gobordaGlobal mobility intelligence
Work & skilled workersPublishedHigh impactVerified

Germany (Hesse): 'Deutsch 4U' Language Program Expanded and Improved for Third-Country Nationals

🇩🇪 GermanyAsylum1 recorded versionLast change 15 Aug 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The 'Sprachkurse Deutsch 4U' programme has expanded to 83 cooperating providers, offers 320 courses, and provides funding of 20,000 Euros per individual measure. Funding for accompanying childcare has been significantly increased. The total funding volume is approximately 40 million Euros, with 36 million Euros from the EU's AMIF and four million Euros from the state. The funding period extends until the end of February 2028.

Overview

The German state of Hesse has substantially enhanced its 'Sprachkurse Deutsch 4U' programme, providing expanded and more accessible German language courses for third-country nationals. This update, co-financed by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the state, increases the number of providers and courses, boosts individual funding from €12,000 to €20,000, and extends the funding period to February 2028. The programme, which commenced a few weeks prior to its announcement on 6 March 2026, also includes greater support for childcare to facilitate participation.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Third-country nationals with a residence permit of at least one year
  • Third-country nationals holding a residence permit for over 18 months, engaged in language acquisition, social integration, and professional orientation
  • Ukrainians who entered Germany due to the Russian war of aggression
  • Individuals with a visa for job seeking as a skilled worker
  • Providers cooperating with the 'Sprachkurse Deutsch 4U' programme
  • Women requiring childcare to attend language courses

What changed in the latest version

Before

The state programme 'MitSprache – Deutsch4U' existed. It had 68 providers working with it. It offered 120 courses. It gave 12,000 Euros for each course. Funding for childcare was less.

After

The 'Sprachkurse Deutsch 4U' programme has expanded. It now has 83 providers working with it. It offers 320 courses. It gives 20,000 Euros for each course. Funding for childcare has greatly increased. The total funding is about 40 million Euros. The EU's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) provides 36 million Euros. The state provides four million Euros. The programme will receive funding until the end of February 2028.

This policy change is important for third-country nationals in Hesse who want to improve their German. It greatly increases the number of available courses. It also increases the financial help for course providers. More funding for each course means more complete and lasting support. Importantly, more funding for childcare will let more people, especially women, take part in the courses. This removes a common reason why people cannot attend. The longer funding period gives more stability for programme providers. This ensures people can continue to get these important integration services.

Explained simply

Imagine learning a new language in a new country. Germany's Hesse state has made it much easier and better for people from outside the EU to learn German. They've put in loads more money (€40 million!), so there are more places to learn and more lessons available. If you're learning German, you might get more help, and they've even made it easier for parents, especially mums, to attend by helping with childcare. This helps everyone settle in and find jobs.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v4Effective 1 Sept 2025PublishedHigh impact
    Germany (Hesse): 'Deutsch 4U' Language Program Expanded and Improved for Third-Country Nationals

    The German state of Hesse, with the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), has launched an expanded and improved 'Sprachkurse Deutsch 4U' programme. The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) from the EU and state funds help pay for this. The programme now has 83 providers working with it, up from 68. It offers 320 courses, up from 120. Funding for each course has increased from 12,000 Euros to 20,000 Euros. Support for childcare has greatly improved. The programme has about 40 million Euros in total funding. It aims to offer German language courses that are easy to access for people who are not citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland — legally called third-country nationals. The programme will now receive funding until the end of February 2028.

Timeline

  1. Announced

    6 Mar 2026

    The German state of Hesse, in collaboration with the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), has significantly expanded and improved its 'Sprachkurse Deutsch 4U' language programme. This initiative, co-financed by 40 million Euros from EU and state funds, offers enhanced and more accessible German language courses for third-country nationals with a stable residence status, aiming to streng

Other routes in this country

1 / 6