Preparing for the Dutch integration exams? You have a process ahead of you that takes serious preparation, but it is entirely achievable. In this guide, written by a successful test-taker named Sam, you will find all the information you need about the integration exams.
To ensure the accuracy and quality of this article, we partnered with Inburgering Online, a platform offering affordable online courses for the integration exams.
What exactly is the Dutch integration exam?
The Dutch inburgeringsexamen, or integration exam, consists of a series of assessments and tasks you must complete to obtain an inburgeringsdiploma, the integration certificate. This certificate is often required for people applying for Dutch citizenship or permanent residency. The process, known as inburgering, is designed to ensure that new residents have a basic understanding of the Dutch language and society.
Who is required to take the Dutch integration exams?
For some people integration is mandatory, others choose to do it voluntarily. If you fall into one of the following categories, you will most likely have to take the exams:
- You are in the Netherlands on a relationship visa (mandatory)
- You are in the Netherlands on an asylum residence permit, which makes you a statushouder (mandatory)
- You integrate voluntarily if you hold a different type of visa but want to apply for permanent residency.
If integration is mandatory for you, the IND sends you an official letter stating that you have a residence permit and are required to integrate. From the moment you receive that letter, you normally have three years to pass your exams. I received such a letter myself shortly after obtaining my relationship visa.
Authorities involved in the integration process
The obligation to integrate in the Netherlands is set out in the Wet inburgering. The process is carried out by Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO), the executive agency of the Ministry of Education. Through DUO you register for your exams, find practice exams and, if you are eligible, apply for a loan.
If you are a statushouder, your municipality also plays a role. They help you draw up a personal integration plan and act as your first point of contact during the process. If you are not a statushouder, your integration runs directly through DUO and there is no municipal track.
The advantages of taking the Dutch integration exams
The process costs time and money, but it also delivers.
- Language skills. You learn to speak, read, write and understand Dutch. That opens doors in communication, education and employment.
- Access to citizenship and permanent residency. With an integration diploma you can apply for a Dutch passport or permanent residency, provided you also meet the other conditions.
- Cultural understanding. You gain a clearer picture of Dutch culture, customs and how institutions work. That makes daily life considerably easier.
- Personal achievement. The process demands persistence. Completing it means you have accomplished something substantial.
The cost of the Dutch integration exams
The integration process is not free. Take the following exam fees into account:
- Writing exam: € 50
- Reading exam: € 50
- Listening exam: € 50
- Knowledge of Dutch Society: € 40
- Participation Statement: € 0 to € 150
On top of these fees you will also pay for study materials, lessons and any retakes. Always check the current rates with DUO, as amounts can change.
Financial support for integration
If the costs add up, it is possible to apply for a loan to finance your integration. Whether you are eligible and what the conditions are is something to check with DUO.
Repayment begins six months after your integration. From that point you have ten years to repay the loan.
If you would rather not take on debt for Dutch lessons, Inburgering Online is a cheaper alternative. For € 11,95 per month you learn Dutch at your own pace through online lessons. You decide how often you study.
What language level is required for the exam?
The integration exams assess language proficiency at two levels: A2 and B1. Which level applies to you depends on your personal circumstances, since the integration law changed in 2021. Your visa type and the date of your integration letter together determine the level you need to reach.
Group 1: asylum residence permit or family reunification
If you are in the Netherlands on an asylum residence permit or through family reunification and integration is mandatory for you, the following applies.
If the letter stating that you must integrate is dated before 1 January 2022, you fall under the old law and your required level is likely A2. You register for the exams through DUO.
If that letter is dated after 1 January 2022 and you are a statushouder, you fall under the new law and your required level is B1. Before booking the exams, you draw up an integration plan together with your municipality. Worth knowing: the integration exams at B1 are the same exams as the Staatsexamen NT2 at B1. What preparation at this level involves is explained on our B1 page.
If it is expected that you will not reach B1 in time, it may be decided that you follow the Z-route. The Z stands for zelfredzaamheid, self-reliance, and involves 600 hours of language lessons.
Group 2: work or other visa
If you are in the Netherlands on a work or other visa and you have chosen to integrate in order to obtain permanent residency, A2 is the required language level. You can prepare for it with our A2 course. Do note that this language requirement may change in the future. That would require a change in the law, which normally does not happen overnight, but it remains sensible not to postpone your process unnecessarily.
Creating an integration plan
If you are a statushouder and became obliged to integrate after 1 January 2022, you draw up an integration plan with your municipality. Here is what to expect:
- You receive notification that integration is required
- Your municipality invites you for an intake interview and a short assessment, which you do not need to study for
- The municipality prepares your Personal Integration and Participation plan (PIP), including the language level that applies to you
- You receive a letter from DUO confirming that you have officially started the integration process
If you are not a statushouder, this track does not apply to you. You arrange your exams directly through DUO.
