Civic integration exam in the Netherlands (inburgeringsexamen)

Many people who move to the Netherlands from abroad are required to fulfil civic integration requirements, including learning Dutch and acquainting themselves with Dutch society. Whether or not you are required to take a civic integration exam depends on your circumstances. 

Civic integration in the Netherlands

There are three main kinds of civic integration in the Netherlands: 

• Basic civic integration exam abroad: For people who need to apply for a provisional residence permit (MVV) before coming to the Netherlands. 
• Civic integration exam for people residing in the Netherlands (also known as the civic integration process): For people who intend to stay in the Netherlands long-term. 
• Civic integration exam for the purposes of obtaining a more secure residence permit or naturalisation: For people who want to apply for permanent residence or Dutch citizenship. 

Basic civic integration exam abroad

If you are coming to live in the Netherlands with your partner (or if you are coming to work as a spiritual counsellor), and you also need a provisional residence permit (MVV), you may be required to take the basic civic integration exam abroad (Basisexamen inburgering buitenland) before you can apply for your MVV and residence permit. 

About the civic integration exam abroad

The civic integration exam abroad is a test about the Dutch language and culture, and is normally taken on a computer at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of residence. 

The exam is composed of three sections: 

• Speaking proficiency 
• Reading proficiency 
• Knowledge of Dutch society 

Who needs to take the civic integration exam abroad?

Most non-EU citizens who are applying for a residence permit to live with their partner (partner permit) will need to take the civic integration exam abroad. However, there are some exceptions. You are exempt from taking the exam if: 

• You are under 18 years of age.
• You have reached state pension age. 
• You are an EU/EEA national, or you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Vatican City, the UK, the US, South Korea or Switzerland. 
• You are a long-term resident in another EU country.
• You lived in the Netherlands for at least eight years before the age of 16. 
• You are Surinamese and you completed at least primary education in Dutch, in Surinam, or in the Netherlands. 
• You are applying for a residence permit with a temporary purpose (e.g. to study). 
• You are applying for a residence permit and your partner (sponsor) has a residence permit with a temporary purpose. 
• You have taken the NT2 exam, either programme I or II. 
• You hold a degree from a Dutch university, HBO, MBO, VWO, HAVO, MAVO or VMBO. 
• You have a diploma from one of the Dutch overseas territories. 
• You have a European Baccalaureate diploma that lists Dutch as a first or second language. 

There are some other exemptions; you can read more on the IND website. 

If you are exempt from taking the civic integration exam abroad, you can fill in the relevant form and enclose it (with supporting evidence) along with your MVV application. 

How to take the civic integration exam abroad

To take the civic integration exam abroad, you first need to register with the Education Executive Agency (DUO) and pay for your exam. The total cost is 150 euros (each module costs 50 euros). You can pay via iDEAL (for which you need a Dutch bank account) or by bank transfer. 

You will receive a payment confirmation from DUO within five days of paying for your exam. You can then use this confirmation to book an appointment to sit the exam at your closest Dutch embassy or consulate. It’s recommended to prepare for the exam using the Naar Nederland self study pack.

When you attend the embassy to sit your exam, you need to bring the following documents with you: 

• Valid passport
• Confirmation of your appointment
• Recent passport photo, printed in colour

What happens if I pass the exam? 

You will receive your results in an email or letter from DUO within eight weeks of taking the exam. If you have passed, you can apply for your MVV and residence permit at the embassy, enclosing your pass certificate. You need to do this within one year of passing the exam. 

After arriving in the Netherlands, you may be required to continue the civic integration process (see below). 

What happens if I fail the civic integration exam? 

If you did not pass all the modules, you can retake the exam. It’s possible to retake only the modules that you did not pass, and therefore not have to pay to take the whole exam again. Exam sections that you have already passed will remain valid until you pass the whole exam. 

Civic integration exam for people residing in the Netherlands (civic integration process)

If you are moving to the Netherlands long-term or even permanently, you may want to participate in the civic integration process. Depending on your circumstances, you may even be required to do so - in these cases, the process is known as the “civic integration requirement”. 

What is the civic integration process?

The civic integration process is something that non-EU citizens must undertake after moving to the Netherlands. It essentially means that you take a course on Dutch language, culture and society, and then pass an exam to demonstrate your knowledge. 

Who does the civic integration requirement apply to? 

Generally speaking, the civic integration requirement applies to all non-EU citizens who come to live in the Netherlands long-term. 

The requirement does not apply to you if: 

• You are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
• You are aged under 18. 
• You lived in the Netherlands for at least eight years before the age of 16. 
• You have a degree/diploma/certificate or similar for education taught in Dutch at an education institution in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
• You have reached the state retirement age. 
• You are coming to the Netherlands only temporarily to work, study, or do an exchange. 

If the civic integration requirement applies to you, you will automatically receive a letter from the Education Executive Agency (DUO) explaining what you need to do to integrate. You receive this letter only once you have registered, received your BSN and got your residence permit. 

How does the civic integration process work?

Essentially, the civic integration process gives you three years to pass an exam to demonstrate your knowledge of the Dutch language, and Dutch culture and society. Your letter from DUO will explain which exams you need to take - or you can check this tool from DUO - as the requirements vary from person to person. 

You can also use the Mijn Inburgering website to check which exams you need to take, register for exams, and get your results. You’ll need your DigiD to log in. You can also apply for exemptions from taking some of the exams - for instance, if you already work in the Netherlands or have previously passed a language exam.

