It depends on your situation. For some people the municipality pays almost everything; others pay for the course and the exams themselves. Here is what goes where.
Machine translation: this page was translated automatically from the reviewed Dutch text and has not been checked by a person.
In short
There are broadly two situations. Find yours.
Under the Wet inburgering 2021
Course
Your municipality usually pays for it.
Exams
The first 2 attempts at each compulsory exam are free.
Watch out
Those 2 free attempts lapse if you sit an exam at a lower level than your PIP states.
Borrowing from DUO
Not needed, and not possible.
A family migrant, for example
Course
You usually pay for it yourself.
Exams
You pay yourself: at the time of writing €50 per part.
Watch out
If you do not turn up, you pay for the exam again.
Borrowing from DUO
Possible under conditions, for the course and the exams.
The first 2 attempts at each exam are free for asylum status holders — but not if you sit an exam at a lower level than your PIP states. If you need more than 2 attempts you pay for them yourself, and you cannot borrow from DUO for those.
Source: inburgeren.nl — Inburgeren betalen — accessed 20-08-2026
The price is the same for A2 and B1. You pay per part, per attempt.
Do you fall under the Wet inburgering 2013? Then ONA is added, at the time of writing €40. That makes €290. You do not always have to sit every part, by the way: which exams you have to take depends on your learning route and on the act that applies to you. Mijn Inburgering holds your own list.
At the time of writing each exam part costs €50 (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking and KNM), €250 together. ONA costs €40 and applies only under the 2013 act. These amounts are index-linked — check the current price with DUO.
Source: inburgeren.nl — Inburgeren betalen — accessed 20-08-2026
Move or cancel your exam in Mijn Inburgering, at least 7 days in advance. Do it in time and you get your money back — and if it was a free attempt, that free attempt stays. Simply not turning up means paying again.
You can move or cancel an exam up to 7 days in advance. Anyone who cancels later or does not turn up does not get the exam fee back.
Source: DUO — Examenreglement inburgering — accessed 20-08-2026
Amber van der Zalm · NT2 teacher
I genuinely see this go wrong a few times a year: somebody falls ill, does nothing, and pays fifty euros for an exam they never sat. Two clicks in Mijn Inburgering and that would not have happened. Sort it out the moment you have doubts — you can always pick a new date.
Paying for your integration yourself? Then you can borrow from DUO under conditions. You apply through Mijn Inburgering.
The loan does cover
It does not cover
The money does not reach your account: DUO pays your school or your exam directly. And you repay the loan later, with interest.
Asylum status holders cannot borrow from DUO, because their municipality pays for their course. Others borrow for a course and exams at a recognised institution; DUO pays the school directly.
Source: inburgeren.nl — Lenen bij DUO — accessed 20-08-2026
Something important changed here in 2025.
Asylum status holders are never fined
The Netherlands' highest administrative court, the Raad van State, ruled on 9 July 2025 that DUO may not fine asylum status holders for taking too long over their integration. DUO may not reclaim a loan either. You do not have to do anything about it yourself.
Are you not an asylum status holder — because you came to the Netherlands for your partner or family, for instance? Then you can still be fined if you do not finish in time and have no right to extra time. A fine is not the end of the road: DUO also gives you extra time to finish your integration. These are the maximum amounts:
On 9 July 2025 the Raad van State ruled that the ministry may not impose a fine on an asylum status holder, nor require repayment of their loan; DUO had already paused that in February 2025. For other integrators the 2021 act sets a maximum of €1,000 for the learning route and €340 each for PVT and MAP, and the 2013 act a maximum of €1,250 for the diploma and €340 for PVT. After a fine you are given extra time to integrate after all.
Sources: Rijksoverheid — Uitspraak Raad van State · inburgeren.nl — Boete — accessed 20-08-2026
One resit costs you €50 at the time of writing. Redoing four parts twice is €400 — plus the months it costs you.
One month of practice costs €9,95Less than a single resit at DUO. Ten full practice exams per skill, with explanations.
See the modulesWant to see whether it suits you first? Start with a free practice exam. Ten questions, an explanation after every answer, no account needed.
At the time of writing €50 per part — Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking and KNM — so €250 for all five. Under the 2013 act ONA is added at €40. The price is the same for A2 and B1 and is index-linked, so check it with DUO.
Largely. The municipality usually pays for the course, and the first 2 attempts at each compulsory exam are free. Those free attempts do lapse if you sit an exam at a lower level than your PIP states.
Yes, under conditions, through Mijn Inburgering. The loan is for a course at a recognised school and for exams — not for a laptop, books or travel, and not for extra exam attempts. You do not receive the money yourself: DUO pays the school. Asylum status holders cannot borrow, because their municipality pays for their course.
If you are an asylum status holder, no: on 9 July 2025 the Raad van State ruled that DUO may not fine you and may not reclaim your loan. Other integrators can be fined — a maximum of €1,000 for the learning route under the 2021 act, and €340 for PVT or MAP. You are then also given extra time.
Yes, if you cancel or move your exam in Mijn Inburgering at least 7 days in advance. If it was a free attempt, that attempt stays. Cancel later or fail to turn up and you lose the exam fee.
Reviewed by Amber van der Zalm, certified NT2 teacher — August 20, 2026 This page is a translation of that reviewed Dutch text; the translation itself was not reviewed. The Dutch version is the source.