Integration Course Without Authorization Certificate: Is It Possible? (2026)

In Short: Yes, but You Pay More

You do not need an authorization certificate to learn German. In the official integration course run by BAMF, however, the authorization certificate matters for the price. With the certificate you only pay a small contribution per hour. Without it you are a self-payer and cover the full cost yourself.

There are therefore two straightforward ways to learn German without an authorization certificate:

1. You take the integration course as a self-payer (full price).
2. You use a private German course and then register for the exam yourself.

What Is the Authorization Certificate Exactly?

The authorization certificate is an admission issued by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). It states: “This person is permitted to participate in the integration course and pays only the reduced contribution.”

With an authorization certificate, one lesson (45 minutes) costs only 2.29 euros. A complete integration course with 700 hours then costs roughly 1,603 euros. People with a low income (for example those receiving Buergergeld) can often be fully exempted from the contribution and pay nothing.

Route 1: Integration Course as a Self-Payer

Even without an authorization certificate you may participate in an integration course if a course provider (for example a Volkshochschule) still has a spot available. You are then a self-payer.

Important to know:

• You pay the full price. As a self-payer the price is around 458 euros per 100 lessons. With 700 hours that is significantly more than with a certificate.
• You receive no refund. The 50-percent bonus after passing the exam is available only to participants with admission.
• In 2026 there is an enrollment freeze. BAMF is not issuing new admissions under Section 44 Paragraph 4 of the Residence Act in 2026 due to limited funding. Some providers are therefore only accepting interested parties as self-payers.

Tip: Ask BAMF anyway whether you can obtain an authorization certificate. Anyone with a residence permit or who has been obligated often has an entitlement. The certificate saves a lot of money.

How to Apply for the Authorization Certificate (If Possible)

1. Submit the application “Admission to participation in the integration course” to BAMF, online or by post.
2. If you have a low income: additionally submit an application for exemption from the contribution and include supporting documents (for example a Buergergeld notice).
3. Wait for the authorization certificate and use it to register with a course provider.

Route 2: Private German Course Without an Authorization Certificate

You do not have to wait for admission. Many people learn German with a private course. For this you need no authorization certificate and no application to BAMF. You simply register and start right away.

A private online German course is a good option if you:

• want to start quickly without waiting for a certificate,
• would like to learn flexibly from home,
• want to prepare specifically for an exam such as telc, Goethe, or the DTZ.

The Complete Course A1 to B1 from V-IZ is one such route, for example. You learn online with a real, qualified DaF teacher via video, work with the well-known Hueber coursebook “Schritte plus Neu,” and practice speaking, pronunciation, and writing with an AI trainer. You pay once and have access for 12 months per level, with no subscription. You can find more details on the course page for the Complete Package.

And the Exam? What You Need to Know

Without an integration course you cannot register for the DTZ (Deutsch-Test fuer Zuwanderer) directly. The DTZ may only be taken by people who hold an authorization certificate or have already attended at least one section of an integration course, including as a self-payer.

However: other recognized exams can be taken without any course or certificate.

• Goethe-Zertifikat B1: four modules (reading, listening, writing, speaking). You can retake individual modules.
• telc Deutsch B1: you need 60 out of 120 points (50 percent) and must pass at least one part.
• DTZ: one exam with two possible results, A2 or B1. For naturalization, B1 is usually the standard.

You register for these exams yourself, often at a Volkshochschule or an accredited examination center. A good private course prepares you precisely for them.

Conclusion

Taking an integration course without an authorization certificate is possible, but as a self-payer it costs more. Check first whether you can obtain a certificate from BAMF, as that saves a lot of money. If you want to start quickly, flexibly, and without an application, a private online German course is a good alternative. What matters most in the end is one thing: that you can speak German confidently and pass your exam.