Two free attempts per eligible exam part
You get two free attempts per eligible exam part if you are an asielstatushouder (asylum-status holder) who must integrate under Wet inburgering 2021. Your route determines which parts qualify. A language exam below the level in your PIP costs money. You pay for extra attempts. You cannot use a DUO (Dutch education service) loan.
How are free attempts counted?
You get two attempts for each eligible exam part. You cannot move an unused attempt from one part to another. Changing language level also keeps the same count for that part. DUO’s free-attempt rules (External site, opens in a new tab) explain these limits.
For example, you use one free B1 reading attempt. Your gemeente (municipality) then formally changes your PIP to A2. You have one free A2 reading attempt left. The official explanation of the free-attempt rules (External site, opens in a new tab) gives this example.
Which exams are free for your route?
The free-attempt rule covers asielstatushouders who must integrate under the 2021 law. This legal group also includes qualifying family members of asylum-status holders. Ask your gemeente which group you belong to if you are unsure. The official definition of the asylum-status group (External site, opens in a new tab) explains this distinction.
Your PIP records your route and the exams you need.
All three routes allow two free KNM (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij, knowledge of Dutch society) attempts. The conditions for free language-exam attempts differ by route. Use the information below:
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Route | Free attempts | Check before booking |
|---|---|---|
| B1-route (B1 learning route) | Two per language-exam part at your PIP level or higher, plus two for KNM. | Your current PIP level and attempts already used. |
| Onderwijsroute (education route) | Two for KNM. Two per Staatsexamen NT2 (Dutch as a second language state exam) part when taken within your taalschakeltraject (education transition programme). | Your school’s transition programme and attempts already used. |
| Z-route (self-reliance route) | Two per agreed A2 language-exam part and two for KNM. Your gemeente must judge that you can take the exams and record the agreed exams in your PIP. | Your agreement to take the exams and the A2 level recorded in your PIP. |
The official route rules (External site, opens in a new tab) set the B1-route and KNM conditions. The education-route language-exam rules (External site, opens in a new tab) cover NT2. A 2023 amendment to Z-route free attempts (External site, opens in a new tab) includes KNM in that route.
If you are a gezinsmigrant (family migrant) or another migrant outside the asylum-status group, you pay for your exams. You may qualify for a loan. This two-free-attempt rule also excludes candidates under Wet inburgering 2013 (Civic Integration Act 2013) and voluntary candidates. Check DUO’s loan conditions (External site, opens in a new tab) before choosing a loan as your payment method.
Which level can you take for free?
In the B1-route, your language-exam level must be at least the level in your current PIP. A higher level is allowed. For example, a B1 PIP allows a free B1 or B2 attempt while you have attempts left. A2 costs money unless your gemeente formally changes your PIP to A2.
If you pass on your first attempt, you can use the second attempt at a higher level. You still have a total of two free attempts for that exam part. DUO’s payment guidance (External site, opens in a new tab) explains this higher-level option.
In the onderwijsroute, the two NT2 attempts also count across B1 and B2: two free B1 attempts leave no free B2 attempt for the same part.
How do you book and check payment?
Use the portal for your exam level. Follow these steps in order:
- Check your route, exam parts and current level in your PIP. Mijn Inburgering (External site, opens in a new tab) (My Integration, DUO’s integration portal) also shows which law applies and which exams you need.
- Open the booking portal: Mijn Inburgering for A2 language exams and KNM, or Mijn DUO (External site, opens in a new tab) (My DUO, DUO’s online portal) for B1 or B2 language exams.
- Check how you will pay before completing the booking. For B1 and B2, DUO automatically shows whether you have a free attempt or can use a loan.
- If the booking screen asks for payment for an expected free attempt, ask DUO to check your record before paying.
- If neither a free attempt nor a loan applies for a B1 or B2 exam, you can choose an invoice.
These are the official instructions for A2 and KNM registration (External site, opens in a new tab) and B1 and B2 payment (External site, opens in a new tab). For the full A2 booking procedure, see A2 exam registration in Mijn Inburgering.
You log in with DigiD (digital identity). Mijn Inburgering accepts sms-controle (text message verification) or the DigiD app. If you need to set up your account, see Apply for DigiD and log in.
Should you book or check with DUO first?
Before you book, check all five details:
- The law that applies to you: the 2021 or 2013 law.
- Your status in DUO or gemeente records: the asylum-status group or another group.
- Your route in the PIP.
- The free attempts already used for this exact exam part.
- The exam level compared with the level in your current PIP.
If these details confirm a free attempt, book through the correct portal. If your PIP needs changing or your Z-route exams are missing, ask your gemeente first. If the booking screen asks for payment for an expected free attempt, ask DUO to check your record before paying. A lower exam level by itself does not create a new free attempt.
Official Sources
- DUO: integration costs and free exam attempts (External site, opens in a new tab) - Course payment, exam fees and free attempts; costs for PVT (participation statement process) and MAP (labour market and participation module).
- DUO: who can borrow for integration (External site, opens in a new tab) - Asylum-status holders under the 2021 law cannot borrow because the gemeente pays for their course and two exam attempts; other candidates may qualify for a loan.
- DUO: paying for exams with a loan (External site, opens in a new tab) - A2 and knowledge-exam payment through Mijn Inburgering; automatic free-attempt and loan checks for B1 and B2 in Mijn DUO.
- Regeling inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Regulation 2021) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Article 3.5 sets the free inburgering exam attempts by route.
- Besluit inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Decree 2021) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Article 3.7 gives the exam-fee basis and allows rules for free attempts.
- Staatsexamenbesluit Nederlands als tweede taal (Dutch as a second language State Exam Decree) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Article 5 governs free language-exam attempts taken as part of an education-route transition programme.
- Regeling inburgering 2021: official publication (External site, opens in a new tab) - Article 3.5 and its explanation: route conditions, separate counts per exam part and attempts after a formal change to A2.
- Besluit inburgering 2021: official publication (External site, opens in a new tab) - Definition of the asylum-status group, including qualifying family members, and the requirement to record Z-route exams in the PIP.
- Staatsexamen NT2: education-route free attempts (External site, opens in a new tab) - Article 5(3) and its explanation: two attempts per language-exam part within the transition programme, counted across B1 and B2.
- 2023 amendment to Z-route free attempts (External site, opens in a new tab) - Adds KNM to the Z-route free-attempt rule.
- 2023 amendment to Z-route exam conditions (External site, opens in a new tab) - Adds KNM to the exams the municipality can record in the PIP under article 3.14(7).
- DUO: which integration exams you need (External site, opens in a new tab) - The PIP records your route and exams; Mijn Inburgering shows which law applies.
- DUO: register for A2 language exams and KNM (External site, opens in a new tab) - Book A2 language exams and KNM in Mijn Inburgering.
- DUO: register for Staatsexamen NT2 (External site, opens in a new tab) - Book B1 and B2 language exams in Mijn DUO with your own DigiD.
- DUO: log in to Mijn Inburgering (External site, opens in a new tab) - Use DigiD with SMS verification or the DigiD app to log in.
- DUO: 2021 integration-law portal manual (PDF, 6.5 MB) (External site, opens in a new tab) - June 2026 manual, section 3.6.8: remaining free attempts and the recorded A2 level required for Z-route free attempts.