• Finland: Kotoutumiskoulutus (Integration Training) for the unemployed and social benefit recipients; free, with a daily allowance
• Norway (outside the EU, but comparable): the most thoroughly planned program, Introduksjonsprogrammet, with up to 3 years of paid integration time

What integration courses mean for your migration planning

Concrete points you should check before your arrival:

• Obligation: In which country are you obliged to participate, and in which are you only eligible? Non-compliance can have costly consequences (fines, residence risks).
• Language level: What is the target level of the program? For employees with B1/B2 prior knowledge, an A2 program is often a repetition — some countries offer shortened paths or exemptions.
• Time limit: Within what deadline do you have to complete the program? 2 years (DE, AT, IT) or 3 years (NL) are typical.
• Costs: In most countries, the courses are heavily subsidized or free. Exceptions like the old Dutch model have become rarer since the 2022 reforms.
• Professional recognition integrated?: Some programs (Netherlands since 2022, Norway) combine language course and professional recognition path. Others keep them separate.
• Online and part-time: In most countries, evening and weekend courses are offered. Full-time programs are often tied to the unemployed.

What the programs do not replace

Three misconceptions that appear in forums:

• "With the integration course, I automatically get a job." Not true. Language and orientation are necessary but not sufficient conditions. Professional recognition, application procedures, and industry practice are separate steps.
• "If I refuse the course, nothing will happen to me." Not true in most EU states — see the obligation structure.
• "With B1 or the Inburgeringsexamen, I am automatically naturalized." No. Naturalization is a separate procedure with its own requirements (length of residence, employment security, criminal record, loyalty pledge, and depending on the country, a language test at a higher level). The integration course is a preliminary stage, not naturalization itself.

---

vamosa shows you the architecture of integration courses in every EU member state. A concrete registration, an exemption from obligations, or the application for course places you have to do on site — via BAMF (DE), OFII (FR), DUO (NL), the municipal integration offices (ES), or the respective authorities per country. On the country detail pages, you will find the direct addresses and hotlines.