Funding for language courses: the options in Germany

Funding for language courses: what are the options?

In Germany there are several funding routes for language courses: the education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) from the Federal Employment Agency, training support for employees under § 82 SGB III, integration and job-related German courses run by the BAMF, schemes in individual federal states, and tax relief. Which route fits depends on your situation, the language and the provider’s approval.

Most programmes are not aimed at “language courses” in general but at specific groups and goals: jobseekers, employees who need further training, or immigrants learning German for everyday life and work. An English course for your next holiday will practically never be funded, whereas a job-related course may be. Information as of November 2026.

Please note: this article gives a general overview and is not legal or tax advice. The information provided by the responsible authorities and the current versions of the laws are binding.

Education voucher for a language course: requirements and process

An education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) covers the cost of vocational training if the Federal Employment Agency considers it necessary to end or prevent unemployment. The same applies to language courses: the course must have a clear professional purpose, and both the training provider and the course must be approved by an accredited certification body.

Who receives an education voucher

According to the Federal Employment Agency, the agency checks in a personal advice session whether the requirements are met. There is no legal entitlement to a voucher for a particular language course. Since 1 January 2025, the Federal Employment Agency has also funded training for Jobcenter clients.

What the voucher covers

• course fees, including necessary learning materials and exam fees
• travel costs and, where applicable, childcare costs
• accommodation and meals if commuting every day is not reasonable

The voucher is usually time-limited, restricted to a region and tied to a specific training goal. You cannot simply use it for a different course.

The role of AZAV approval

The approval of providers and courses is governed by the Accreditation and Approval Ordinance for Employment Promotion (AZAV). A provider can therefore offer excellent teaching and still not be able to accept an education voucher if the provider or the specific course lacks this approval. Before booking, always ask whether the provider and the course are approved, and ask for the course number (Maßnahmenummer).

The process in four steps

1. Make an appointment with your adviser and explain your professional need, for example English for a specific job.
2. Agree on the training goal together and receive the voucher.
3. Choose an approved course that matches the voucher.
4. Hand the voucher in to the provider before the course starts.

Funded language courses for employees: § 82 SGB III and the Qualification Opportunities Act

Employees can receive funding too. The legal basis is § 82 SGB III, which was significantly expanded by the Qualification Opportunities Act (Qualifizierungschancengesetz) in 2019. The Federal Employment Agency can cover all or part of the course fees and pay wage subsidies. However, the training must exceed 120 hours and go beyond short job-specific instruction.

The main requirements

Under § 82 SGB III, the following conditions, among others, must be met:

• The training provides skills that go beyond short-term adaptation training related exclusively to the current workplace.
• As a rule, the employee completed their vocational qualification at least two years ago.
• There has been no training funded under this provision in the last two years.
• The course lasts more than 120 hours.
• The course and the provider are approved for funding.

Employer contribution and wage subsidy by company size

In companies with fewer than 500 employees, the employer contribution should also be waived if the employee is at least 45 years old or severely disabled. If there is a works agreement or collective agreement on training, the employer’s share falls by five percentage points. Several comparable employees can be funded through a joint application, as explained in the Federal Employment Agency’s information for employers.

What this means for language courses

A language course on its own is not automatically eligible. Funding is realistic mainly for extensive, approved programmes with a clear professional focus. A weekly Business English course over a few months often does not reach the 120-hour threshold. Talk to the agency’s employer service (Arbeitgeber-Service) early, before you sign a contract. Also plan who will submit the application and who will document attendance.

Integration courses and job-related German courses: German language support from the BAMF

For German as a second language there are two state programmes: the integration course, usually with 700 teaching units, and job-related German courses (Berufssprachkurse) for German at work. Both are coordinated by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). If you receive Jobcenter benefits, the integration course is free; other participants usually pay a contribution.

Integration course

According to the Federal Employment Agency, the general integration course consists of 600 hours of German lessons with a final exam, the “Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer” (German test for immigrants), and a 100-hour orientation course. There are also variants such as literacy courses and intensive courses. You can apply to the BAMF for an exemption from the contribution, but you must do so before the course starts.

Job-related German courses

Job-related German courses build on the integration course and prepare you for German at work. According to the BAMF, employees who are required to contribute pay €2.56 per teaching unit, which comes to €1,024 for 400 units. Half of the contribution can be refunded once you pass the exam, and your employer can also cover the payment. Availability was restricted at times in 2026; some course types have been available again since October 2026, others have not.

