Source: BUS Sachsen-Anhalt (Linie6Plus)

Apply for a travel allowance for integration courses

Description

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.

Prerequisites

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 distance 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.

Required documents

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
- You can prove your severe disability with
  - 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

Objection

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

Administrative court action

Procedure

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

You 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 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 responsible regional office of the BAMF.
The BAMF regional office will check your application.
You will receive notification by post that your application has been approved or rejected.