Save your result and apply within 1 year
After passing all 3 parts of the basisexamen (civic integration exam abroad), save your result PDF from DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service). Apply for the machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf within 1 year of the issue date on that PDF. Include the PDF with your application. After arrival, check your further inburgering (civic integration) duties.
What if you passed only some parts?
The A1 basisexamen inburgering buitenland has 3 parts. If you passed only some parts, register again for each failed part and pay for it again. Your passed parts stay valid until you pass the full exam. The one-year MVV application window starts after you pass all 3 parts, rather than your first passed part.
How do you save your result?
DUO sends your result by email or letter (External site, opens in a new tab). The result PDF shows which parts you passed. Your referent (sponsor in the Netherlands) also receives the result by email if you gave their email address when registering.
Keep the result ready for your application:
- Download the result PDF.
- Save a backup outside your email inbox.
- Check that your name and exam details match your passport and application documents.
- If your referent will submit the application, send them the PDF before they prepare it.
How do you apply for the MVV?
You apply for the MVV and residence permit together. IND (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, Immigration and Naturalisation Service) explains how to apply for an MVV (External site, opens in a new tab). Your referent usually submits the application, but this depends on your residence route. For a family application, the referent is the person you will live with in the Netherlands.
After you pass the final part, DUO sends the full-result PDF. You have 1 year from the issue date on that PDF to apply for the MVV. The IND exam appendix (PDF, 185.62 kB) (External site, opens in a new tab) sets this deadline. If you wait longer, you must pass the whole basisexamen again.
Prepare the application in this order:
- Check the IND conditions and document list for your residence purpose.
- Arrange any required translations, legalisation or new civil documents early.
- Check your passport, name, email address and referent details before submitting.
- Include the result PDF with your application.
- Submit the application within the one-year window.
Keep your result PDF, passport details, appointment confirmations and messages from the IND together. If any of your details change, check the IND instructions for your route before submitting.
For regular partner or child toegang en verblijf (TEV, entry-and-residence procedure) applications, sponsor conditions, documents and MVV collection, see Family reunification in the Netherlands: MVV and TEV.
What do you do after approval?
After approval, follow the IND decision letter and embassy instructions for collecting your MVV and travelling. Passing the basisexamen meets the exam condition for your application. The IND also checks the other residence conditions.
When you live in the Netherlands with your MVV and residence permit, check your integration duties. You must continue integrating if the duty applies to you. Stay in contact with your gemeente (municipality). The exam abroad leaves your further integration duties in place.
What happens after you register in the Netherlands?
If you must integrate, DUO sends your letter after you have all 3: a burgerservicenummer (BSN, citizen service number), a residence permit and municipal registration. Once all 3 are arranged, the letter can still take up to 8 weeks. If 8 weeks have passed and you have no letter, contact DUO about inburgering (External site, opens in a new tab).
Mijn Inburgering (My Integration, DUO’s online portal) shows your required exams and letters.
Your gemeente invites you to the brede intake (initial assessment) if Wet inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Act 2021) applies to you. The intake includes a required conversation. You also take the Leerbaarheidstoets (learning ability test), unless your gemeente exempts you because a visual or hearing impairment prevents you from taking it. The gemeente then makes your persoonlijk plan inburgering en participatie (PIP, personal integration and participation plan) with you.
The DUO letter sequence differs by law. Under the 2021 law, a second DUO letter gives your start date after your PIP is set. Under the 2013 law, your first DUO letter gives your start date.
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Situation | First official step | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Wet inburgering 2021 | DUO sends a duty letter. The gemeente then arranges your intake and PIP. | Check the route and exams in your PIP. A second DUO letter gives your start date after the PIP is set. |
| Wet inburgering 2013 (Civic Integration Act 2013) | DUO sends a letter with your integration start date. | Check the exams in Mijn Inburgering. Confirm your deadline with DUO. |
| Unsure whether you must integrate | Check your letters and Mijn Inburgering before paying for a course or exam. | Your age, nationality, residence purpose and qualifying diplomas can affect your duty. |
Once you have access to Mijn Inburgering, check your address, email address and phone number so DUO can reach you. Check your start date in the DUO letter that gives that date. Confirm your deadline with DUO.
What should you check before booking exams?
Before you book further exams, check which exams your DUO letter or PIP requires. If you need A2 (simple, everyday Dutch) exams, see A2 exam registration in Mijn Inburgering for booking and payment steps.
After passing all 3 parts, check the issue date on your result PDF. Submit your MVV application with the PDF within 1 year of that date. If the year has passed, you must pass the whole basisexamen again. After arrival, follow your DUO letters and your gemeente letters. Under the 2021 law, check your PIP before booking further exams.
- Author
- By Inburgering.org team
- Reviewer
- Reviewed by Kirill Svavolia
Official Sources
- Naar Nederland (official website for the exam abroad) - Na het examen (External site, opens in a new tab) - Result PDF, sponsor role, all 3 passed parts, one-year application window and further integration after arrival.
- IND - Civic Integration Exam Abroad (External site, opens in a new tab) - Basisexamen requirement and exemptions, result PDF, failed-part retakes, one-year application window and further integration after receiving an MVV and residence permit.
- Inburgeren.nl (DUO's civic integration website) - U gaat inburgeren (External site, opens in a new tab) - BSN, residence permit and registration prerequisites; 8-week letter wait; 2013 and 2021 letter sequences, intake, PIP and assigned routes.
- Naar Nederland - Examen doen (External site, opens in a new tab) - Result timing, email or letter, sponsor email copy, 3 exam parts and failed-part retakes.
- IND – basisexamen inburgering in het buitenland (External site, opens in a new tab) - Dutch source for result evidence, retakes, the one-year application window and further integration.
- IND – exam-abroad appendix (PDF, 185.62 kB) (External site, opens in a new tab) - The one-year MVV application window starts on the issue date shown in the full-result PDF.
- IND – MVV applications (External site, opens in a new tab) - Combined MVV and residence-permit application; who applies depends on the residence route.
- IND – partner residence permit (External site, opens in a new tab) - Other residence conditions, preparing and checking documents, and instructions after approval.
- Inburgeren.nl – Mijn Inburgering login (External site, opens in a new tab) - Required exams, DUO letters and personal contact details in the online portal.
- Inburgeren.nl – contact DUO (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official contact route when the integration letter has not arrived.
- Rijksoverheid (Dutch government) – who must integrate (External site, opens in a new tab) - Age, nationality, residence purpose and qualifying diplomas can affect the integration duty.
- IND – entry-and-residence procedure (External site, opens in a new tab) - Identifies the combined regular residence-permit and MVV application as the TEV procedure.
- Naar Nederland – A1 exam level (External site, opens in a new tab) - A1 reading and speaking require simple Dutch.
- Council of Europe – language levels (External site, opens in a new tab) - A2 describes simple communication about familiar, everyday matters.
- DUO – Portal Inburgering manual (PDF) (External site, opens in a new tab) - June 2026 version, section 3.6.5, page 47: the gemeente can exempt someone from the learning ability test when a visual or hearing impairment prevents them from taking it.