Welcome to the website of the Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals!
In October 2025, the 8th Saxon State Parliament appointed Martin Modschiedler as the Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals. His role is to look after the interests of people in Saxony who have a history of migration.
The Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals supports the legal, social and cultural integration of people with a migration background living in the Free State of Saxony. The office was established in Saxony in 2025. At the beginning of each parliamentary term, Parliament elects one of its members as a commissioner who can work independently, without being bound by instructions from government. The Office of the Commissioner for Foreign Nationals (Amt des Integrationsbeauftragten) has replaced the Sächsischer Ausländerbeauftragter, which had been in place since 1992.
“Saxony should remain economically strong and open-minded - a region that offers a high quality of life, where people love to live. That is what I am committed to. With honesty, expertise, sound judgement and empathy.”
Martin Modschiedler
Around four million people currently live in Saxony, and 327,831 of these do not have German citizenship. This constitutes 8.1% of the population (as at 31 December 2024). Statistically, it is estimated that a total of 484,000 people have a migration background. “A person has a migration background if they or at least one of their parents do not have German citizenship by birth.”
What does the Commissioner for Foreign Nationals and his office do?
We can provide information and advice
Which agency is responsible for this issue? What does the official document say? What does this law mean?
We can mediate
Which government agency, aid organisation or advice centre can help with this issue?
We can offer support
If someone is having difficulties with their employer, landlord or an authority, we can work with them to try and resolve the matter.
We can’t make decisions
Decisions can only be made by the competent authority, such as the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, the Federal Employment Agency, the Social Welfare Office or the Immigration Office.
We can’t issue instructions
The Commissioner for Foreign Nationals is not authorised to instruct other authorities, but may request information.
We are not solicitors
The office cannot act as a solicitor in court, but can offer mediation and advice in special cases.
Key responsibilities of the State Commissioner
- reports to Parliament on the situation of people with a migration background living in Saxony
- contributes to draft laws, ordinances and administrative regulations with an impact on people with a migration background
- advises the Saxon State Parliament Petitions Committee on petitions concerning the interests of people with a migration background
- provides public information and public relations work
- is a member of the Hardship Commission
- supports municipal commissioners for foreign nationals, and associations and institutions dealing with foreign nationals and integration
- receives and processes requests and complaints
- advises meetings of the Saxon State Parliament on current issues relating to integration in Saxony
- works with a range of national-level bodies in Germany to formulate integration policy, and participates in conferences and events
- liaises with the Federal Integration Commissioner and other state commissioners
Municipal commissioners for foreign nationals and integration (Kommunale Ausländer- und Integrationsbeauftragte [KAIB])
The experience and commitment of municipal commissioners for foreign nationals and integration are fundamental to the success of migration and integration work in Saxony. The KAIB know local contacts and decision-makers. Here you will find the municipal commissioners for foreign nationals and integration in Saxony, the state and federal commissioners, and a selection of special offerings that provide help and forums on migration issues.
Representatives of the federal states
Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF)
Counselling centres in Saxony
Migration Counselling for Adult Immigrants (Migrationsberatungsstellen [MBE]); these MBE counselling centres offer advice to immigrants over the age of 27 who may be able to gain permanent residency. They provide counselling to support integration and for people in crisis. Immigrants under the age of 27 are under the care of the Youth Migration Services (Jugendmigrationsdiensten [JMD]). The counselling centres are run by social associations such as the Arbeiterwohlfahrt (Workers’ Welfare Association), Caritas (Catholic welfare association) and Diakonie (social welfare organisation of Protestant churches).
Consultation for associations
The Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals offers all associations and alliances of the Free State the opportunity to discuss issues in confidence. The aim of these consultations is to provide an opportunity to discuss challenges, real-life structural deficits and possible solutions from the political arena. The Commissioner cannot and must not support the clubs financially. However, he will act in an advisory and mediating capacity for migration and integration initiatives. Please make an appointment if you require a consultation.
