Inburgering Fines (A2 & B1): How Much, When, and How to Avoid a Boete

If you do not finish your inburgering (civic integration) on time and you have no right to an extension, DUO can issue you a boete (fine). The amount depends on which law you fall under — the Wet inburgering 2021 (targeting B1) or the Wet inburgering 2013 (targeting A2) — and how much effort you have put in. A fine does not end your obligation: you still have to integrate, and you will receive extra time to do so. This guide walks through the entire process, from the warning letter to the fine itself, explains exactly how the amounts are calculated, and covers what you can do to avoid a fine altogether.

Key Points at a Glance

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

The Warning Process: What Happens Before You Get a Fine

DUO does not issue fines without warning. The exact process differs slightly between the two laws, but in both cases you will receive at least one letter before the fine is imposed.

Under the Wet inburgering 2021

Two months before the end of your inburgeringstermijn (integration period), DUO sends you a letter listing the data they have on file about you — your course hours, exam attempts, and results. This is your chance to check whether DUO's records are complete. If you have attended classes or taken exams that are not showing up, you should report this immediately.

Once your deadline has actually passed, you receive a second letter: the Vooraankondiging termijnoverschrijding (advance notice of deadline breach). This letter states that DUO may fine you and gives a preliminary amount. At this stage DUO has not yet made a final decision — the amount can still change if you provide additional evidence of effort. If DUO does proceed with the fine, you receive a third letter confirming the final amount and explaining how to pay.

Under the Wet inburgering 2013

The 2013 process is more straightforward. When your deadline expires, DUO sends you the Vooraankondiging termijnoverschrijding explaining that you are late and that a fine is coming. If you do not respond to this letter, a second letter follows with the final fine amount and payment instructions.

Fine Amounts: Wet inburgering 2021

Under the 2021 Act there are three separate types of fines. You can receive more than one if you are late on multiple obligations.

Fine for Not Completing Your Leerroute on Time

This is the main fine and it can be up to €1,000. The exact amount is not fixed — DUO calculates it based on several factors:

The general principle is simple: the more effort you have demonstrably put in, the lower the fine. Someone who attended hundreds of course hours and passed three out of five exam components will receive a much smaller fine — or possibly none — compared to someone who barely engaged with the process.

Fine for PVT (Participatieverklaringstraject)

If you did not complete the participatieverklaringstraject (participation declaration trajectory) on time, you receive a fixed fine of €340. The PVT is a short programme organised by your municipality where you learn about Dutch core values and sign a declaration. It is typically one of the first things you do after arriving, and it has its own deadline separate from your exam deadline.

Fine for MAP (Module Arbeidsmarkt en Participatie)

The Module Arbeidsmarkt en Participatie (labour market and participation module) also carries a fixed fine of €340 if not completed on time. MAP replaced the old ONA exam under the 2021 Act and is arranged through your municipality. For more about MAP, see our MAP and ONA explained article.

Fine Amounts: Wet inburgering 2013

If you fall under the older 2013 Act (which targets the A2 level), the fine structure is similar but with different amounts.

Fine for Not Passing the Inburgeringsexamen on Time

The maximum fine under the 2013 Act is €1,250. DUO determines the exact amount based on:

As with the 2021 Act, demonstrating genuine effort will reduce the fine. If you can show that you attended classes regularly and attempted the exams, DUO will take this into account.

Fine for PVT Under the 2013 Act

If you did not complete the participatieverklaringstraject on time under the 2013 Act, the fine is also €340. Under this law there is an additional consequence: you also lose the right to borrow money from DUO going forward.

What Happens After the Fine: Extra Time to Integrate

Receiving a fine does not end your inburgeringsplicht (integration obligation). You still have to pass your exams. The good news is that DUO automatically grants you extra time after a fine. How much time you get depends on your law and your progress so far.

Extra Time Under the 2021 Act

If you are on the B1-route or onderwijsroute (O-route), the extra time depends on how many exam components you have already passed:

If you are an asielstatushouder on the Z-route (zelfredzaamheidsroute), the extra time is based on your total registered hours (course hours + participation hours combined):

If you are a gezinsmigrant or overige migrant on the Z-route, the extra time is based on course hours only:

For PVT and MAP fines, the rules are straightforward: you get 6 months extra for each. If you were late on both PVT and MAP, you receive 1 year total — not 6 months for each stacked together.

If you have received multiple fines (for example, both a leerroute fine and a PVT fine), only the longest extra-time period counts. The extra time from different fines is not added together.

Extra Time Under the 2013 Act

The 2013 Act is simpler: after receiving a fine, you automatically get 2 years to finish your integration, regardless of your progress. However, there is an important consequence for asielstatushouders (asylum status holders): if you received a DUO loan, getting a fine means you must repay the entire loan. Under normal circumstances, asylum status holders who pass on time have their loan fully forgiven — but a fine cancels this benefit. Read more about loans and forgiveness in our costs, loans, and fees guide.

If DUO's Records Are Incomplete

Sometimes DUO's data does not reflect all the effort you have put in. Maybe you attended classes, but the school has not yet reported your hours. If this is the case, you should act quickly. When you receive the Vooraankondiging termijnoverschrijding, a form called Verklaring Deelname Cursus (Declaration of Course Participation) is included. Take this form to your school, have them fill it in and sign it, and send it back to DUO. DUO will review the additional hours and adjust the fine calculation accordingly.

This step is crucial — it can make the difference between a full fine and a reduced one, or even no fine at all. Do not ignore the warning letters.

Paying the Fine

Once DUO issues the fine, you will receive a letter with the exact amount and payment instructions. You can pay in instalments if needed. If you are paying in instalments and your bank account number changes, you must update it via Mijn Inburgering (go to 'Gegevens' → 'Persoon'). If you move abroad while paying off a fine, you must notify DUO of your new address using the 'Doorgeven buitenlands adres' form.

How to Avoid a Fine

The most effective way to avoid a fine is to pass all your exams before your inburgeringstermijn expires. If that is not possible, you have other options — but you need to act before the deadline, not after.

How to Prepare and Next Steps

Whether you are worried about an upcoming deadline or have already received a warning letter, here is what to do:

Official Sources

The information in this article is based on the following official source (as of February 2026):