Inburgeringsexamen (civic integration exam) day rules: what to bring and avoid

These rules cover three exam families:

• Basisexamen inburgering buitenland (basic civic integration exam abroad) at A1.
• A2 language exams, KNM (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij, knowledge of Dutch society), and ONA (Oriëntatie op de Nederlandse Arbeidsmarkt, orientation on the Dutch labour market) appointments.
• Staatsexamen NT2 (Dutch as a second language state exam) at B1 or B2.

DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) sends your oproepbrief (call letter). For A2, KNM and ONA, follow your call letter or appointment instructions and DUO’s exam rules (External site, opens in a new tab). For A1 abroad, use your embassy or consulate appointment confirmation. Check the date, exact address, start time and local instructions before you travel.

Look up what to bring and when to arrive. The rows run from A1 abroad to A2, KNM and ONA, then NT2 at B1 or B2. See A1 exam regulations (External site, opens in a new tab), A2 and knowledge-exam regulations (External site, opens in a new tab) and NT2 arrival instructions (External site, opens in a new tab).

For A2, KNM and ONA, your identity document must be valid and undamaged. If you bring no valid document, or yours is damaged, you cannot take the exam. You must register again. DUO may report a false identity document to the police. For A2 language exams, use the A2 exam registration guide.

Accepted documents include a Dutch passport, identity card or driving licence; a Dutch residence document; and a refugee or foreign-national travel document. A W-document (identity document for people in the asylum process) is also accepted. The full DUO identity-document list (External site, opens in a new tab) includes EU (European Union), EER (European Economic Area) and Swiss identity documents, plus valid identity or travel documents from other countries.

For NT2, show valid identification at every exam and bring your call letter. DUO sends the letter by email and post. If it has not arrived, call DUO. See DUO’s NT2 call-letter instructions (External site, opens in a new tab).

For A1 abroad, keep the DUO confirmation and the embassy or consulate appointment details. Your colour passport photo must be recent and meet the official passport-photo rules (External site, opens in a new tab).

At reception for your A1 exam, you show your passport. Staff take your fingerprints and enter your details into the computer before the exam.

For A2, KNM and ONA, put your coat, bag, watch, phone and other belongings in a locker. For NT2, switch off your phone and other devices, including watches, and put them in a locker. Store your other belongings in the locker too. For your coat, follow the supervisor’s instructions.

For NT2, use the pen and scratch paper the supervisor provides. You may not use your own pens or paper.

For NT2 Lezen and Schrijven, you may use the Van Dale Pocketwoordenboek Nederlands als tweede taal (NT2) (pocket dictionary for Dutch as a second language). Bring your own paper copy if you want to use it. The dictionary must contain no loose papers, added text or annotations. We suggest removing sticky tabs too. You cannot borrow another candidate’s dictionary during the exam or use a digital dictionary or translation app.

For NT2 Luisteren (Listening) and Spreken (Speaking), dictionaries are prohibited. Other dictionaries are also prohibited for Lezen and Schrijven. Check the official NT2 dictionary rules (External site, opens in a new tab) before packing your book.

For A1 abroad, use only materials and aids the supervisor allows. You may take items out of the room only with permission, and you must keep exam content confidential. For NT2, you must also keep exam content confidential. For A2, you sign a confidentiality form. You may not tell others about the content, take photos or copy questions.

At NT2 exams, you may eat and drink. The exam locations do not sell food or drink. Bring your own. You may drink only from a bottle with a cap. Keep the bottle on the floor to protect the computer. For free coffee or tea in the waiting area, bring a cup; the cup must stay outside the exam room. These are the NT2 food and drink rules (External site, opens in a new tab).

All A2, KNM and ONA exam locations are wheelchair accessible. All NT2 locations are also wheelchair accessible. If you only need wheelchair access, you do not need to request an adapted NT2 exam.

DUO has no parking spaces of its own, and nearby parking may be unavailable. Allow extra travel time for public transport or parking. For help planning a journey, see public transport in the Netherlands.

Illness or disability may mean you need an adapted exam. NT2 also allows adaptations for certain personal circumstances, including dyslexia or a visual impairment. Arrange this before exam day. The application route depends on your exam.

To request an adapted A2 language or knowledge exam (External site, opens in a new tab), follow these steps:

1. Request advice through Mijn Inburgering (My Civic Integration), the DUO online portal. If you cannot log in, send DUO the paper application form linked on the official page.
2. Attend the medical assessment arranged by Argonaut (medical assessment provider). Its doctor sends advice to DUO.
3. Wait for DUO’s decision letter. If DUO approves an adapted exam, the letter explains the adjustments.
4. Register for the approved exam with the form Aanmelding inburgeringsexamen. You cannot book this adapted exam in Mijn Inburgering.

For an adapted NT2 exam (External site, opens in a new tab), select persoonlijke omstandigheden (personal circumstances) when registering. DUO then contacts you about the adjustments and the evidence you need. The exam may take place on a different date or in a different city because some locations cannot offer adapted exams.

Listen to the supervisor’s instructions before you begin. For NT2, find your candidate number on your DUO call letter and sit at the table with that number. Before the exam starts, show your valid identity document with a photo and sign the form. The supervisor checks your dictionary and asks to see your ears to check for earpieces.

For NT2, hand in all exam materials, including scratch paper, before leaving. For A1 and A2, follow the supervisor’s instructions about what may leave the room. For A2, you may not photograph or copy exam questions.

If your identity document is missing or invalid, contact DUO or the embassy or consulate before exam day.

For NT2, late candidates cannot enter the room or take the exam. Plan to arrive at the time in your call letter.

For A2, KNM and ONA, established fraud invalidates the exam or result. Disturbance can also invalidate your result. For A1 abroad, discovered fraud can invalidate a result after the exam. Fraud or disturbance can also lead DUO to exclude you from future A1 exams for up to one year. Follow the A1 regulations on fraud and disturbance (External site, opens in a new tab).

For NT2, the College voor toetsen en examens (board for tests and examinations) can invalidate the affected exam part after fraud or other irregularities. It can also withhold that part’s certificate. See the NT2 rules on irregularities (External site, opens in a new tab).

Check these items before you leave home:

• Date, city, exact address, start time and arrival time in your call letter or appointment confirmation.
• Valid, undamaged identity document. Check its expiry date.
• A1 abroad: appointment confirmation, passport and recent colour passport photo.
• NT2 Lezen or Schrijven: your own approved dictionary, with no notes or added text, if you want to use one.
• Travel route with extra time for public transport or parking.
• Phone charged for travel. Follow the instructions for switching off and storing devices at your exam.

For A2 and NT2, keep notes, copied practice answers, smart devices and study materials outside the exam room. For A1 abroad, bring only the aids the supervisor allows.

If you have the required documents, plan your journey for the arrival time. Arrive at least 15 minutes early for A1 abroad, and 30 minutes early for A2, KNM, ONA or NT2. If you lack a document or need an adapted exam, contact DUO or the embassy or consulate before travelling. Missing valid identification means you cannot take the exam. For A2, KNM and ONA, you must register again.

• Inburgering exam registration guide
• Exam locations in the Netherlands and abroad
• Exam results timeline