We compare both routes in detail in our article on choosing between a job-related German course or a private course. There you will also find tips on when the two can be combined.

What happened to the Bildungsprämie, and which state programmes are there?

The federal education bonus (Bildungsprämie) no longer exists: according to the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), the last vouchers were issued on 31 December 2021. There is no direct successor at federal level. Some federal states fund training through their own programmes, often co-financed by the European Social Fund, with changing conditions.

The Bildungsprämie: a look back

For many years, the Bildungsprämie supported people in work on lower incomes by covering part of their course fees, including for language courses. The BIBB documents the end of the voucher scheme. If you still come across references to the Bildungsprämie today, they are out of date.

State programmes

Several federal states have launched their own training vouchers or grant schemes. Conditions, target groups and deadlines change frequently, and some programmes run out of funds for a time. Reliable statements are therefore only possible for a specific date. The federal funding database, the Förderdatenbank des Bundes, gives an up-to-date overview and lets you filter by state and purpose. If you are in Bavaria, ask the state Ministry of Economic Affairs or your chamber of commerce (IHK) or chamber of crafts (Handwerkskammer) directly rather than relying on older lists.

Educational leave as a complement

Educational leave (Bildungsurlaub) does not pay your course fees; it is paid time off for training. In most federal states you can take five days a year, but in Bavaria there is no legal entitlement. You will find all the details in our article on educational leave for language courses.

Tax and employers: when no funding programme applies

Even without a state funding programme, you can reduce the cost. Employees can often claim job-related language courses as work-related expenses (Werbungskosten). If an employer pays for job-related training, it can be tax-free under § 3 No. 19 of the Income Tax Act (EStG). For many companies, a self-funded programme is quicker to set up than a funding application.

Work-related expenses for employees

If you pay for a language course yourself because you need it for your job, you may be able to claim the costs in your income tax return. We explain which evidence the tax office expects and where the limits lie in our article on claiming a language course on your tax return.

Tax-free payment by the employer

Under § 3 No. 19 EStG, training provided by an employer is tax-free if it serves to improve employability and is not predominantly a reward. You can read how this works in practice in our article on tax-free language courses paid by your employer. In individual cases, you should involve your tax adviser.

In-house programmes without an application process

Funding applications take time, and not every course meets the formal requirements. Many companies therefore opt for their own predictable programme, for example through language courses for companies. At choices®, company courses cost from €40 net plus VAT per 45-minute lesson, and every programme starts with a needs analysis. Individuals book from €49.99 incl. VAT per 45-minute lesson.

Checking eligibility: a checklist before you book

Before you book a language course, check which funding route applies to you, whether the provider is approved for it and whether the funding is approved before the course starts. In most programmes, funding cannot be granted retrospectively. The following checklist will help you avoid the most common mistakes.

Checklist

• Target group: do you belong to the programme’s target group, for example jobseeker, employee or immigrant?
• Professional relevance: can you explain specifically what you need the language for at work?
• Approval: are the provider and the course approved for the programme? Ask for written confirmation.
• Scope: does the course meet the minimum requirements, for example more than 120 hours under § 82 SGB III?
• Timing: is the funding approved before the first day of the course?
• Own contribution: which costs remain with you or your employer?
• Evidence: which certificates of attendance or exam certificates are required?

What about courses at choices®?

Whether a course is eligible depends on whether the provider and the specific course are approved for the programme in question. Ask before you book, including with us. We will tell you openly which documents we can and cannot provide, so that you can base your application on solid ground.

For companies, a language audit can be a sensible first step. It is a paid service with no obligation to book a course afterwards. It shows which skills are missing in the team and therefore also provides a rationale for a budget or funding application. Find out more on our language audit page and in the overview of our language training for teams and departments.

Sources

1. arbeitsagentur.de: bildungsgutschein
2. gesetze-im-internet.de: azav
3. gesetze-im-internet.de: 82
4. arbeitsagentur.de: foerderung von weiterbildung
5. arbeitsagentur.de: sprachkurse
6. bamf.de: deutsch beruf
7. bibb.de: 742.php
8. foerderdatenbank.de
9. gesetze-im-internet.de

Frequently asked questions