Apply for a travel allowance for integration courses

If you attend an integration course, you can receive a travel allowance under certain conditions.

Integration courses in Germany not only help immigrants to learn the German language, but also to learn more about the history, culture and legal system.

You can receive a travel allowance for attending an integration course if your home is at least 5 kilometers away from the course location. It is reasonable for you to walk distances of less than 5 kilometers. If your health does not allow you to walk the distance to the integration course provider that is less than 5 kilometers, you can receive a travel allowance by presenting a medical certificate.

You can receive the travel allowance if you do not have to pay the costs of the integration course yourself. You will either receive a fixed amount of money

• per course section or
• per course day.

This essentially depends on the means of transportation you use.

You must submit your application in good time before the start of the course. As a rule, you will receive the travel allowance from the course section that begins after your application. Retroactive payment for the period before your application is generally not possible.

If you move house or change course location, you will generally have to submit a new application. You do not have to submit a new application if the following conditions apply:

• You receive a course section-related travel allowance.
• You can use the same ticket after the move.
• The distance to the course location is still more than 5 kilometers.

In this case, simply inform the BAMF of your new address.

• Application form
• If applicable, proof of exemption from costs or proof of receipt of
  • Citizen's allowance, basic income support for jobseekers (benefits according to SGB II),
  • Social assistance (benefits according to SGB XII),
  • Benefits according to the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act or
  • Employment promotion benefits (benefits according to SGB III).
• If applicable, a medical certificate stating that you cannot reasonably be expected to walk 5 kilometers
• Proof of existing severe disability, if applicable
  • Please provide proof of severe disability:
    • Severely disabled person's pass (degree of disability of at least 50 percent) or
    • comparable proof showing that the impairment is to be classified as a severe disability

• You can apply for a travel allowance if you do not have to pay a contribution towards the costs of the integration course. This is the case if you receive one of the following benefits:
  • Citizen's allowance, basic income support for jobseekers (benefits according to SGB II)
  • Social assistance (benefits according to SGB XII)
  • Benefits according to the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act
  • Employment promotion benefits (benefits according to SGB III)
• The walk is over 5 km. However, you can also receive a travel allowance for a journey of less than 5 km if you are unable to walk from your place of residence to the course location. You will need a medical certificate as proof.
• Regardless of the type of cost exemption, you can apply for a travel allowance if you are severely disabled.

• Objection

Further information on how to lodge an objection can be found in the notification.

• Administrative court action

You can apply for a travel allowance online via the federal administration portal or in writing to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

Online application

• Open the online application on the federal portal verwaltung.bund.de and log in with :
  • the online ID function of your identity card,
  • the electronic residence permit,
  • the eID for EU citizens or
  • with the ELSTER certificate of your online tax office (via BundID)
• Fill out the application form.
• Upload the required documents as a scan.
• Submit your application.
• The regional office of the BAMF will check your application.
• You will receive notification by post or digitally that your application has been approved or rejected.

Written application

• Go to the website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and open the application form.
• You can fill out the form either
  • fill it out on screen or
  • download it and then fill it in.
• Print out the form and sign it.
• Send the form with the necessary documents by post to your regional BAMF office.
• The BAMF regional office will check your application.
• You will receive notification by post that your application has been approved or rejected.

You must submit the application in good time before the start of the course in order to receive the subsidy.

There are no costs.