ONA requires documents and a course or interview
If ONA appears in Mijn Inburgering (My Civic Integration), check exemptions before paying. If no exemption applies, send DUO (Dutch education service) a portfolio (result cards and evidence) with 8 resultaatkaarten (result cards). Online submission allows a 64-hour ONA course or an eindgesprek (final interview). Postal submission requires the interview. In October 2026, the exam fee is €40, plus the school’s price if you choose the course.
What does ONA test?
Oriëntatie op de Nederlandse Arbeidsmarkt, or ONA, tests what you know about work and finding a job in the Netherlands. You research one job and complete result cards about it. DUO’s ONA instructions (External site, opens in a new tab) explain the portfolio and interview (PDF, 110 KB). DUO does not assess your Dutch in the interview.
Who needs ONA?
ONA applies only if you must complete inburgering (civic integration) under the Wet inburgering 2013 (Civic Integration Act 2013), or if you integrate voluntarily. The Mijn Inburgering guide explains where to check your required exams and letters. The official Mijn Inburgering login (External site, opens in a new tab) opens DUO’s portal.
You do not need ONA for your integration obligation under the Wet inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Act 2021). Check whether you need MAP (Module Arbeidsmarkt en Participatie, labour market and participation module) in Mijn Inburgering. The work and participation tasks guide compares the requirements.
Your inburgeringsplicht (integration obligation) start date determines the exams you need under the 2013 law. In October 2026, DUO’s exam overview (External site, opens in a new tab) gives these requirements unless an exemption applies:
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| Obligation starts | ONA | Other required parts |
|---|---|---|
| On or after 1 October 2017, before 1 January 2022 | Required | Language exams, KNM (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij, knowledge of Dutch society) and PVT (participatieverklaringstraject, participation declaration process) |
| On or after 1 January 2015, before 1 October 2017 | Required | Language exams and KNM |
| Before 1 January 2015 | Not required | Language exams and KNM |
You also do not need ONA if you have a diploma from an entreeopleiding (entry-level vocational course) at mbo (middelbaar beroepsonderwijs, secondary vocational education) level 1, taught in Dutch. DUO lists this diploma exception (External site, opens in a new tab).
You may qualify for an ONA exemption through completed MAP or paid employment in the Netherlands. The employment route requires at least 6 of the 12 months before your application, with at least 48 hours worked in each qualifying month. DUO’s exemption page (External site, opens in a new tab) gives the conditions.
Other possible routes are self-employment in the Netherlands, work as a DGA (directeur-grootaandeelhouder, company director and major shareholder), or work at a Dutch branch of an international organisation or company. Each route has conditions. DUO gives no refund after payment. Check the ONA exemption guide before you pay.
You may also qualify if you are volledig arbeidsongeschikt (full incapacity for work), or fully on early retirement. DUO requires a UWV (employee insurance agency) decision proving full incapacity. For early retirement, DUO requires the SVB (social insurance bank) statement Ontheffing verzekeringsplicht volksverzekeringen (waiver from national insurance). The statement must confirm full retirement. The ONA exemption application form (External site, opens in a new tab) explains the evidence (PDF, 135 KB).
What goes in the portfolio?
The portfolio contains all 8 official result cards and the evidence they ask for. Fill in every card in Dutch for the same gewenst beroep (job you want). Choose a job with paid work. Vrijwilligerswerk (volunteer work) does not count as your chosen job.
DUO cannot help you fill in the cards and provides no example portfolios. You may ask your partner, family or acquaintances for help, but you must fill in the cards yourself. Give your own answers.
Read DUO’s toelichting (instructions for each card) (External site, opens in a new tab) as you complete the cards (PDF, 110 KB, in Dutch). The ONA portfolio and result cards guide explains each card and its evidence.
Cards 1–2: your choice of job
On card 1, Beroepenoriëntatie (career orientation), name 3 beroepen (jobs) that could fit you. Choose 1 as your gewenst beroep. Name its branches or sectors. Mark the situations that fit you, such as a diploma or work experience in that job.
On card 2, Realistisch beroepsbeeld (realistic picture of the job), describe its main tasks, working conditions and special requirements, such as a driving licence. Say whether they suit you. Explain whether you can change your personal circumstances for the job, and why.
Cards 3–4: your qualities and job prospects
On card 3, Je eigenschappen kennen (knowing your qualities), name the qualities and skills that matter for work in the Netherlands and for your chosen job. Say which ones you have.
On card 4, Beroepskansen (job prospects), list the places where you can find vacatures (vacancies). Say how much work there is in your chosen job. Look at job availability, rather than your own diploma or experience. Explain your next step.
Cards 5–6: training and contacts
On card 5, Beroepscompetenties (job skills), find a course or training programme for your chosen job. A language course does not count. Give its entry requirements, cost and required Dutch level. Explain your plan for Dutch.
On card 6, Netwerk opbouwen (building a network), give the first and last names of at least 2 people who can help you find work. Choose “nee” (no) if you know nobody who can help. Explain how and when you will look for more people.
Cards 7–8: applications and work culture
On card 7, Werk vinden (finding work), explain how you can find your chosen job. Add 2 sollicitatieformulieren (application forms), 1 sollicitatiebrief (application letter) and 1 cv (work and education history). Name at least 1 point to improve for a job interview. Explain how you will improve it.
