Civic integration (inburgering) under the Civic Integration Act 2021

Before you start

• A citizen service number (BSN) and registration with your municipality
• A residence permit (DUO only writes once you have one)

Documents you need

• Residence document

  required

• Citizen service number (BSN)

  required

• DUO letter stating that you must integrate

  Keep it; you need it, for example, for a free diploma evaluation

  required

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Check whether you must integrate

   The government lists these groups as exempt:

   • citizens of EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland;
   • children under 18;
   • people who have reached state pension age;
   • people who lived in the Netherlands for at least eight years while of compulsory school age;
   • people with certain diplomas from education taught in Dutch in the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
   • people who come temporarily, for example for work, study or an exchange.

   In practice, the obligation mostly affects family migrants joining a partner with Dutch nationality or a non-temporary residence permit, and asylum status holders. IN Amsterdam notes that highly skilled migrants are exempt. If you must integrate, you do not need to apply: DUO (the Education Executive Agency) writes to you.

2. 2

   Step 2: Wait for the first DUO letter

   DUO sends the letter only once you have a BSN, a residence permit and municipal registration. It can then take another eight weeks to arrive. If eight weeks have passed and nothing has come, contact DUO.

3. 3

   Step 3: Attend the broad intake with your municipality

   Your municipality invites you for an interview and a learnability test (leerbaarheidstoets), together called the broad intake (brede intake). It looks at your education, work experience, language learning ability and personal situation.

4. 4

   Step 4: Agree your personal integration and participation plan (PIP)

   After the intake the municipality draws up your personal integration and participation plan (persoonlijk plan inburgering en participatie, PIP). It states your learning route and which exams you must take. DUO then sends a second letter with the date from which your integration period runs. You usually have three years from that date.

5. 5

   Step 5: Follow your learning route

   There are three routes:

   • B1 route. Prepares you for paid or voluntary work. You take the language exams at level B1 (the state exam Dutch as a second language, NT2) plus the knowledge components. If you have followed at least 600 hours of language lessons and still cannot pass at B1, you can discuss scaling down to A2 with your municipality.
   • Education route (onderwijsroute). Mainly for young people who will go on to vocational education, a university of applied sciences or university. Language exams at B1 or higher, plus the participation statement and knowledge of Dutch society.
   • Self-reliance route (zelfredzaamheidsroute, Z route). For people for whom the other routes are too demanding. You learn Dutch at level A1 and how to participate in society. A2 language exams are optional, but the participation statement and the labour market and participation module are compulsory. The route ends with an interview with the municipality and a certificate.
6. 6

   Step 6: Take the exams and complete the modules

   Depending on your PIP, you complete:

   • Language exams: reading, listening, writing and speaking.
   • Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNM): a computer exam of about 45 minutes on themes such as housing, work and income.
   • Participation Statement Process (PVT): you learn about core Dutch values and sign the participation statement. Under the 2021 Act it is free.
   • Labour Market and Participation Module (MAP): taken with your municipality, free of charge, for people on the B1 or Z route. It covers finding work and includes practical assignments such as volunteering or an internship.

   You register for exams through DUO. Exam results for speaking and writing at A2 can take longer to process, according to DUO.

Costs, loans and who pays

Deadlines, extensions and fines

Voluntary integration

Free diploma evaluation

Watch out

Common mistakes

• Waiting for the integration period to start before learning any Dutch. Starting early makes the B1 exams more realistic.
• Choosing an unapproved school and then finding that you cannot use a DUO loan.
• Assuming an exemption for the integration requirement also covers naturalisation. DUO explains that some dispensations are not enough for citizenship.

Tips

• Log in to Mijn Inburgering with your DigiD to see which act applies, your deadlines and exam results.
• DUO offers a personal step-by-step plan and information in several languages on its integration website.
• Ask your municipality which volunteer work or work placements can count towards the MAP.

Frequently asked questions

Editorial answers written by our team, based on the sources below.

Official links

In your plan

• Apply for asylum as soon as you arriveAdd to plan
• Start your civic integration when DUO writes to youAdd to plan
• Pass the integration or NT2 exams for permanent residence or citizenshipAdd to plan
• Find the residence permit that fits your moveAdd to plan
• Pass the civic integration exam abroad, unless you are exemptAdd to plan
• Check when you can apply for permanent residenceAdd to plan
• Start learning DutchAdd to plan
• Check whether you can become a Dutch citizenAdd to plan

Sources

Written and checked by HomiStart editorial against the official sources below. Next scheduled check: 5 Apr 2027.