After passing the inburgeringsexamen: collect your proof

Your inburgeringsdiploma proves that you have completed inburgering (civic integration). DUO (External site, opens in a new tab) (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) provides the diploma after you complete all required parts. Check your requirements in Mijn Inburgering (External site, opens in a new tab) (My Civic Integration), DUO's online portal. For an overview of the parts, see the inburgeringsexamen requirements.

Dutch citizenship and a more secure residence permit each need a separate application. Your inburgeringsdiploma meets the integration condition. The authority also checks the other conditions.

Check your letters in Mijn Inburgering or Mijn DUO (My DUO). Make sure your postal address is correct.

Asielstatushouders (asylum status holders) do not have to repay their integration loan. They also do not get DUO fines for finishing late. If you had a loan or missed an integration deadline, check DUO's loan repayment rules (External site, opens in a new tab) and fine rules (External site, opens in a new tab) against your personal letters.

Find your integration route first, or your Staatsexamen NT2 (Dutch as a Second Language state exam) result in the last two rows. See DUO diploma rules (External site, opens in a new tab). For the difference between an original diploma and an uittreksel (digital extract), see diplomas, certificates and digital extracts.

Use your official result to confirm you have passed. Practice scores, teacher estimates and how the exam felt are not proof of a pass. You can see A2 and knowledge-exam results (External site, opens in a new tab) in Mijn Inburgering. For NT2, use DUO's NT2 results page (External site, opens in a new tab) to find the Mijn DUO login. You also receive the NT2 result by email and post. Save your result letter or email.

If your final result has not arrived, check the exam result timelines before applying with your proof.

For an inburgeringsdiploma, follow these steps. You need DigiD (Dutch digital identity) to log in. For help setting it up or recovering access, use the DigiD setup and login guide.

1. Log in through the official Mijn Inburgering login page (External site, opens in a new tab).
2. Choose Diploma.
3. Download your diploma in Mijn diploma's.
4. Save the original PDF file.

The digital diploma is free and has the same value as a certified copy, according to DUO's diploma page (External site, opens in a new tab). Send the PDF digitally when the organisation accepts digital proof. A print or screenshot does not preserve the official digital proof.

For an uittreksel, log in yourself through DUO's digital-extract page (External site, opens in a new tab). An employer or school cannot log in for you. The extract is free and is valid proof of your diploma. Its PDF contains an authenticity feature so the recipient can check it. Send the original file from your download folder.

If the organisation accepts your digital diploma or extract, send the PDF. If it asks for paper proof, choose Diploma in Mijn Inburgering and request your paper inburgeringsdiploma. DUO provides the first paper diploma free (External site, opens in a new tab). Delivery can take up to 8 weeks.

If you lose your paper diploma, you can download the digital version again for free. In 2026, a replacement paper inburgeringsdiploma costs €72. Request it through the contact form in Mijn Inburgering or make an appointment at a DUO service point. DUO sends the replacement within 8 weeks after payment.

For a more secure residence permit, IND (External site, opens in a new tab) (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service) checks the integration condition. For permanent regular residence, it also checks conditions such as your residence history and income. Use the Dutch residence permits overview to check which application fits your situation.

Completing the Z-route alone is insufficient for naturalisation. If you cannot pass the exam, ask DUO about the advice needed for a waiver. The IND's naturalisation integration rules (External site, opens in a new tab) explain this requirement.

For naturalisation (External site, opens in a new tab), apply at your gemeente. Your gemeente checks your documents. It sends your application to the IND. The IND decides. You also need to meet conditions about identity, lawful residence, public order and your current nationality. Ask your gemeente which originals or digital proofs to bring.

For work or study, ask the employer, school or university which document it needs: your inburgeringsdiploma, NT2 diploma or uittreksel.

If you need a Dutch evaluation of earlier foreign education, use Internationale diplomawaardering (External site, opens in a new tab) (IDW, international credential evaluation). It compares your foreign qualification with the Dutch education system. See the foreign diploma recognition guide to choose the right procedure.

Check your current residence purpose before applying for naturalisation. A highly skilled migrant permit can qualify. Study and orientation-year residence require a qualifying permit first. Temporary asylum residence qualifies only under specific exceptions, such as for stateless adults. Ask your municipality to check the IND residence-purpose conditions (External site, opens in a new tab) for your circumstances.

Use the case that matches your route or exam:

• Z-route: your gemeente provides the certificate. Ask when and how you will receive it. If you lose it, ask your gemeente for a replacement.
• NT2, last part passed after 1 January 2021: once you have passed all four parts, DUO automatically sends your diploma by registered post within 4 weeks.
• NT2, all four parts passed before 1 January 2021: email nt2@duo.nl if you want to exchange your certificates for a diploma.
• NT2, only some parts passed: request proof for each passed part. You receive the full diploma after passing all four parts.

NT2 diplomas and certificates are valid indefinitely (External site, opens in a new tab). DUO's NT2 results page (External site, opens in a new tab) says diplomas and certificates gained after 1 January 2011 are in Mijn diploma's. For older proof, use DUO's diploma help service.

The basisexamen inburgering in het buitenland (basic civic integration exam abroad) tests Dutch at A1. Its pass result is proof for an MVV (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf, provisional residence permit) application where the exam is required. Your basisexamen result is valid for 1 year (External site, opens in a new tab). Apply for the MVV while it is valid. If it expires, you must pass the whole basisexamen again before applying. You still need to complete integration in the Netherlands. If you passed abroad, use the steps after the basisexamen and the MVV application.

For IND applications, check how to send paper proof and whether your route meets the integration condition:

• Paper proof for an IND integration exemption or waiver: send the copies required by the application instructions. If you submit your application at an IND desk, show the original documents. Keep them instead of posting them.
• Z-route proof: check the integration requirement for your residence or naturalisation application.

The IND's residence-proof rules (External site, opens in a new tab) explain copies and originals. The IND also lists the 2021 integration certificate as a possible basis for exemption from the integration requirement for more secure residence.

If your result is official, save the proof for your route. If an organisation accepts digital proof, send the original PDF. If it needs paper, allow up to 8 weeks for your first inburgeringsdiploma. Before applying for residence or naturalisation, check the full document list. Passing is one condition of those applications.

• Diplomas, certificates and digital extracts
• Integration proof for permanent residence
• Integration proof for naturalisation