Most European countries offer integration courses to migrants from non-EU/EFTA countries* (third-country nationals), but the topics covered and the target groups vary. Familiarisation with a country’s norms, values and obligations is a standard part of integration almost everywhere.”
EMN inform, EMN NL two-pager | Integration
Integration courses for migrants from outside the EU/EFTA vary greatly across Europe
7 November 2024
New EMN-OECD study maps integration courses*** in EU Member States and EMN observer countries. 21 countries (AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, EE, ES, FI, FR, HR, IT, LT, LU, LV, NL, PL, SE, SI, SK; RS) offer such courses to legally residing migrants from non-EU/EFTA countries.
Target groups vary per country
In almost all countries (AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, EE, ES, FI, FR, HR, IT, LT, LV, NL, PL, SE, SI, SK; RS), integration courses are primarily intended for migrants from outside the EU/EFTA with asylum status. Unlike in the Netherlands, many EU Member States additionally offer courses to displaced persons covered by the Temporary Protection Directive (AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, EE, ES, FI, LU, LV, PL, SI). Cyprus and Luxembourg also offer courses to people with long-term resident status.
Asylum seekers in 8 countries (DE, CY, ES, FI, LU, LV, PL, SK) receive integration courses to prepare them for a possible long-term stay. The Netherlands, France, and Sweden also offer courses to (asylum) migrants from non-EU/EFTA countries who come to the country through family reunification. Only Hungary, Ireland, and Portugal have few or no integration courses.
Mandatory or voluntary
Integration is mandatory in 10 countries (AT, BE, CZ, DE, EE, ES, FR, IT, LT, NL) for certain groups that are dependent on government support and/or are likely to stay for a long time. In the Netherlands, all migrants from non-EU/EFTA countries with a temporary residence permit, with some exceptions , are obligated to take integration courses if their purpose of stay is long-term.
In 9 countries (BG, CY, IE, LU, LV, PL, SI, SK, RS), participation in the courses is voluntary, but attendance is often mandatory (BG, CY, LU, LV, PL, SI, RS) for people seeking long-term residence or citizenship. In the Netherlands, migrants from outside the EU/EFTA can sometimes also voluntarily integrate, for example to obtain a more secure residence status (a permanent residence permit or naturalisation). This group is free to purchase integration courses and take exams themselves.
Focus on norms, values, and duties
The content of integration courses varies from country to country, but a number of topics are common to almost all of them:
- norms, values, and duties (AT, BE, CZ, DE, EE, ES, FI, FR, HR, IE, LT, LU, LV, NL, PL, SE, SI, SK; RS);
- employment (AT, BE, CZ, EE, ES, FI, FR, HR, IT, LT, LV, NL, PL, SI, SK; RS);
- culture and history (AT, DE, ES, FI, FR, HR, IE, LT, LU, LV, NL, PL, SI, SK; RS).
Topics covered outside the Netherlands are for example family life (BE, CZ, EE, ES, FR, LT, PL, SE, SK), information about asylum (CZ, EE, LT) and information about leisure (CZ, SK).
*EFTA: European Free Trade Association (EFTA), best known by its English abbreviation EFTA. Countries: Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland.
** Participating countries: Austria (AT), Belgium (BE), Bulgaria (BG), Cyprus (CY), Czech Republic (CZ), Germany (DE), Estonia (EE), Spain (ES), Finland (FI), France (FR), Croatia (HR), Hungary (HU), Ireland (IE), Italy (IT), Lithuania (LT), Luxembourg (LU), Latvia (LV), Netherlands (NL), Poland (PL), Portugal (PT), Sweden (SE), Slovakia (SK), Slovenia (SI); Serbia (RS)
*** In the Netherlands, the integration exam consists of knowledge exams and language exams. This EMN study focuses on the courses for the knowledge exams, the language component of integration has been left out of consideration.
