Basisexamen Inburgering Buitenland Registration: How to Sign Up

Register for the basisexamen inburgering buitenland (Basic Civic Integration Exam Abroad) before you make the embassy appointment. You sign up with DUO through Naar Nederland, pay for the exam, receive a confirmation and candidate number, and then contact the Dutch embassy, consulate or listed service provider to set the exam date. Do not send an MVV application first if the IND says this exam is required for your situation.

• The BIB exam is for many MVV applicants who want to live with a partner in the Netherlands or work as a spiritual counsellor.
• You register first with DUO through Naar Nederland; the embassy appointment comes after payment and confirmation.
• A full exam costs €150. KNS, reading and speaking cost €50 each if you take or retake one part.
• Online registration is faster. A paper application can take up to 10 weeks to process.
• If your country has no Dutch embassy or consulate for the exam, choose the nearest available location and check whether you need a visa to travel there.
• You can change the exam date or location once, if the embassy or consulate agrees, up to 24 hours before the exam.

Check the IND page first if you are unsure whether the basisexamen applies to you. The exam is tied to the MVV and residence-permit process, not to the later inburgering process after arrival. Some people are exempt because of age, nationality, residence purpose, previous Dutch education or another accepted diploma. If you think you need an exemption or dispensation, handle that with the IND before paying for an exam.

Choose your location carefully. Naar Nederland says European exam locations can be busy, and the official country instructions may name an embassy, consulate or external provider. If you need to travel to another country for the exam, check visa rules before booking.

• Open the official Naar Nederland registration page and start the digital registration when possible.
• Select the parts you want to take: KNS, reading, speaking or all three.
• Choose the country or exam location where you want to take the exam.
• Pay DUO. With online registration you may be able to use iDEAL/Wero with a Dutch bank account or pay by bank transfer after DUO sends a payment request.
• Wait for the DUO confirmation. After payment, the confirmation normally comes within 5 working days by email, or later by post.
• Use the candidate number and appointment instructions in the confirmation to make your exam appointment with the embassy or consulate.

As of May 2026, Naar Nederland lists the price as €150 for the full exam and €50 for each separate part. This matters if you already passed some parts and only need to retake one. Keep the payment confirmation, DUO confirmation and candidate number together; you will need them when arranging or changing the embassy appointment.

If you cannot use the digital flow, Naar Nederland says you can request a paper form by phone. Paper registration is slower and can take up to 10 weeks before it is processed, so it is usually better to register online if you can.

• Your appointment confirmation.
• A valid passport.
• A recent colour passport photo that meets the Dutch photo rules.
• Your candidate number or DUO reference, if it is shown separately in your confirmation.

At the appointment, the staff check your passport, take fingerprints and enter your details into the computer. You take the exam on a computer. If you do all three parts on one day, the visit takes about 2 hours.

If you already have an appointment and need another date, contact the embassy or consulate. You can change the exam date once, up to 24 hours before the exam, if the location can offer another slot. To cancel the whole exam and ask for a refund, reply to the DUO confirmation or payment confirmation at least 24 hours before the exam and include your name and candidate number.

If you fail one part, you do not need to retake the parts you already passed. Register again only for the failed part and pay the fee for that part. DUO sends the result within 8 weeks, often sooner.

After you register, plan practice around the three parts: KNS, reading and speaking. Start with the basisexamen buitenland guide, then use the separate A1 speaking, A1 reading and KNS guides if you want focused practice.

When you pass all three parts, use the result PDF for the MVV application. The IND says the full passed result is valid for 1 year for the MVV application, so do not leave the next step too late.