B1-Route Explained: Requirements, Exams, Costs & Timeline (2026)

If you started your inburgering on or after 1 January 2022, your municipality will assign you to one of three learning routes. For most newcomers, that route is the B1-route — the standard path that prepares you for paid work, volunteer work, or further education in the Netherlands. This guide covers everything you need to know: the exams you must pass, how much it costs, the three-year deadline, what happens if you run out of time, and how to request downscaling or extra time.

Key Points at a Glance

Here is a quick summary before we dive into the details:

What Is the B1-Route?

Under the Wet inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Act 2021), there are three leerroutes (learning routes): the B1-route, the Onderwijsroute (education route), and the Zelfredzaamheidsroute (Z-route). The B1-route is the most common. It targets a B1 level of Dutch — classified as "independent user" under the CEFR framework — which means you can handle most everyday situations, understand standard texts, and express yourself on familiar topics.

Unlike the old Wet inburgering 2013 that required only A2, the 2021 law raises the bar to B1. The idea is that reaching B1 gives you a stronger foundation for finding work or pursuing further education. The Onderwijsroute targets students heading to mbo, hbo, or university and may require B1 or B2. The Z-route is for people who genuinely cannot reach B1 or follow the education route, and focuses on A1-level self-reliance.

How It Starts: The Brede Intake and Your PIP

Your integration journey begins after you receive your verblijfsvergunning (residence permit) and register with your gemeente (municipality). DUO sends you a letter — this can take up to eight weeks — confirming that you are inburgeringsplichtig (required to integrate). Your municipality then invites you for a brede intake (broad intake assessment).

The brede intake includes a conversation about your background, goals, and circumstances, plus a Leerbaarheidstoets (LBT) — a test that measures your learning ability and current skill level. Based on the results, the municipality creates your PIP (persoonlijk plan inburgering en participatie) together with you. Your PIP specifies which leerroute you follow, which exams you must pass, and at which level. Once the PIP is finalized, DUO sends another letter with your official start date. That date is when the three-year clock begins.

Exams You Must Pass

The B1-route requires you to pass several components within your three-year term. Your PIP and Mijn Inburgering portal show exactly which ones apply to you.

Language Exams (Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I)

You must pass all four taalexamens (language exams) at the B1 level. These are part of the Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I, administered by DUO. Each exam tests a different skill:

These B1-level exams are significantly harder than the A2 inburgeringsexamen. The texts are longer, the vocabulary is broader, and you are expected to understand nuance and express opinions — not just handle basic transactions. If you pass all four components, you receive your Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I diploma within about four weeks by post. For a side-by-side comparison of what each level demands, see our A2 vs B1 guide.

Knowledge and Participation Requirements

Beyond the four language exams, you also need to complete these components:

Timeline: The Three-Year Deadline

You have three years from your official start date (the date in DUO's letter, not the date you arrived in the Netherlands) to complete all components. You can check your exact deadline in Mijn Inburgering. Two months before your deadline, DUO sends a warning letter with an overview of your progress.

Three years sounds like a lot, but it goes fast — especially when you factor in waiting times for school placements, exam registration, and result processing. Most people are advised to start studying and booking exams as early as possible. For a detailed breakdown of how to manage your time, see our article on the three-year clock and requesting extra time.

Costs: Who Pays for What?

How much the B1-route costs depends on whether you are an asielstatushouder (asylum status holder) or a gezinsmigrant/overige migrant (family migrant or other newcomer). Each exam attempt costs EUR 50, for a total of EUR 250 across the five exams (four language + KNM). MAP and PVT are free.

Asielstatushouders (Asylum Status Holders)

If you hold an asylum status, your municipality pays for your language course. You also get the first two attempts at each exam for free — as long as you take the exam at the level stated in your PIP (or higher). If you pass on your first try, you may retake the same exam once at a higher level, also free of charge. Third and subsequent attempts are at your own expense. Under the Wet 2021, asielstatushouders cannot borrow from DUO for additional costs.

Gezinsmigranten and Other Newcomers

Family migrants and other newcomers must pay for their own language courses and exams. However, you can apply for a DUO loan to cover these costs. You can borrow for courses at A2, B1, or B2 level (the school must be listed on zoekinburgerschool.nl), course materials like books, and exam fees. You cannot borrow for items like a laptop, administrative fees, or intake costs. The loan amount depends on your income — DUO decides how much you qualify for.

