Inburgering (civic integration) exemptions: when you can do fewer or no exams

A full vrijstelling removes your inburgeringsplicht (civic integration obligation). A partial vrijstelling removes only the exam parts DUO accepts. You must still complete the remaining parts. Ontheffing releases you from all or part of the obligation because you cannot meet it.

Your rules depend on whether you fall under Wet inburgering 2013 (Civic Integration Act 2013) or Wet inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Act 2021). Check your DUO letter in Mijn Inburgering. Under the 2021 law, also check your persoonlijk plan inburgering en participatie (PIP, personal integration and participation plan). Your PIP states your route, exam level and required parts.

This page covers integration in the Netherlands. If you are taking the A1 basisexamen inburgering in het buitenland (basic civic integration exam abroad) before a machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf (MVV, provisional residence permit), use the separate basisexamen exemption guide. IND (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, Immigration and Naturalisation Service) (External site, opens in a new tab) assesses exemptions for that exam under different rules.

Start with the situation that matches your evidence. This table points you to a route; DUO decides whether you qualify.

A qualifying diploma may give you full vrijstelling. DUO lists these qualifications; any one may qualify if it meets the diploma exemption conditions (External site, opens in a new tab):

• vmbo (pre-vocational secondary education), havo (senior general secondary education) or vwo (pre-university education).
• mbo (secondary vocational education) at level 2 or higher.
• hbo (higher professional education) or wo (university education), if you followed the programme in Dutch.
• A diploma from a Dutch-language programme in Belgium or Suriname, with a passing mark for Dutch.

Some certificates may give partial exemption. Examples include passed Staatsexamen Nt2 parts and Dutch secondary-school final-exam certificates with a passing mark for Dutch. A foreign diploma or certificate must show passed Dutch-language parts at A2 or higher under the 2013 law, or B1 or higher under the 2021 law. The institution must be recognised by that country’s government.

DUO grants these exemptions only to people who are required to integrate. If you passed Staatsexamen Nt2 parts at your PIP level or higher under the 2021 law, you do not need to apply. For a route that requires an application, use the form for your law. Both current forms ask for copies of diplomas or certificates. Keep your originals and send the evidence listed on the form.

Passed Staatsexamen Nt2 parts can replace the matching integration language exams. Programma I (Programme I) is B1; Programma II (Programme II) is B2. Under the 2021 law, a passed part must be at the level in your PIP or higher. You do not need to apply. Under the 2013 law, apply for exemption from the passed parts (External site, opens in a new tab).

If your integration obligation began before 1 January 2015, a full Staatsexamen Nt2 diploma may qualify you for full exemption. Apply to DUO.

An ONA exemption removes only the ONA exam. DUO lists several ONA exemption routes (External site, opens in a new tab): completed Module Arbeidsmarkt en Participatie (MAP, Labour Market and Participation Module), recent paid work, self-employment, qualifying international-organisation work, full occupational disability or full early retirement. Each route has its own conditions.

For the employee route, you must have worked in the Netherlands for at least 6 of the previous 12 months. You must have worked at least 48 hours in each of those months. See the ONA exemption guide for the different applications.

A Dutch-language entreeopleiding (entry-level vocational programme, mbo level 1) diploma also removes ONA if your 2013-law obligation began between 1 January 2015 and 1 January 2022. DUO sends a letter automatically; you do not apply. People whose obligation began before 1 January 2015 do not have to take ONA. People under the 2021 law do not have to take ONA either.

Long residence with work is a separate route. It gives vrijstelling under the 2021 law and ontheffing under the 2013 law. DUO requires all four conditions:

• DUO has told you that you are required to integrate.
• You have lived continuously in the Netherlands for at least 10 years.
• You have worked or volunteered in the Netherlands for at least 5 years.
• Your Dutch is at least A2 under the 2013 law or B1 under the 2021 law.

DUO invites you for an interview to assess your Dutch. The interview costs €90. Follow the long-residence application instructions (External site, opens in a new tab) for your law.

Illness or disability may qualify you for an adapted exam, more time to integrate or a medical ontheffing. DUO can adapt A2 language and knowledge exams (External site, opens in a new tab). B1 and B2 exams have a separate application process. If your condition is temporary, check extra time because of illness (External site, opens in a new tab) and the integration deadline guide.

