Integration in the Netherlands: the complete step-by-step guide

Integration in the Netherlands: the complete step-by-step guide · Phase 3 · Do

Part 1 / 5

Phase 3 · Do · Part 1 · 1 min

New to the Netherlands? Then you will probably have to deal with inburgering — integration. You learn Dutch, and you show that you know how the Netherlands works.

Integration raises a lot of questions. What exactly do you have to do? Who decides what? And where does it start?

This page explains the whole process in 7 steps. From the first letter from DUO to your diploma, in plain language.

Marieke Schipper · NT2 teacher

Integration can feel complicated, with all that information and all those rules. So I have set it all out for you in one clear step-by-step guide, with a timeline and the most important rules alongside it.

On this page

What is inburgering?
Do I have to integrate?
Which law applies to you?
The process in 7 steps

What is inburgering?

Integration means learning how to take part in Dutch society. The government mainly expects two things of you:

You learn Dutch

So that you can work, go to the doctor and talk to your children's school, for example.

You learn how the Netherlands works

How you look for work, how health insurance works, and which rules and values matter here.

Once you have completed the process you receive an inburgeringsdiploma. You often need this diploma later if you want to apply for permanent residence or become a Dutch citizen.

So integration is not about how clever you are. It is about learning the language and being able to manage on your own in the Netherlands.

Phase 3 · Do · Part 2 · 3 min

Do I have to integrate?

Not everyone who comes to the Netherlands has to integrate. Whether you are required to depends mainly on your nationality and on why you came here.

Usually you do have to integrate if you

are an asylum status holder: you were granted a residence permit after an asylum application
are a family migrant: you are joining your partner or family in the Netherlands
were granted a residence permit for another reason and come from outside the EU

Usually you do not have to if you

come from an EU country, or from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland
are in the Netherlands temporarily for work or study
are under 18, or still have to attend school under the compulsory education or qualification rules
have already reached state pension age
lived in the Netherlands for 8 years or more while you were of compulsory school age
hold certain Dutch diplomas

Do you hold a Dutch vmbo, havo, vwo or mbo level 2 or higher diploma? Or a hbo or university degree taught in Dutch? Then you usually do not have to integrate.

Source: inburgeren.nl — Diploma gehaald — accessed 19-08-2026

Not sure? You do not have to work this out yourself. If you have to integrate, DUO is notified. DUO then sends you a letter saying so. That is step 1.

Vrijstelling and ontheffing

The words vrijstelling (exemption) and ontheffing (waiver) often cause confusion. They do not mean the same thing.

Vrijstelling

You are already sufficiently integrated. For instance because you hold a Dutch diploma, or followed Dutch-language education.

Ontheffing

You genuinely cannot reach the required level, for example because of an illness or disability. And that will not change.

You apply for a vrijstelling or ontheffing yourself at DUO. Your municipality can advise you.

Phase 3 · Do · Part 3 · 2 min

Which law applies to you?

This matters, because two acts exist side by side. They have different rules and different exams.

	Wet inburgering 2013	Wet inburgering 2021
For whom	Your duty started before 1 January 2022	Your duty started on or after 1 January 2022
Who arranges it	You arrange everything yourself	The municipality guides you
Language level	A2	Usually B1
Besides the language	KNM, ONA and PVT	KNM, MAP and PVT

The Wet inburgering 2021 is called 2021 but only applies from 1 January 2022. If you had to start before that, you fall under the older act of 2013.

Source: rijksoverheid.nl — Nieuwe Wet inburgering — accessed 19-08-2026

So check your letter from DUO first to see which act applies to you. The rest of this page is about the Wet inburgering 2021, because that is the one that applies to almost everyone starting now.

Phase 3 · Do · Part 4 · 10 min

The process in 7 steps

Three things — an interview, a test and your personal situation — come together in one document: your PIP. — The first steps all turn on one thing: the municipality gathers three kinds of information and turns them into a single plan. That plan is your PIP, and it states which route and which exams apply to you.