Repayment starts six months after you finish your inburgering, and you have ten years to pay it back. The interest rate for 2025 is 2.21%, fixed for five-year periods. For the full breakdown, read our guide to costs, loans, and fees.

What If B1 Is Too Difficult? Afschalen to A2

Not everyone can reach B1 within the deadline, and the law accounts for that. If you have completed at least 600 hours of language lessons and you are still unable to pass the B1 exams, you can discuss afschalen (downscaling) with your municipality. If they agree, your PIP will be adjusted so that you take the language exams at the A2 level (the inburgeringsexamen) instead of B1.

This is not an automatic right — it requires a joint decision with your municipal contact person based on your effort and progress. The 600-hour threshold is important: it shows that you made a genuine effort before requesting the adjustment. Even after downscaling, you are still considered to be on the B1-route for administrative purposes, which matters for things like extra time extensions. For more on the 600-hour rule and how it interacts with exemptions, see our article on the 600-hour rule.

Missing the Deadline: Fines and Extra Time

If your three-year term expires and you have not completed all components, DUO will send a vooraankondiging (pre-announcement) letter stating the potential fine. After reviewing your situation, they decide whether to impose the fine and how much it will be.

Fines Under the Wet 2021

The maximum fine for not completing your leerroute on time is EUR 1,000. The exact amount depends on several factors: whether you are an asielstatushouder or gezinsmigrant, how many course hours you completed, how many exam attempts you made, and how many components you already passed. On top of that, there are separate fines of EUR 340 each for not completing PVT or MAP on time. Read our fines guide for a detailed breakdown of how fines are calculated.

Extra Time After a Fine

Receiving a fine does not end your obligation — you still must complete your inburgering. After the fine, you receive extra time based on how many exams you have already passed:

For PVT or MAP completed late, you get six months extra for each (or one year if both are late). If you have multiple fines, only the longest extension applies — they are not added together.

Requesting Extra Time Before the Deadline

You don't have to wait until you miss the deadline. Under the Wet 2021, you can proactively request verlenging (extension) of your inburgeringstermijn if you have a valid reason. Most extensions require that your term started at least 2.5 years ago. Common reasons include:

There is also an automatic six-month extension for people who have done a lot of coursework and exams but still have not finished. For asielstatushouders, this requires passing at least two of four language exams, passing KNM, completing all course hours in your PIP, and finishing PVT and MAP. For gezinsmigranten, you need at least 450 hours of language course at a school with the BOW-keurmerk (Blik op Werk quality mark). Full details are in our extra time guide.

Exemptions and Special Situations

In some cases, you may be partially or fully exempt from the integration requirement. A vrijstelling (exemption) can apply if you already hold a Dutch, Belgian, or Surinamese diploma obtained in Dutch, or if you have lived in the Netherlands for 10+ years and worked for at least 5 years. Serious illness or disability may also qualify you for an ontheffing (dispensation), meaning you are excused from some or all exams.

If you have already passed one or more components of the Staatsexamen NT2 before starting your inburgering, you do not need to retake those — under the Wet 2021, this is recognized automatically as long as the level matches your PIP or is higher. Once you reach AOW age (pension age), you are no longer required to integrate. For the full list of exemptions and how to apply, see our exemptions and special cases guide.

After You Finish: Diploma and What Comes Next

Once you pass all four language exams, you receive your Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I diploma by post, usually within four weeks. Combined with passing KNM, completing MAP, and signing the PVT, this means you have fulfilled your integration obligation. DUO will update your status in Mijn Inburgering.

Your diploma opens doors beyond integration. To naturaliseren (become a Dutch citizen), you need either the inburgeringsdiploma at A2 level or the Staatsexamen NT2 at B1 or B2. To apply for a verblijfsvergunning voor onbepaalde tijd (permanent residence permit), you need the inburgeringsdiploma. Having completed B1 rather than A2 gives you a stronger starting position for both.

How to Prepare: Next Steps

The B1-route is demanding, but with the right preparation it is very achievable. Here is what you can do right now:

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