Inburgering

Overview

Inburgering is the Dutch civic integration programme for newcomers. It is run by DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs), part of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Most people who move to the Netherlands on a residence permit must integrate within 3 years. The programme has Dutch language exams and knowledge exams about Dutch society and work. People who are not obliged to integrate can also do it voluntarily, for example to apply for naturalisation or a stronger residence permit.

Which exams you take depends on the law that applies to you: the Civic Integration Act 2013 or the Civic Integration Act 2021. You can see your own law and exam list in your Mijn Inburgering account (log in with DigiD).

Who can apply

You usually need to integrate if you have a citizen service number (BSN), a residence permit and a registration with your municipality. Once these are in place, DUO sends a letter saying you must integrate. The letter can take up to 8 weeks to arrive.

Under the 2021 Act, the municipality then holds a broad intake (an interview plus a learnability test) and agrees a personal integration and participation plan (PIP) with you. The PIP sets your learning track and your exams. A second DUO letter gives the date your integration period starts.

Exam pattern

The exams are language exams and knowledge exams. Language exams are at level A2, B1 or B2. The B1 and B2 language exams are the Dutch as a second language state exam (Nt2).

Language exams, level A2

Language exams, level B1 and B2 (Nt2 state exam)

Content details for the Nt2 exams are published on the state exam site (in Dutch), which DUO links to from its language exams page.

Knowledge exams

• Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNM): a 45-minute computer exam with questions grouped by theme, such as living or work and income.

• Job market and participation module (MAP): for people under the 2021 Act on the B1 or Z track. You complete it with your municipality before your integration period ends. It has a labour market part (what jobs exist, which suit you, how to apply) and a participation part with practical tasks such as volunteering, an internship or paid work. You are not charged for it.

• Orientation on the Dutch Labour Market (ONA): for people under the 2013 Act (and voluntary integrators). You submit a portfolio of assignments, then either attend 64 hours of an ONA course or pass a final interview of about 30 minutes with two DUO staff. You do not need ONA if you were obliged to integrate before 1 January 2015, if the 2021 Act applies to you, if you hold an MBO level 1 diploma in Dutch, or if you received an exemption for having worked in the Netherlands.

• Participation Statement Process (PVT): you learn about core Dutch values through your municipality and then sign a participation statement. It applies if you were obliged to integrate from 1 October 2017.

Levels or stages

Learning tracks under the 2021 Act

• B1 track: prepares for paid or voluntary work. You take the language exams at B1 and the knowledge exams listed in your PIP. If you followed at least 600 hours of lessons and still cannot pass B1, talk to your municipality about moving down to A2.

• Education track (O track): for young people heading to MBO, HBO or university. You take the B1 language exams, plus the participation statement process and KNM.

• Self-reliance track (Z track): for people for whom the other tracks are too hard. You learn Dutch at A1 level. A2 language exams are optional. The compulsory parts are the participation statement process and the MAP. The track ends with an interview with the municipality and a certificate instead of a diploma.

Exam sets under the 2013 Act

• Obliged to integrate from 1 October 2017: Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking, KNM, ONA and the participation statement process, all at A2 or higher.

• From 1 January 2015 to 1 October 2017: the same, without the participation statement process.

• From 1 January 2013 to 1 January 2015: the four language exams and KNM only.

Marking and results

Results for knowledge exams and A2 language exams arrive by letter within 8 weeks, and also show in Mijn Inburgering. Results for the B1 and B2 state exams are published through the Nt2 state exam site (in Dutch). ONA portfolio checks can take up to 6 weeks, and the final interview can have a further wait of about 6 weeks.

Fees

Fees below are those listed on the DUO site in 2026.

• Under the 2021 Act the participation statement process is free. Under the 2013 Act it is free for asylum status holders and costs EUR 150 for others.

• Under the 2021 Act, asylum status holders have the first 2 attempts at each exam free, unless they take it at a lower level than their PIP states. Extra attempts are paid, and a DUO loan cannot be used for them.

• Under the 2021 Act, people who are not asylum status holders, and everyone under the 2013 Act, can pay themselves or borrow from DUO, but only for approved schools. Course prices differ by school.

• A duplicate paper diploma costs EUR 72.

How to apply

1. Log in to Mijn Inburgering with DigiD to register for KNM, ONA or A2 language exams, then choose a date and location.

2. For the B1 or B2 state exam, register through the Nt2 state exam site (in Dutch).

3. For the participation statement process and the MAP, register with your municipality.

If you cannot log in, DUO provides paper registration forms. You can change the date or location, or cancel for a refund, up to 1 week before the exam. Register early, because it can take more than 6 weeks to get a place. After registering you receive a confirmation, and a letter from DUO a week before the exam.

After the exam

Passing all exams gives you a digital integration diploma in Mijn Diploma's, reached from Mijn Inburgering. For people under the 2021 Act the diploma states whether you took the exams at A2, B1 or B2. For 2013 Act candidates it is always an A2 diploma. The digital diploma is free, is accepted as a certified copy, and can be used for naturalisation. A paper diploma is free once on request. People who finish the Z track get a certificate from their municipality instead.

If you do not sign the participation statement within 1 year under the 2013 Act, and the delay is your own fault, DUO can fine you EUR 340 and stop you borrowing from DUO.

Preparation tips

DUO publishes practice material for A2 Writing, Speaking, Listening, Reading and KNM, and practice exams for B1 and B2 on the state exam site. Use a desktop computer if you can. The Speaking practice does not work in Safari.