You get a letter from DUO

You register with your municipality, in the BRP (the personal records database). DUO then checks whether you have to integrate.

Do you? Then you get a letter. It states that you are required to integrate and what you have to do now.

Keep this letter safe. You will need it later.

The brede intake at the municipality

Your municipality invites you for the brede intake: an interview and a short test. It is an introduction, not an exam.

The municipality wants to know who you are and what you need. You will talk about:

what education you have had
what work you have done
how your health is
your personal situation, your children for instance

You also take the leerbaarheidstoets, the learnability test. It measures how easily you learn a new language, so the municipality can choose a learning route that suits you.

Tip: bring someone who speaks good Dutch or your own language. You may also ask for an interpreter.

Marieke Schipper · NT2 teacher

Do not be afraid of the leerbaarheidstoets. It is not an exam you can pass or fail. It only looks at how easily you learn a new language, and you take it on a computer. There is no need to prepare. Would you like to get used to the system in advance? You can, in DUO's official practice environment.

Your PIP is set

After the brede intake the municipality draws up your PIP: your personal integration and participation plan.

Your PIP states which learning route you will follow, what support the municipality gives you and how intensive your programme is.

The municipality must set your PIP no later than 10 weeks after the letter from DUO. Were you not yet registered with the municipality at that point? Then the 10 weeks run from your registration. If the municipality first has to request information from others, it may take a little longer.

Source: Besluit inburgering 2021, artikel 5.3 — accessed 19-08-2026

The date of your PIP matters. Your integration period starts on the day after the dagtekening — the date printed on the document.

You have 3 years to meet your integration duty. The period starts on the day after the date of your PIP.

Source: Wet inburgering 2021, artikel 11 — accessed 19-08-2026

Do you disagree with your PIP? Then you can lodge an objection. The letter accompanying your PIP explains how.

You are given a learning route

There are three learning routes. The municipality decides which one suits you, based on the brede intake and the leerbaarheidstoets.

B1 route — for most people

This is the standard route. You sit exams at language level B1 and finish with a diploma. Is B1 genuinely out of reach? Then under conditions you may switch to exams at A2.

Education route — mainly for young people

This route prepares you for further study. You reach language level B1 or B2 and move on to mbo, hbo or university.

Z-route — if B1 or A2 is too difficult

The target is language level A1. You finish with a closing interview at the municipality rather than a central exam. Reach A2 anyway? Then you may still sit the exams.

Switching from B1 to A2 is only possible in the B1 route. You must have had at least 600 hours of language tuition at a school with a quality mark, and be able to show that you made the effort. Are you an asylum status holder? Then the Z-route consists of 800 hours of tuition (language and KNM), 800 hours of participation and activation, and a closing interview. Are you a family migrant? Then it is 800 hours of tuition and a closing interview.

Sources: Besluit inburgering 2021, artikel 5.5 · Besluit inburgering 2021, artikel 3.14 — accessed 19-08-2026

You take lessons and take part

Now the real work begins: the language lessons. Alongside them, these parts belong to your integration:

KNM

Knowledge of Dutch Society. You learn how the Netherlands works, from work and income to housing and healthcare. KNM is part of every learning route.

PVT

Participation declaration programme. A short course on Dutch core values: freedom, equality, solidarity and participation. You finish it by signing the participation declaration.

MAP

Labour Market and Participation Module. You learn how to look for work in the Netherlands: applications, your CV, and how the labour market works. MAP belongs to the B1 route and the Z-route.

KNM covers 8 themes: work and income · manners, values and norms · housing · health and healthcare · history and geography · public bodies · the constitution and the rule of law · education and raising children.

Source: Regeling inburgering 2021 — eindtermen KNM (Stcrt. 2024, 15802) — accessed 19-08-2026

Test where you stand, for freeWant to know how good your Dutch already is? Take a free practice exam. No account needed.

