Dutch integration may still be required after arrival
The A1 basisexamen is proof for an MVV application when your route requires the exam. It does not complete integration in the Netherlands. Apply within 1 year of passing all 3 parts. If you must integrate after arrival, DUO (External site, opens in a new tab) (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) sends you a letter. Check your letter and the tasks in Mijn Inburgering (External site, opens in a new tab) (DUO's online integration portal).
Proof from the A1 exam abroad
The basisexamen inburgering buitenland (civic integration exam abroad) tests Dutch reading and speaking at A1 and knowledge of Dutch society. If your family-migration route requires this exam, you must pass it before applying for the MVV. IND (External site, opens in a new tab) (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, the Dutch immigration service) lists the exemptions and explains the exam requirement.
An MVV is a machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf. It is an entry-visa sticker in your passport. You apply for the MVV and the residence permit together.
The exam result, MVV approval and integration letter have different uses.
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| Document | What it proves | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Result PDF showing all 3 parts passed | You passed the exam abroad. | Include it with the MVV application. This PDF is separate from the inburgeringsdiploma (civic integration diploma). |
| MVV approval | IND approved your application. | Collect the MVV sticker before travelling. Follow the instructions in your decision letter. |
| DUO or gemeente (municipality) letter after arrival | DUO tells you whether you must integrate. The gemeente guides you under the 2021 law. | Read the letter and follow the steps for your situation. |
The MVV application deadline
You or your referent (sponsor) must apply for the MVV within 1 year after you pass all 3 parts. Include the result PDF with the application. If you wait longer, you must take the whole basisexamen again. Naar Nederland (External site, opens in a new tab) (To the Netherlands, DUO’s exam-abroad website) explains this rule.
For the documents and family-reunification application, use the MVV and family reunification guide.
Steps after arrival
If you must integrate, DUO sends the integration letter after all 3 requirements are met: you have a burgerservicenummer (BSN, citizen service number), a residence permit and registration with the gemeente. After that, the letter can still take up to 8 weeks. If the letter has not arrived after 8 weeks, contact DUO about integration (External site, opens in a new tab).
After moving to the Netherlands, follow these steps:
- Register with the gemeente.
- Confirm your BSN.
- Check that you have your residence permit.
- Check your address and other contact details in Mijn Inburgering when you can log in.
- Read your DUO letter to check which law applies and what you must do.
Find your law or letter status in the table to see who guides you and what to do first. Check your law and exams in Mijn Inburgering, as DUO’s required-exams page (External site, opens in a new tab) explains.
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| Your situation | Who guides you | Your first action |
|---|---|---|
| Wet inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Act 2021) | Gemeente and DUO | Attend the brede intake (broad intake). It includes a conversation and a Leerbaarheidstoets (learning ability test). |
| Wet inburgering 2013 (Civic Integration Act 2013) | DUO | Check your start date, deadline and required exams in your DUO letters and Mijn Inburgering. |
| No DUO letter yet | DUO | Check all 3 requirements above. Contact DUO after 8 weeks if the letter has not arrived. |
The gemeente makes a persoonlijk plan inburgering en participatie (PIP) (personal integration and participation plan) with you after the broad intake if the 2021 law applies to you. The PIP states your route and exams. DUO then sends another letter with your integration start date. Keep contact with the gemeente and attend its appointments. Ask the gemeente to explain your route if it is unclear.
Checks before choosing a course
Before paying for a course, check your required level and exams.
Keep your result PDF, MVV decision, residence permit documents and DUO letters together.
Your PIP sets one of 3 routes if the 2021 law applies to you. Use the table to check the Dutch level and whether language exams are required for your route.
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| Route | Dutch level | Language exams |
|---|---|---|
| B1-route (B1 learning route) | B1 (Dutch for familiar topics) | B1 language exams are required, unless the gemeente approves A2 (Dutch for routine everyday tasks). |
| onderwijsroute (education route) | B1 or B2 (Dutch for more complex topics) | B1 or B2 language exams are required. |
| zelfredzaamheidsroute (Z-route, self-reliance route) | A1 Dutch lessons | A2 language exams are optional. |
On the B1-route, B1 exams may still be too difficult after at least 600 hours of language lessons. In that case, ask the gemeente whether it can approve A2 language exams.
You must pass the language exams at A2 or higher if the 2013 law applies to you. Check your required exams in Mijn Inburgering.
Your PIP and Mijn Inburgering show which exams apply to you under the 2021 law.
Before choosing a school, check any gemeente instructions and whether you can use a DUO loan for that school. Use DUO’s school-choice rules (External site, opens in a new tab) and the integration costs and loans guide.
Mistakes with the MVV and integration after arrival
Avoid these mistakes when applying or choosing your exams:
- Using the A1 result PDF as proof that you have completed integration in the Netherlands.
- Applying for the MVV more than 1 year after passing all 3 parts.
- Ignoring gemeente appointments because you have already passed an exam abroad.
- Paying for a school before checking loan rules, gemeente instructions and your required level.
- Following a friend’s A2 or Staatsexamen Nt2 (Dutch as a second language state exam) exam list instead of your own required exams.
If you are still abroad, apply for the MVV within the one-year window. If you have arrived, check that all 3 requirements for the DUO letter are complete. Contact DUO if the letter has not arrived 8 weeks after you met all 3 requirements. Before paying for a course or exam, check your own required tasks in Mijn Inburgering and any gemeente instructions.
Official Sources
- Naar Nederland: after the exam (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official explanation of the MVV step, the 1-year application window and further integration in the Netherlands.
- IND - Civic Integration Exam Abroad (External site, opens in a new tab) - IND rules on the exam requirement, exemptions, result PDF, one-year MVV application window and further integration.
- Inburgeren.nl (DUO's civic integration website): starting civic integration (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO rules on letter prerequisites, the eight-week wait, broad intake, PIP and learning routes under the 2013 and 2021 laws.
- Inburgeren.nl: required exams (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official explanation that the required exams depend on Wet inburgering 2021 or Wet inburgering 2013 and should be checked in Mijn Inburgering.
- IND: basisexamen rules in Dutch (External site, opens in a new tab) - Original Dutch rules on passing before applying for the MVV, the result PDF and further integration.
- Naar Nederland: exam content (External site, opens in a new tab) - Three exam parts: reading and speaking at A1 and knowledge of Dutch society.
- IND: machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf (External site, opens in a new tab) - The MVV is an entry-visa sticker; the MVV and residence permit are applied for together.
- IND: steps after a positive residence-permit decision (External site, opens in a new tab) - Collect the MVV at the embassy or consulate before travelling to the Netherlands.
- Inburgeren.nl: logging in to Mijn Inburgering (External site, opens in a new tab) - The portal shows required exams and DUO letters and lets you check your contact details.
- Inburgeren.nl: choosing a school (External site, opens in a new tab) - Who chooses the school and which schools can be paid for with a DUO loan.
- Inburgeren.nl: contact DUO about integration (External site, opens in a new tab) - How to contact DUO if your integration letter has not arrived.
- Council of Europe: language-level descriptions (External site, opens in a new tab) - Definitions of A1, A2, B1 and B2 used for the plain-language level glosses.
- Rijksoverheid (Dutch government): who must integrate (External site, opens in a new tab) - Integration is not compulsory for everyone; personal circumstances determine the duty, and DUO sends a letter if it applies.