The Civic Integration Act (wet inburgering) determines who has to complete civic integration in the Netherlands, which language level you need to reach, which exams you have to take and within what period. The rules are not the same for everyone: status holders follow a different route than family migrants, labour migrants and voluntary integration candidates. Whichever category you belong to, civic integration takes real preparation and effort. In this article you will read exactly what the law expects of you.
Key insights from this blog
- The Civic Integration Act distinguishes between status holders and other integration candidates: the obligations and levels differ
- Status holders must show their Dutch at level B1; for some other integration candidates level A2 is still possible
- The three-year integration period starts on the date you received the letter from the IND
- The exams are administered by DUO, not by the IND or any other organisation
- Besides the language exam there are other components, such as the participation declaration programme and showing knowledge of the Dutch labour market
Who does the Civic Integration Act apply to?
Whether the Civic Integration Act applies to you depends on your residence status and the reason you are in the Netherlands. There are two groups with clearly different rules.
Status holders
Status holders are people with an asylum residence permit, because they are recognised refugees or have been granted subsidiary protection. As a status holder, the municipality draws up a personal integration plan together with you. The municipality is your first point of contact for guidance and planning throughout the whole route. The required language level for status holders is B1. This applies to all parts of the language exam.
Other integration candidates: family migrants, labour migrants and voluntary integration candidates
Did you come to the Netherlands for family reunification or work, or do you want to complete civic integration voluntarily? Then you fall into the category of other integration candidates. There is no municipal route for you: you arrange your civic integration yourself. For this group, level A2 is still possible in certain cases, for example if you can show that B1 is too high a target because of age, a disability or another personal circumstance. Whether you qualify, you discuss with the IND.
Which language level do you need to reach?
The language level you need to reach depends on the category you fall into.
Level B1 for status holders
As a status holder you must show your Dutch language skills at level B1. The civic integration exams at B1 are the same in content as the State Exams NT2 at B1. They are not lighter or separate versions: the same tests, administered by DUO. At B1 the correct use of de and het (the two Dutch words for “the”) is assessed, so you cannot make mistakes there that will be overlooked.
Level A2 for some other integration candidates
As another integration candidate it is possible in certain cases to finish at level A2. At A2, wrong use of de and het is still overlooked. That does not mean the exam requires little preparation: for A2 too you must be demonstrably skilled in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Do you want to know which practice material fits your level? Then choose the page for your level at the bottom of this article.
What are the deadlines?
The integration period is three years. These three years start on the date you received the letter from the IND stating that you have a residence permit and must complete civic integration. That start date is important: write it down, because the clock starts running on the day you receive it.
Within those three years you must have completed all required components. If you do not manage that, you can in certain cases apply for an extension, but that is not a given. So plan your preparation realistically from the start.
Which exams and components are there?
The Civic Integration Act consists of more than just a language exam. Below you can read what is expected of you.
The language exam
The language exams are administered by DUO. They test listening, speaking, reading and writing in Dutch. The format and structure of the exams are fixed, but the content of the questions differs each time. You can therefore prepare well for the form, but keep in mind that the exact questions are different every time.
As a status holder you take the exam at B1 level. On the B1 page at the bottom of this article you will find the practice material that goes with it.
The participation declaration programme
Some integration candidates are required to follow a participation declaration programme (participatieverklaringstraject). In this programme you get to know the core values and rules of Dutch society and you sign the participation declaration.
Knowledge of the Dutch labour market
Besides language and participation, you must also show that you know enough about the Dutch labour market. This component is called KNM: Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij (Knowledge of Dutch Society), but the specific test on the labour market, the ONA (Oriëntatie op de Nederlandse Arbeidsmarkt, or Orientation on the Dutch Labour Market), is a separate component. Check which components apply to your situation.
Registering for an exam
Are you ready to take an exam? You register via the official page: register for an exam.
How do you prepare well?
The law sets out what you must achieve, but how you do that is your choice. Below are a few concrete tips that fit the exams.
Listen to everyday Dutch as much as possible: television, radio, podcasts. That is harder than the exam itself, and that is exactly the point. If you are used to normal spoken Dutch, the exam level feels less heavy. Do not get frustrated if you do not understand everything: that is normal and part of the learning process.
For vocabulary: at A2 level the 2,000 most common Dutch words are your basis. At B1 it is 4,000. With knowledge of those most common words you get far. You do not need to memorise a dictionary, but focused vocabulary practice does help.
Use exam-focused practice material that matches the structure of the DUO exams. At Inburgering Online you learn through clear video explanations and direct explanations of the core structures of Dutch. That applies to both A2 and B1.
Frequently asked questions about the Civic Integration Act
What is the Civic Integration Act?
The Civic Integration Act determines who has to complete civic integration in the Netherlands, which language level you must show, which exams you must take and within what period. The rules differ per target group: status holders follow a different route than family migrants and labour migrants.
Who has to complete civic integration under the Civic Integration Act?
People with a non-EU nationality who settle in the Netherlands and have not completed civic integration before are in most cases required to do so. Status holders do this via the municipality; other integration candidates arrange it themselves.
Which level do I need to reach under the Civic Integration Act?
That depends on your category. Status holders must reach level B1. Other integration candidates, such as family migrants and labour migrants, can in certain cases finish at level A2. Whether that applies to you, you discuss with the IND.
When does the three-year integration period start?
The three-year period starts on the day you received the letter from the IND stating that you have a residence permit and must complete civic integration. That date is your official starting point.
Who administers the civic integration exams?
The exams are administered by DUO. The IND is not the exam provider.
Are the civic integration exams at B1 the same as the State Exams NT2?
Yes. The civic integration exams at B1 level are the same in content as the State Exams NT2 at B1. They are not separate or lighter versions.
What happens if I am not finished in time?
If you do not meet the three-year integration period, you can in certain cases apply for an extension. This is not an automatic right. So start your preparation early enough.
Do I have to do more than just the language exam?
Yes. Depending on your situation you must also follow the participation declaration programme and show that you know enough about the Dutch labour market (ONA). Which components apply to you depends on your individual situation.
Start practising today
The Civic Integration Act sets clear requirements. You now know what is expected of you and within what period. The next step is preparation: focused, honest and at your level. For 13.95 euros per month you have access to clear video explanations and practice material that is matched to the structure of the DUO exams. Are you a status holder who needs to reach B1, or are you preparing for level A2? Then choose the page below that fits your level.