Start for free

You sit the exams

Following the B1 route or the education route? Then you sit five exams at DUO:

Exam	What you do
Reading	Read texts and answer questions
Listening	Understand video and audio fragments
Writing	Write short texts
Speaking	Record your answers at the computer
KNM	Questions about Dutch society

You sit the language exams at B1 level. If that does not work out, in the B1 route you may sit exams at A2 under conditions (see step 4).

You register through Mijn Inburgering, DUO's website. You do not have to sit all the exams at once. Most people spread them over several months.

You sit the knowledge exams and the A2 language exams at one of six exam locations: Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Rijswijk, Rotterdam, Utrecht or Zwolle. Exams at B1 or B2 are the staatsexamen NT2, which has its own locations.

Source: inburgeren.nl — Examenplaatsen — accessed 19-08-2026

Marieke Schipper · NT2 teacher

In my lessons I see that most students find Reading and Listening easiest. Writing and Speaking they often find harder. So start with Reading or Listening, and divide your time well. Try not to plan several exams on one day — that way you keep enough energy.

Want to know exactly what each language part looks like? Read: Inburgeringsexamen A2: the 4 language parts explained. Unsure about the level? Read: the difference between A1, A2 and B1.

Your diploma, and what comes after

Passed everything? Then you receive your inburgeringsdiploma. You can download it from Mijn Diploma's at DUO.

With that diploma you can later apply for permanent residence, or for naturalisation: becoming a Dutch citizen.

The result of a knowledge exam or an A2 language exam normally arrives within 8 weeks. For Writing A2 and Speaking A2 DUO is currently taking longer: up to 16 weeks (notice of 31 July 2026). If that puts your deadline at risk, you automatically get 6 months extra.

Source: inburgeren.nl — nieuwsbericht 31-07-2026 — accessed 19-08-2026

Failed a part? That is not the end. You only resit that part; what you have already passed stays. Read what to arrange here: Failed the integration exam? Here is what happens now.

Six separate parts come together into one diploma with a seal. — Your diploma is not one big exam but a collection of separate parts. What you have passed stays passed — fail one part and you only resit that part.

New to the Netherlands? Then you will probably have to deal with inburgering — integration. You learn Dutch, and you show that you know how the Netherlands works.

Integration raises a lot of questions. What exactly do you have to do? Who decides what? And where does it start?

This page explains the whole process in 7 steps. From the first letter from DUO to your diploma, in plain language.

Marieke Schipper · NT2 teacher

On this page

What is inburgering?
Do I have to integrate?
Which law applies to you?
The process in 7 steps

What is inburgering?

Integration means learning how to take part in Dutch society. The government mainly expects two things of you:

You learn Dutch

So that you can work, go to the doctor and talk to your children's school, for example.

You learn how the Netherlands works

How you look for work, how health insurance works, and which rules and values matter here.

Once you have completed the process you receive an inburgeringsdiploma. You often need this diploma later if you want to apply for permanent residence or become a Dutch citizen.

So integration is not about how clever you are. It is about learning the language and being able to manage on your own in the Netherlands.

Do I have to integrate?

Not everyone who comes to the Netherlands has to integrate. Whether you are required to depends mainly on your nationality and on why you came here.

Usually you do have to integrate if you

are an asylum status holder: you were granted a residence permit after an asylum application
are a family migrant: you are joining your partner or family in the Netherlands
were granted a residence permit for another reason and come from outside the EU

Usually you do not have to if you

come from an EU country, or from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland
are in the Netherlands temporarily for work or study
are under 18, or still have to attend school under the compulsory education or qualification rules
have already reached state pension age
lived in the Netherlands for 8 years or more while you were of compulsory school age
hold certain Dutch diplomas

Do you hold a Dutch vmbo, havo, vwo or mbo level 2 or higher diploma? Or a hbo or university degree taught in Dutch? Then you usually do not have to integrate.