Exactly which process you follow depends on when you moved to the Netherlands. This is because the integration process changed in 2022 following a new law (the 2021 civic integration act). Those who moved to the Netherlands before 2022 are subject to different requirements. 

Under the 2021 Act

If the 2021 Act applies to you, after you have received your letter from DUO, you will be invited to a “broad intake” meeting at your municipality. This is an interview and a short test (you are not required to prepare), so that the authorities can get an idea of your current level of Dutch. After your broad intake, the municipality will put together a personal plan known as a personal integration and participation plan (PIP), which explains which learning track you need to follow, and which exams you need to take. 

Your three years to integrate begin only after you get your PIP. You will receive another letter from DUO explaining exactly when you need to start your integration.

There are three learning tracks: 

• B1 track: To prepare you for paid or voluntary work in the Netherlands. After three years, you will take the language exam at level B1 (the Nt2 state exam). You may be able to scale this down to level A2. You will also take knowledge exams (see below). 
• Education track: To prepare you for studying at a university or vocational higher education school. After three years, you will take the Nt2 exam at level B1 and the knowledge exams. 
• Self-reliance track: For people who would find the B1 or education tracks too difficult. You will learn Dutch at level A1, but are not required to take language or knowledge exams. At the end of the track, you will have an interview with your municipality. 

Under the 2013 Act

If you came to the Netherlands before 2022, you are likely covered by the 2013 Act, meaning things work slightly differently. Instead of getting a PIP from the municipality and following one of the tracks, you are simply given three years to prepare for taking your knowledge exam and language exam at level A2. 

You can choose to self-study for your exam, or take a course at a language school. Many offer Dutch courses to help you prepare for the exam. 

Taking your Dutch integration exam (inburgeringsexamen)

The civic integration exam is divided into several parts. Not everyone is required to take every part of the exam. Your PIP or Mijn Inburgering account will explain exactly which exams you are required to take, and at which level. For instance, you may not have to take all of the exams if you have a serious illness or disability, if you already have an Nt2 certificate or diploma, or if you have lived in the Netherlands for at least 10 years, and worked for five of those years. 

The total cost of the exams is around 250 euros. 

The language exams

There are four different language exams at different language proficiency levels. You are tested on your: 

• Speaking
• Listening
• Reading
• Writing

You can either take the speaking, listening, reading and writing exams at A2 level, or alternatively take them at B1 or B2 level by completing the Nt2 state exam (Dutch as a second language) - Programme 1 equates to level B1 and Programme II equates to level B2. 

Knowledge exams

The knowledge exams check your understanding of life in the Netherlands, and your language ability. There are different knowledge exams depending on whether you are covered by the 2013 civic integration act or the 2021 civic integration act. 

The knowledge exams are: 

1. Knowledge of Dutch society (KNM): You watch videos of various everyday scenarios and answer questions about them.
2. Job market and participation module (MAP): This module is about working and finding a job in the Netherlands. You only take this module if you are covered by the 2021 Act. 
3. Orientation on the Dutch labour market (ONA): This module is also about working and looking for work. You only take this module if you are covered by the 2013 Act, or if you are integrating voluntarily. You are required to make a portfolio of assignments and participate in a final interview. 
4. Participation statement (PVT): You may also be required to sign a participation statement, explaining that you have learnt what is important in the Netherlands, for instance freedom of speech and expression, and that you pledge to actively participate in Dutch society. 

You take the PVT and MAP exams with your municipality - contact your local municipality for information. If you want to take the language exams at level B1 or B2, you need to register for the Nt2 state exam. All other exams can be booked via your Mijn Inburgering account. 

Paying for your civic integration exam

If you are an asylum seeker covered by the 2021 Act, the municipality will pay for your course and your first two attempts at the exams. 

Otherwise, you are required to pay for the course and the exams yourself, but you can apply to borrow money from DUO to take courses at approved schools. 

Civic integration exam for secure residence permit or naturalisation

Even if you are not legally required to go through civic integration, you may still want to voluntarily take (some of) the exams. This is the case if you want to: 

• Apply for permanent residence
• Apply for Dutch citizenship

Do I need a civic integration exam for permanent residence or citizenship?

Simply put, having a civic integration diploma is a way that you can prove your integration when applying for a permanent residence permit or Dutch citizenship. For this reason, the civic integration exam is sometimes also known as the naturalisation test in the Netherlands. As of 2007, there is no separate naturalisation test; the content is the same as the civic integration exams outlined above. 

However, depending on your personal circumstances, you may only need to take some of the exams. 

Exemptions from civic integration for permanent residence

You are not required to have a civic integration diploma or certificate to get permanent residence if any of the following apply to you: 

• You have already obtained a civic integration diploma or certificate. 
• You are a citizen of Belgium or Luxembourg. 
• You are a Turkish citizen or a relative of a Turkish citizen. 
• You are under the age of 18 or over state pension age. 
• You lived in the Netherlands for at least eight years between the ages of five and 16. 
• You have a diploma or certificate from a university or vocational higher education institution for a course you completed in Dutch, either in the Netherlands, Belgium or one of the Dutch Overseas Territories. 
• You took a Naturalisation Test Certificate before April 1, 2007, and passed all five parts.
• You were previously exempted from the civic integration programme by DUO. 

There are other grounds for exemptions. You can see a full list on the IND website. 

Exemptions from civic integration for naturalisation

There are various exemptions from the civic integration exam for people applying for Dutch citizenship. You may be exempted from taking the language portion of the exam, the knowledge of Dutch society test, the Dutch labour market component, or all of the exams, depending on your circumstances. You can find a full list of exemptions (in Dutch) on the IND website.