Information materials on migration in Saxony, aids, learning materials and studies
We are happy to send publications issued by the Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals to all citizens, interest groups and institutions. The publications listed are sent to all interested individuals, to intermediaries and organisations responsible for political education (schools, universities, educational institutions) and to public institutions in Germany.
Please note: Parcels may take up to 10 days to be delivered. The personal data required for the order will be destroyed after the publications have been sent. Products with information specifically for Saxony (e.g. school holidays) will only be sent within Saxony
Order publications free of charge
Volunteering and getting involved
Many places in Saxony have seen the formation of voluntary initiatives and associations that, for example, take on sponsorships for immigrants, advise refugees or help them learn German. Increasingly, districts and independent cities are appointing volunteer coordinators and integration coordinators. The Internet offers local portals and contacts that coordinate offers of help and enquiries. The municipal commissioners for foreign nationals and integration can also provide contact information.
The municipal commissioners for foreign nationals and integration are important contacts. They provide in-person advice on projects, questions and difficulties. They can also provide information about training, studies or careers or put you in touch with the right contact person. Parenting and family counselling centres can help with family conflicts, parenting issues, childcare, school attendance and questions about entitlement to financial benefits.
Some municipalities have integration and foreigners’ advisory councils, which are committees in which foreign nationals can contribute their ideas and experiences to local-level political work.
The first point of contact for all official decisions on residence or employment are the districts and independent cities as immigration authorities. Translation services or a community interpreting service can provide the necessary translation into German or another language. As a basic principle, district and municipal social welfare offices are available for advice on social issues.
The Federal Employment Agency provides training and job opportunities as well as unemployment benefits. Local job centres advise jobseekers and employers, and provide support for education and training.
Career Information Centres (Berufsinformationszentren [BIZ]) provide comprehensive information to pupils, teachers and parent representatives on all aspects of education, careers and studies.
Decisions that are part of the asylum procedure are made by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
The State Directorate of Saxony (Landesdirektion Sachsen [LDS]) is responsible for implementing measures to terminate residence. Regulatory decisions are ultimately a matter for the Saxon State Ministry of the Interior. Migration and integration as sociopolitical issues are the responsibility of the Saxon State Ministry for Social Affairs and Cohesion. Education is the responsibility of the Saxon State Ministry for Cultural Affairs.
Saxon State Ministry for Social Affairs, Health and Cohesion
Saxon State Ministry for Culture
Saxon State Ministry of the Interior
If anyone has a request or a complaint with regard to government action, they can contact the Saxon State Parliament Petitions Committee in writing or via the Internet.
Saxon State Parliament Petitions Commission
The Saxon State Government provides an overview of funding opportunities for integration projects. The Ministry for Social Affairs, Health and Cohesion has compiled funding guidelines for integrative measures. The Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals does not provide financial support for integration projects. However, he recognises outstanding commitment to people with a migration background through the Integration Award and the Sterntaler Prize.
Saxon Committee for Social Affairs.Health and Cohesion
Emergency on-call services
Most public administrations in Saxony have weekday opening hours. On-call services are in place at police stations or courts to handle urgent cases within the responsibility of the regulatory authorities. Regional contacts can be reached via police departments. The public authority hotline is 115.
Pupils
The Free State of Saxony Schools Act requires equal opportunities in education and upbringing for all pupils. Educational decisions set an important course for qualifications and, subsequently, for development opportunities. Parents and pupils should therefore receive guidance and support right from the start.
For pupils under the age of 18 who are subject to compulsory schooling, special educational counselling is provided by the Saxon Education Agency as an important initial measure for integration. This involves clarifying on an individual basis how the child’s existing school career can be continued. Together they look for a school, and most pupils begin by being taught in a preparatory class.
Depending on the pupil’s place of residence, special educational counselling is conducted in the regional offices of the Saxon Education Agency in Bautzen, Chemnitz, Dresden, Leipzig or Zwickau.