Source: inburgeren.nl — Diploma gehaald — accessed 19-08-2026

Not sure? You do not have to work this out yourself. If you have to integrate, DUO is notified. DUO then sends you a letter saying so. That is step 1.

Vrijstelling and ontheffing

The words vrijstelling (exemption) and ontheffing (waiver) often cause confusion. They do not mean the same thing.

Vrijstelling

You are already sufficiently integrated. For instance because you hold a Dutch diploma, or followed Dutch-language education.

Ontheffing

You genuinely cannot reach the required level, for example because of an illness or disability. And that will not change.

You apply for a vrijstelling or ontheffing yourself at DUO. Your municipality can advise you.

Which law applies to you?

This matters, because two acts exist side by side. They have different rules and different exams.

	Wet inburgering 2013	Wet inburgering 2021
For whom	Your duty started before 1 January 2022	Your duty started on or after 1 January 2022
Who arranges it	You arrange everything yourself	The municipality guides you
Language level	A2	Usually B1
Besides the language	KNM, ONA and PVT	KNM, MAP and PVT

The Wet inburgering 2021 is called 2021 but only applies from 1 January 2022. If you had to start before that, you fall under the older act of 2013.

Source: rijksoverheid.nl — Nieuwe Wet inburgering — accessed 19-08-2026

So check your letter from DUO first to see which act applies to you. The rest of this page is about the Wet inburgering 2021, because that is the one that applies to almost everyone starting now.

The process in 7 steps

You get a letter from DUO

You register with your municipality, in the BRP (the personal records database). DUO then checks whether you have to integrate.

Do you? Then you get a letter. It states that you are required to integrate and what you have to do now.

Keep this letter safe. You will need it later.

The brede intake at the municipality

Your municipality invites you for the brede intake: an interview and a short test. It is an introduction, not an exam.

The municipality wants to know who you are and what you need. You will talk about:

what education you have had
what work you have done
how your health is
your personal situation, your children for instance

You also take the leerbaarheidstoets, the learnability test. It measures how easily you learn a new language, so the municipality can choose a learning route that suits you.

Tip: bring someone who speaks good Dutch or your own language. You may also ask for an interpreter.

Marieke Schipper · NT2 teacher

Your PIP is set

After the brede intake the municipality draws up your PIP: your personal integration and participation plan.

Your PIP states which learning route you will follow, what support the municipality gives you and how intensive your programme is.

Source: Besluit inburgering 2021, artikel 5.3 — accessed 19-08-2026

The date of your PIP matters. Your integration period starts on the day after the dagtekening — the date printed on the document.

You have 3 years to meet your integration duty. The period starts on the day after the date of your PIP.

Source: Wet inburgering 2021, artikel 11 — accessed 19-08-2026

Do you disagree with your PIP? Then you can lodge an objection. The letter accompanying your PIP explains how.

You are given a learning route

There are three learning routes. The municipality decides which one suits you, based on the brede intake and the leerbaarheidstoets.

B1 route — for most people

This is the standard route. You sit exams at language level B1 and finish with a diploma. Is B1 genuinely out of reach? Then under conditions you may switch to exams at A2.

Education route — mainly for young people

This route prepares you for further study. You reach language level B1 or B2 and move on to mbo, hbo or university.

Z-route — if B1 or A2 is too difficult

The target is language level A1. You finish with a closing interview at the municipality rather than a central exam. Reach A2 anyway? Then you may still sit the exams.

Sources: Besluit inburgering 2021, artikel 5.5 · Besluit inburgering 2021, artikel 3.14 — accessed 19-08-2026

You take lessons and take part

Now the real work begins: the language lessons. Alongside them, these parts belong to your integration:

KNM

Knowledge of Dutch Society. You learn how the Netherlands works, from work and income to housing and healthcare. KNM is part of every learning route.