For medical ontheffing, DUO decides after advice from Argonaut (the medical assessment provider). The application costs €225. The medical application form (PDF, 164 KB) (External site, opens in a new tab) says DUO refunds the fee for a full or partial waiver, or an adapted exam. If the doctor says you can integrate within 5 years, DUO does not grant medical ontheffing.

For bijzondere individuele omstandigheden (BIO, special individual circumstances), DUO requires all these conditions:

• DUO has told you that you are required to integrate.
• You cannot get another waiver or extra time.
• You have tried to learn Dutch.
• Your personal situation prevents you from integrating, and that will remain so.

DUO grants BIO waivers only in exceptional cases. A BIO waiver (External site, opens in a new tab) is insufficient for naturalisation.

Ontheffing wegens aantoonbaar geleverde inspanningen (AGI, waiver for proven efforts) applies only under the 2013 law. For the A2-course path, DUO requires all these conditions:

• Your integration period began at least 2.5 years ago.
• You completed at least 600 classroom hours. Online hours do not count.
• Your school was listed on zoekinburgerschool.nl when you began the course.
• You tried each exam you have not passed at least 3 times. For each exam, at most 2 Staatsexamen Nt2 attempts count.

The AGI rules (External site, opens in a new tab) explain which course hours you can combine and how to prove them. Literacy courses and some school programmes have different conditions. Read the 600-hour waiver guide for those routes. Under the 2021 law, contact your gemeente (municipality) if you cannot do what your PIP requires.

You may get temporary vrijstelling during a Dutch programme. The programme must lead to a diploma that qualifies for full exemption. Under the 2021 law, qualifying students receive it automatically. Contact DUO if you received an obligation letter and have been enrolled for more than 1 month.

Under the 2013 law, you apply with a form. DUO’s study exemption webpage (External site, opens in a new tab) says you must have started by 2 months after your 18th birthday. Its 2013-law application form (PDF, 167 KB) (External site, opens in a new tab) says before or on your 18th birthday. If you started after your birthday, ask DUO to confirm which rule applies to you.

Your integration obligation ends when you reach AOW (Algemene Ouderdomswet, state pension) age.

Naturalisation has separate rules: DUO says age-based entitlement to AOW removes the ONA requirement. Ask your gemeente which other proof you need for naturalisation (External site, opens in a new tab).

For a stronger residence permit, IND’s exemption rules (External site, opens in a new tab) also list reaching AOW age as a reason for exemption. IND assesses the proof with your residence application. To check which permit you want to apply for, see the Dutch residence permits guide.

Use this order for a route that requires an application. Automatic exemptions are explained above.

For medical ontheffing, send your medical documents only to Argonaut when requested, or take them to its doctor. Keep them out of your DUO application.

1. Check your law and required exams in Mijn Inburgering.
2. Check your PIP if you fall under the 2021 law.
3. Choose the route that matches your situation and evidence: diploma, passed language exams, ONA, long residence with work, illness, BIO or AGI.
4. Open the official instructions and form for that route and law.
5. Collect the proof named on the form.
6. Submit the application as the form instructs.
7. Save a copy of the application, its evidence and the date you sent it.

The proof may include diploma copies, certificates, employer statements, a Mijn UWV (Employee Insurance Agency portal) insurance record with hours, or school-hour records.

DUO gives an eight-week reply period for diploma, AGI and 2013-law study applications. ONA employment, self-employment and international-organisation applications also have an eight-week reply period. The medical form says you receive a message within 8 weeks. These reply periods do not promise a final decision for every route. For long residence with work, DUO decides after the interview.

If you have a diploma or passed exam parts, check those exemption routes first. If health prevents you from taking an exam, check whether an adapted exam meets your needs. If you fall under the 2013 law and have many course hours and attempts, check AGI. Use the form for your law and keep DUO’s reply. A partial exemption leaves you responsible for the remaining parts.

• Who must integrate in the Netherlands
• Medical ontheffing and adapted exams
• The 2013 law’s 600-hour waiver