The prerequisites for obtaining the integration certificate
To receive the integration certificate you need to pass language and knowledge exams. The language exams cover reading, writing, listening and speaking. In addition, you take an exam on Dutch society and, depending on your situation, you follow a participation statement track and demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Dutch labour market.
Language exams
The language exams consist of writing, speaking, listening and reading. Depending on your situation, you take them at A2 or B1 level.
Other exams and requirements
- Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNM): tests your understanding of Dutch society
- Participation statement track: focuses on active participation in Dutch society
- Orientation on the Dutch Labour Market (ONA): tests your knowledge of the Dutch labour market. This requirement has been discontinued. Only if you are obliged to integrate under the old Wet inburgering 2013 do you still need to complete the ONA exam, through a portfolio with a final interview or a 64-hour course
How to prepare effectively
Preparation takes time and discipline, but you do not need to memorise thousands of words before you start. You get a long way with the words that occur most frequently in Dutch. Those words appear in almost every text and every conversation, so every practice session pays off immediately. Alongside that, focus on grammar and on knowledge of Dutch society.
Resources that help:
- Inburgering Online: online self-study courses from beginner (A0) to B1 level
- Inburgeren.nl: the official Dutch government website with practice exams
- Textbooks: “Welkom in Nederland” is widely used for KNM preparation
- YouTube: channels such as “Learn Dutch With Kim” and “Dutch With Niels”
What to expect during the exam
You take your exams at a DUO exam location. This is how the day works:
- Book each exam in advance through the exam registration page
- Your ID is checked and you get a locker for your belongings
- You wait outside the designated room
- Inside, your ID is verified again
- You work in complete silence, except during the speaking exam
- Most exams are computer-based, the writing exam is done with pen and paper
The content of the exams is randomised and confidential, so you are not permitted to discuss the questions afterwards.
Useful tips
- Start early and keep going. Build a study routine and stick to it. Consistency works better than sprinting just before your exam date.
- Keep your sentences short, simple and correct. In the writing and speaking exams, a simple error-free sentence earns you more than a complex construction you stumble over.
- Do not book too many exams in one day. It is tempting to get everything over with at once, but the exams are mentally tiring. Spread them out.
- Know what is and is not expected of you. At A2, incorrect use of de and het is usually overlooked. At B1 it is not: there it does count. If you are unsure about an article, choose “de”, since roughly two thirds of all words take “de” and all plurals do as well.
- Do not panic over an unknown word. Work around it. Use a synonym or a description rather than spending time searching for the exact word.
The process of receiving your exam results
The waiting time differs per level:
- A2 exam: results are sent by post and are available online within eight weeks of the exam date
- B1 exam: results are posted online exactly five weeks after your exam date, after 3 PM, and sent by post after six weeks
Each exam is graded on a scale of 1 to 10. You need a minimum of 6 to pass.
If you did not pass this time, that is not unusual. Review what went wrong, keep practising and book a retake.
The timeframe for obtaining your integration certificate
- Mandatory integration: you must pass the integration exams within three years, counted from the moment you received the letter from the IND stating that you have a residence permit and are required to integrate
- Voluntary integration: you choose when, as long as your visa remains valid
Steps to take once you have received your inburgeringsdiploma
Once your official diploma arrives by post, new options open up.
You can apply for permanent residency or Dutch citizenship, provided you also meet the other conditions. For most people that is the main purpose of the whole process. Beyond that, the diploma is confirmation of the work you put in.
Frequently asked questions about the Dutch integration exam
What is the Dutch integration exam?
A series of exams covering the Dutch language and society: reading, writing, listening, speaking and KNM.
Which language level applies to me?
B1 if you are a statushouder and became obliged to integrate after 1 January 2022. A2 for voluntary integrators and for those obliged to integrate under the old law. Not sure? Check your situation with DUO.
Is the integration exam at B1 the same as the Staatsexamen NT2?
At B1 level, yes. The integration exams at B1 are the same exams as the state exams at B1.
How much does the integration exam cost?
Each exam costs between € 40 and € 50. Total costs can run from roughly € 240 to € 390, depending on your situation and any retakes. Check the current amounts with DUO.
What is the passing grade?
A minimum score of 6 out of 10.
How difficult is the integration exam?
The exams are very passable, but not without focused preparation. Depending on your situation you need to speak, write and understand Dutch at A2 or B1 level. People who practise systematically with exam-focused material generally get through it well.
When do I need to finish integrating?
Within three years, counted from the moment you received the letter from the IND stating that you have a residence permit and are required to integrate.
Get started
Now that you know what lies ahead, the next step is to start practising. At Inburgering Online you will find courses from A0 to B1 aligned with the real exams.
