MBE is the migration counselling service for adult immigrants. There are just under 1,300 MBE advice centres nationwide (as of 2024). These include both permanent and mobile centres. This nationwide MBE network supports new immigrants in all matters relating to arrival, integration and participation in Germany. This counselling service is always free of charge, confidential, and a non-obligatory offer for those seeking advice.

The advice centres are run by the six central German welfare organisations - Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO), Caritas, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK), Diakonie, Paritätische and Zentralwohlfahrtsstelle der Juden in Deutschland (ZWST) - as well as the Federation of Expellees (Bund der Vertriebenen, BdV).

The MBE's target group is adult immigrants aged 28 and over as well as their families. This includes EU citizens as well as skilled employees from third countries, ethnic German resettlers, refugees after the asylum procedure or persons seeking protection from the war in Ukraine. The focus of the advice service is on the first three years after arrival in Germany. However, migration counselling is also available to immigrants after this period if they have a particular need for advice.

The Youth Migration Services (JMD) are responsible for immigrants up to the age of 27. However, immigrants up to the age of 27 can also receive counselling from the MBE if they have a need for advice in their life situation that corresponds to that of adult immigrants.

People who are in the asylum procedure can also find support from the asylum procedure advice (Asylverfahrensberatung), an advice service offered by many organisations.

The advisory organisations often offer various services - migration counselling, youth migration services, asylum procedure advice - under one roof.

There are 1,276 MBE advice centres nationwide (as of 2024). In addition to 908 permanent locations, these also include 368 mobile advice centres.

Migration counselling for adult immigrants has existed in this form since 2005. The counselling service was created on the basis of the Immigration Act, which came into force in that year. Previously, comparable services had existed in the form of counselling for ethnic German resettlers and social counselling for foreigners, the predecessors of which date back to the 1950s.

Migration counselling for adult immigrants is financed from the federal budget, which is approved by the German Bundestag. The funds are provided from the budget of the Federal Ministry of the Interior. Applications for funding are approved by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. The current funding guidelines of the Federal Ministry of the Interior can be found here (as of 12 June 2023).

MBE is funded on a project basis for one year at a time. This means that, on the one hand, the funds for migration counselling must be reallocated annually in the federal budget and negotiated in the budget consultations. On the other hand, the project organisers must reapply for funding for the MBE centres each year. Therefore the amount of funding available in the coming year is open for a long time.

In addition, all project organisers contribute their own share, i.e. cover part of the costs themselves.

The amount of funding for MBE is decided in the annual federal budget negotiations. In 2023, migration counselling for adult immigrants received around 81 million euros from federal funds, in 2024 it was around 77 million euros.

MBE in its current form was introduced with the Immigration Act, which came into force in 2005. The basis for MBE counselling and support is Section 45 sentence 1 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) as well as Section 9 paragraphs 1 and 4 of the Federal Expellees Act (BVFG).

The MBE advice centres form a common structure that has been established for 20 years and offers counselling all over Germany. Advice is provided free of charge, confidential, and it is always a voluntary service for those seeking advice. It is also transparent, independent, and conducted without prejudging its results.

Migration counselling is a contact point for people who have recently arrived in Germany. Migration counselling offers immigrants individual advice on topics such as housing, education and training, language and integration courses, work, securing a livelihood, dealing with authorities, residence status, and health. By providing advice, the MBE helps people to take advantage of their opportunities for participation in legal, social, economic, political, and cultural terms and to help shape society.

A central aim is to empower those seeking advice: Advice seekers should be enabled to find their own way around on everyday issues in Germany. At the same time, they should be put in a position to contact other specialised counselling services and the responsible authorities at local, state, and federal level (regular services).

In 2017, the Association of German Social Welfare Organisations (BAGFW) described its mission statement for migration counselling as follows:

"Migration work is committed to the professional ethical principles of social work. It practises social work as a human rights profession. In this sense, it supports state action to protect human rights and 'to achieve the full realisation of rights to the maximum of its possibilities', as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rightst states.

Intercultural exchange is part of the MBE's offer for a democratic, value-orientated, and open-minded society. It serves a dialogue-oriented, respectful negotiation process between people on an equal footing. All people are recognised and valued in their diversity. MBE works towards participation in our society on the basis of the values of the Basic Law (the German constitution).

The work with those seeking advice is guided by the idea of empowerment and participation in society. In this sense, it regards itself as being fundamentally in solidarity with the clients."

The counselling is carried out by specialists with socio-pedagogical training. The MBE usually offers advice those seeking counselling in one-to-one sessions, which are held on site at the advice centres, by telephone or digitally. In addition, group counselling sessions are also offered, which are aimed in particular at people who have only recently arrived in Germany.

The form and extent of the counselling depends on the needs of those seeking advice. If necessary, the instrument of case management is used for counselling. Voluntary support agreements can be agreed upon. There is also socio-educational support and the option of short-term counselling.

Migration counselling helps those seeking advice to find an adequate integration and language course, supports them with questions about education and training (for example, when looking for a place in a nursery or school), advises them on accessing the labour market, explains letters from the authorities, and refers them to the relevant offices when it comes to submitting applications. The advice centres are also open for those seeking advice on everyday issues (housing, private conflicts), securing a livelihood, questions about residence status and family reunification as well as health issues.

In principle, people seeking advice are free to decide which MBE centre they would like to go to. However, the MBE centre should ideally be located in the district or city in which the person seeking advice lives. As there are often several MBE centres in each district or city, those seeking advice are free to choose which one they turn to.

Migration counselling is integrated into a broad network and works together with numerous institutions and stakeholders. These include municipal offices and authorities, youth migration services (JMD), integration and language course providers, job centres, and BAMF regional coordinators.

This is important in order to guide those seeking advice to the competent advice services, and to be able to exchange information with local authorities on important issues relating to integration. Furthermore, MBE participates in various networks, for example in local and regional working groups and round tables on the topics of migration, integration, and participation of immigrants. MBE also supports the regular services in questions of intercultural openness.