Civic integration work and participation tasks: which one do you need?

Your integration law decides which tasks you need. DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) lists the required exams under each law (External site, opens in a new tab). Check which tasks apply to you in this order:

1. Log in to Mijn Inburgering and check which integration law applies to you.
2. Read your PIP (persoonlijk plan inburgering en participatie, personal integration and participation plan), if you have one. It records your route and whether you must do MAP.
3. Ask your gemeente about any MAP or PVT requirement you cannot find or understand.

For the full system, read inburgering (civic integration) in the Netherlands.

MAP and ONA cover work and job search. PVT covers Dutch core values and signing a declaration. The table shows who may need each task and where to arrange it.

Arrange MAP with your gemeente. MAP stands for Module Arbeidsmarkt en Participatie. It covers work, job search and participation in the Netherlands. Your PIP and Mijn Inburgering show whether you must do it. MAP must be complete before your integration deadline.

MAP has two parts: arbeidsmarkt (labour market) and participatie (participation). In the labour-market part, you learn about suitable jobs, vacancies and applying for work. In the participation part, you do practical assignments, such as volunteering, an internship or paid work. Your gemeente connects the programme to your PIP, so the activities can differ.

You are exempt from MAP if you follow or have completed the onderwijsroute. For the current system, read Wet inburgering 2021 requirements.

To complete ONA, get DUO’s approval for your portfolio and either attend 64 hours of ONA lessons or pass the eindgesprek (final interview). ONA stands for Oriëntatie op de Nederlandse Arbeidsmarkt. It applies only under Wet inburgering 2013 or voluntary integration.

You do not need ONA if any one of these exceptions applies:

• You had to start integrating before 1 January 2015.
• You have a diploma from a Dutch-language entreeopleiding (entry-level vocational course) at mbo (secondary vocational education) level 1.
• DUO has granted you an ONA exemption.

Exemption routes include completing MAP or meeting DUO’s work conditions in the Netherlands. Check the ONA exemption guide before paying.

Your portfolio contains eight resultaatkaarten (result cards) and the required bewijzen (evidence). Cards 4 and 7 require all of these documents:

• 2 vacancies.
• 2 completed application forms.
• 1 application letter.
• 1 CV (work and education record).

The toelichting (DUO’s instructions for the cards) also requires a copy of each document you tick on card 1. Examples include a diploma or a diplomawaardering (diploma evaluation). For help with job applications, read Dutch CVs, application letters and forms.

Fill in every card in Dutch. All eight cards must cover the same gewenst beroep (the job you want), and you must include all mandatory evidence. Choose a paid job: vrijwilligerswerk (volunteer work) does not count as your chosen job.

Application forms must also be in Dutch. Your application letter and CV may be in English if all your vacancies are in English.

You may get help with the cards, but you must fill them in yourself. For help with each card, read the ONA portfolio and result cards guide.

Send your portfolio through Mijn Inburgering. Follow DUO’s ONA submission steps (External site, opens in a new tab):

1. Log in to Mijn Inburgering.
2. Choose “ONA”.
3. Send your result cards and evidence.
4. Choose how to pay the exam fee.
5. Choose the 64-hour ONA course or the final interview.

If you cannot log in, send the portfolio by post with DUO’s registration form and the voorblad (cover sheet with your personal details). A portfolio sent by post must end with the final interview. If you want the 64-hour course, solve your login problem and submit online.

The 64-hour course must be at a school listed on zoekinburgerschool.nl. Ask the school whether it offers ONA and what it charges. Fewer ONA courses are available. DUO explains the shortage in its MAP instead of ONA update (External site, opens in a new tab). If you cannot find one, ask your gemeente whether you can do MAP instead. DUO decides whether to grant an ONA exemption after you complete MAP.

DUO checks that you have answered every question and filled in all eight cards for the same job. DUO also checks that you have included all required evidence. Checking can take 6 weeks. If DUO returns your portfolio, correct it and send it again. Checking the corrected portfolio takes another 6 weeks.

To pass ONA, you need an approved portfolio and either 64 hours of ONA lessons or a passed final interview. If you chose the interview, register after DUO approves your portfolio. You take the interview within 6 weeks of registering.

At the final interview, 2 DUO staff ask about your result cards for about 30 minutes. Explain why you gave each answer. You may speak only Dutch during the interview, but DUO does not assess your Dutch. Language mistakes do not count. DUO sends the result by letter within 8 weeks. You can also see it in Mijn Inburgering.

If you fail the interview or cancel it too late, you must send your portfolio again, pay the exam fee again and take another interview.

PVT stands for participatieverklaringstraject. Your gemeente invites you to learn about Dutch core values, including equality, freedom of belief and freedom of expression. You then sign the participatieverklaring (participation declaration). Arrange PVT through the gemeente.

Under Wet inburgering 2013, PVT applies if you became inburgeringsplichtig (required to integrate) on or after 1 October 2017 and are registered with a gemeente. People who integrate voluntarily do not have to do PVT.

Under Wet inburgering 2021, you have 3 years to sign the declaration. That period starts the day after the date on your first PIP. A revised or replacement PIP does not restart the period.

Under Wet inburgering 2013, you have 1 year from municipal registration. If you need more time, or the delay was outside your control, contact your gemeente. You may get extra time.

Late fines apply to people who are not asielstatushouders (holders of an asylum residence status) and have no right to an extension. DUO says asylum status holders receive no late fines under either law. The table gives the amounts listed on the DUO costs page (External site, opens in a new tab) and DUO fines page (External site, opens in a new tab) in October 2026.

The €40 ONA fee covers the exam only. Ask the school for its 64-hour course price before enrolling.

Under Wet inburgering 2013, a PVT fine also stops you borrowing more money from DUO.

After a late MAP or PVT fine under Wet inburgering 2021, you get 6 months extra to finish that task. If both are late, you get 1 year. If several fines give you extra time, the longest period applies; DUO does not add the periods together. Under Wet inburgering 2013, you get 2 years after a fine to finish integrating.

If your deadline is at risk, contact your gemeente or DUO and keep evidence of messages, appointments and delays. Keep copies of letters, emails, invitations and proof of completed activities.

MAP, ONA and PVT are work and participation tasks. For the language and society exams, read the inburgeringsexamen (civic integration exam) overview.

If your PIP or Mijn Inburgering lists MAP or PVT, arrange it with your gemeente. Check the deadline in your letter and ask about extra time if you need it. If ONA is listed, check the exceptions and exemption routes before paying. If you still need ONA, prepare your portfolio and choose the course or interview.

For the steps for your task, read one of these guides:

• MAP: labour market and participation module.
• ONA: portfolio, course and final interview.
• PVT: participation declaration process.