Young people over 18
For young migrants who are over 18 years old and therefore no longer subject to compulsory schooling, there are various ways to integrate. Over-18s who would like to continue their school education on the traditional educational path and are aiming for the Abitur (general qualification for university entrance in Germany) (for example, because they were about to graduate in their country of origin or have already obtained a higher education entrance qualification that is not recognised in Germany) can continue their schooling at a designated college via a written application procedure. The headteacher of the college provides the special educational counselling and makes the admission decision. The young adults are admitted to a preparatory class and gradually integrated into mainstream study on a case-by-case basis. Over-18s who are taking language courses and specific classes provided by the Federal Employment Agency in preparation for vocational training do not receive any special educational counselling from the Saxon Education Agency.
Naturalisation is a clear signal that a person has put down roots in Germany. Naturalised foreigners have decided to make the Federal Republic of Germany their primary place of residence. They become citizens of our country with equal rights and obligations. They can then vote at local, state and federal level. They can also run for parliament and thus actively represent their interests and ideas.
Naturalised citizens are free to choose their profession in Germany. They are then also citizens of the European Union; they can enjoy freedom of movement in Europe and travel to many countries outside our continent without a visa.
The Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals works with the Saxon Ministry of the Interior to promote naturalisation, welcoming the new German citizens with a naturalisation ceremony for example.
Contact and requirements
The application for naturalisation must be submitted to the relevant naturalisation or citizenship authority at the district office or town hall of an independent city (Dresden, Leipzig, Chemnitz). Before submitting a written application, an in-person interview should be held with the respective authority.
Which agency is responsible for this issue? Information and online application
A person who has been living permanently and legally in Germany for five years is entitled to naturalisation if they have:
- permanent or long-term right of residence at the time of naturalisation
- a verified identity and nationality
- committed to the free democratic basic order of the German constitution
- renounced their previous citizenship
- oral and written German language skills at B1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
- proof of knowledge of the legal and social order and way of life in Germany (naturalisation test)
- independent means of subsistence for themselves and their dependants
- guaranteed their integration into the German way of life, in particular by not being married to several spouses at the same time
- no conviction for a criminal offence
Detailed information from the Federal Government on naturalisation (in German)
The Hardship Commission can ensure that foreign nationals, who would otherwise be under an enforceable obligation to leave the country, are granted residence permits for urgent humanitarian or personal reasons.
In the Free State of Saxony, a Hardship Commission was established in 2005 by the Saxon Hardship Commission Ordinance (Härtefallkommissionsverordnung [SächsHFKVO]), pursuant to Section 23a of the German Residence Act. Martin Modschiedler is the elected chairperson of the Commission.
Only a member of the Hardship Commission can request that it review a foreign national’s case (self-referral request). This means that those affected must get a member of the Hardship Commission of their choice to bring their case before the Hardship Commission. There is no entitlement to have a case reviewed by the Hardship Commission.
The procedure begins when the chairperson receives the self-referral request, which also includes a declaration of consent under data protection law from the foreign national in question. This initiates a deportation ban for the duration of the proceedings. The responsible immigration authority will issue a statement on the application. If the chairperson does not identify any grounds for exclusion under the SächsHFKVO, the matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the Hardship Commission.
If the Hardship Commission determines by a majority of two thirds of its members that, despite the foreign national’s enforceable obligation to leave the country, urgent humanitarian or personal reasons justify their continued residence in the country, the chairperson of the Hardship Commission will request that the Saxon State Minister of the Interior order the granting of a residence permit.
How the Commissioner for Foreign Nationals works
The Saxon Commissioner for Foreign Nationals shall act at his own discretion and on the basis of his own decision. For the individual, tasks and problems generally arise at local level. This is why the Commissioner for Foreign Nationals works closely with the municipal commissioners for foreign nationals and integration in the districts and independent cities. He summarises recurring concerns, recognises the specific need for action and reflects this in state policy. He connects companies, agencies, educational organisations, associations and projects. The small office supports and advises the Commissioner for Foreign Nationals and is part of the parliamentary administration.
