Civic integration (inburgering) and the integration exam

Family migrants and migrants with protection and permanent residence arriving from outside the EU and their family members are usually subject, according to their arrival date and status.

• People with residence for work as highly skilled migrants or for study or usually temporary do not, and neither do EU citizens.
• Someone who lived and studied in the Netherlands for a certain period as a child is not subject.
• You will be notified of the obligation by a letter from DUO (the government education executive agency) who gives you a deadline to complete integration.
• Check your status via Inburgeren.nl, DUO or your municipality, since the old regimes (Wi2013 and Wi2007) still apply to those who arrived before 2022.

After an initial assessment (brede intake) the municipality determines your route: the B1 route, which is most common, in which you learn Dutch up to level B1 plus society and the labour market, the education route (onderwijsroute) for those intending to study reaching a higher level (B2) at an educational institution, and the Z route for independence, for those who cannot reach B1, who learn Dutch to the level available to them (A1 then A2).

• A route and an individual learning plan (PIP) are set with an integration guide from the municipality, your progress is followed, and the route may include a period of work or volunteering.
• If you cannot read and write there are special courses.
• Ask your guide about options suited to your circumstances, such as mothers with childcare.

The B1 route includes several parts: the four language exams (reading, listening, writing and speaking) at level B1, the exam on knowledge of Dutch society (KNM) about rights, duties, health, work and daily life, the orientation to the Dutch labour market unit (ONA) that ends with a file describing your skills and professional wishes, and participation in training or work.

• You are required to sign the participation declaration (Participatieverklaring) that shows your commitment to the values of Dutch society such as freedom of expression, equality and separation of religion and state, and take part in the values integration programme (MAP).
• Exams are held in approved centres and managed via DUO.
• You can retake the exam if you fail.

Under the new system the municipality pays the cost of language courses and materials for most of those subject, and provides a guide and a plan, though some cases may require a contribution.

• Someone under the old system (Wi2013) financed their education with a loan from DUO that could be waived after success.
• A fee is paid for each part of the exam in some old systems.
• There is financial help in some cases, and organisations such as VluchtelingenWerk can help with guidance.
• Ask your municipality about support for transport, childcare and help in getting housing.
• And remember that failure to complete within the deadline may expose you to a financial fine or affect your permanent residence and citizenship.

When you pass integration you receive a certificate (diploma inburgering) that is accepted for permanent residence and naturalisation and is proof of your knowledge of the language and society.

• Do not stop learning: many jobs require a level higher than B1, so continue to B2 and perhaps C1 to compete in the labour market or study at university.
• There are language courses at the regional education centres (ROC), adult education schools, city libraries and volunteer associations for practising the language (taalcafé).
• Some companies offer language courses to their employees.
• Benefit from volunteers, neighbourhood clubs and schools to practise the language, since daily practice matters more than lessons alone.
• And if you want citizenship know that it requires good language ability and the specific exam.

Within how many years must integration be completed under the new system?