PVT

Participation declaration programme. A short course on Dutch core values: freedom, equality, solidarity and participation. You finish it by signing the participation declaration.

MAP

Labour Market and Participation Module. You learn how to look for work in the Netherlands: applications, your CV, and how the labour market works. MAP belongs to the B1 route and the Z-route.

Source: Regeling inburgering 2021 — eindtermen KNM (Stcrt. 2024, 15802) — accessed 19-08-2026

Test where you stand, for freeWant to know how good your Dutch already is? Take a free practice exam. No account needed.

Start for free

You sit the exams

Following the B1 route or the education route? Then you sit five exams at DUO:

Exam	What you do
Reading	Read texts and answer questions
Listening	Understand video and audio fragments
Writing	Write short texts
Speaking	Record your answers at the computer
KNM	Questions about Dutch society

You sit the language exams at B1 level. If that does not work out, in the B1 route you may sit exams at A2 under conditions (see step 4).

You register through Mijn Inburgering, DUO's website. You do not have to sit all the exams at once. Most people spread them over several months.

Source: inburgeren.nl — Examenplaatsen — accessed 19-08-2026

Marieke Schipper · NT2 teacher

Want to know exactly what each language part looks like? Read: Inburgeringsexamen A2: the 4 language parts explained. Unsure about the level? Read: the difference between A1, A2 and B1.

Your diploma, and what comes after

Passed everything? Then you receive your inburgeringsdiploma. You can download it from Mijn Diploma's at DUO.

With that diploma you can later apply for permanent residence, or for naturalisation: becoming a Dutch citizen.

Source: inburgeren.nl — nieuwsbericht 31-07-2026 — accessed 19-08-2026

Failed a part? That is not the end. You only resit that part; what you have already passed stays. Read what to arrange here: Failed the integration exam? Here is what happens now.

Start practising today

The integration exam is very manageable once you know what to expect. Many people fail not because their Dutch is too weak, but because they do not know the exam format.

On this site you practise with exams in the real DUO format, written by a certified NT2 teacher. Not questions from a computer, but from the classroom.

Marieke Schipper · NT2 teacher

I made these practice exams because there are still few places where you get personal feedback. With Speaking and Writing in particular, feedback matters. On this site you get immediate feedback on what you write and say, based on my marking model — and I review the assessments myself. That is what makes these practice exams different.

The rules around integration change regularly. For official and current information, always check inburgeren.nl and rijksoverheid.nl. This page is intended as an explanation, not as legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

How long does integration take?

You have 3 years. The period starts on the day after the date of your PIP. How long it actually takes differs per person: some people finish within a year, others need the full 3 years.

What language level do I have to reach?

Under the Wet inburgering 2021 it is usually B1. If B1 does not work out, in the B1 route you may sit exams at A2 under conditions. In the Z-route the target is A1. If you fell under the older 2013 act, the level is A2.

What is the difference between integration and naturalisation?

Integration is the duty to learn Dutch and get to know the Netherlands. Naturalisation is the application to become a Dutch citizen. You need your integration diploma if you want to naturalise, but they are not the same thing.

Do I have to sit the KNM exam?

KNM is part of every learning route under the Wet inburgering 2021. In the B1 route and the education route you sit the KNM exam; in the Z-route you take lessons on it. The questions cover 8 themes, from work and income to the constitution.

Can I choose my own learning route?

Not entirely. The municipality decides your learning route based on the brede intake and the leerbaarheidstoets. Do you disagree? Then you can object to your PIP. The letter accompanying your PIP explains how.

Where can I practise for the integration exam for free?

DUO has a number of practice exams on inburgeren.nl. If you want to practise more, this site offers free practice exams for Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking — with an explanation for every question.

Reviewed by Marieke Schipper, certified NT2 teacher — August 19, 2026 This page is a translation of that reviewed Dutch text; the translation itself was not reviewed. The Dutch version is the source.

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