On card 8, Werkcultuur (work culture), describe 3 differences in how people behave at work in your chosen job, between your country of origin and the Netherlands. If you never worked in your country of origin, or did not do this job there, describe only the Dutch side.
What does DUO check in your portfolio?
DUO checks all four points below before it approves your portfolio. If one check fails, DUO returns the portfolio. Correct it and send it again.
- Every question on every card has an answer.
- All 8 cards are about the same gewenst beroep.
- All mandatory evidence is in the portfolio.
- The application forms, letter and cv meet DUO’s instructions below.
Everyone sends the card 4 and card 7 documents below. For a postal portfolio, also send the voorblad (cover sheet). In October 2026, DUO’s paper registration form (External site, opens in a new tab) lists these as verplichte bewijzen (mandatory evidence) (PDF, 93 KB).
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| Evidence | Needed for | What DUO asks for |
|---|---|---|
| 2 vacancies | Card 4 (Beroepskansen) | Copies of 2 vacancies for paid work in your gewenst beroep. |
| 2 application forms | Card 7 (Werk vinden) | Use forms for your chosen job and fill them in with your own details. The forms and your answers must be in Dutch. If employers in that job do not use forms, fill in 2 forms for another job. |
| 1 application letter | Card 7 (Werk vinden) | Write a letter for your chosen job, rather than an email. You may type it or write it by hand. Write it in Dutch. If all your vacancies are in English, you may write it in English. If employers in that job do not use letters, write one for another job. Include all the points listed below. |
| 1 cv | Card 7 (Werk vinden) | Include at least your name, address, woonplaats (town where you live) and year of birth. Add any education and work experience from your own country, the Netherlands or both. Write it in Dutch. If all your vacancies are in English, you may write it in English. |
| Voorblad persoonlijke gegevens (cover sheet with personal details) | Postal submission when you cannot log in to Mijn Inburgering | A DUO sheet with your first and last name, date of birth, BSN (burgerservicenummer, citizen service number), profession in your country of origin, and how old you were when you left school there. |
Application letter checklist
Your application letter must include all 8 points below. They are grouped by where they belong in the letter. DUO lists them in its toelichting.
- At the top: the date, place and your own address.
- At the opening: a greeting such as “Beste…” or “Geachte…” (Dear…), and the surname of the person you write to.
- In the text: “u” (the polite form of “you”) for the person you write to, the work you want and your reason for choosing it.
- At the end: a closing greeting with your signature or name.
- Throughout the letter: text on the left of the page.
For applications to employers, see applying for a job in the Netherlands. For this ONA portfolio, follow DUO’s document rules above.
Card 1: extra documents
Card 1 can require extra copies. DUO’s registration form lists them under andere bewijzen (other evidence). If you tick a document on card 1, add a copy of that document.
The document can be a diploma or certificate, a diplomawaardering (diploma evaluation), or an ION (Indicatie Onderwijsniveau, education-level report for refugees without their diploma documents). If you applied for or completed an EVC procedure (Erkenning van Verworven Competenties, recognition of skills learned at work and school), add a copy of your application or ervaringscertificaat (experience certificate).
In February 2026, 4 Dutch ministers urged employers, schools and sectors to stop using EVC certificates because of continuing fraud. Their letter of 13 February 2026 (External site, opens in a new tab) explains why the certificates’ reliability could not be guaranteed. For your route into your chosen job, consider a diploma, an opleiding (training programme) or a diplomawaardering instead of a new EVC procedure.
Should you choose the course or interview?
You choose the second part when you send the cards through Mijn Inburgering. Postal submission allows only the final interview. In October 2026, DUO’s ONA page (External site, opens in a new tab) explains the two options:
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| Option | What you do | Cost and completion |
|---|---|---|
| 64-hour ONA course | Follow 64 hours of ONA lessons at a school listed on zoekinburgerschool.nl. Ask whether it offers the ONA course. | Ask the school for its course price. The school reports your hours to DUO. To pass ONA, you need an approved portfolio and 64 confirmed course hours. |
| Final interview | Two DUO examiners ask about your cards and why you gave each answer. The interview takes about 30 minutes. You must speak only Dutch. DUO does not assess your Dutch, so language mistakes do not count. | One exam payment covers one interview. To pass ONA, you need an approved portfolio and a pass in the final interview. |
If you fail the interview, miss it or cancel too late, you must send the portfolio again, pay again and take a new interview.
How do you send and pay for the portfolio?
In October 2026, the ONA exam fee is €40 (External site, opens in a new tab). A 64-hour ONA course has a separate school price. DUO checks your portfolio after you pay.
Sending through Mijn Inburgering
Send your portfolio online in this order:
- Log in to Mijn Inburgering.
- Choose “ONA”.
- Send the result cards and evidence.
- Choose how to pay: iDEAL/Wero (online payment service), or your DUO loan if you have one.
- Choose the 64-hour ONA course or the final interview.
Sending by post
If you cannot log in, use the paper forms. The postal route requires a final interview:
- Complete DUO’s ONA paper registration form (External site, opens in a new tab) (PDF, 93 KB).
- Add the voorblad, all 8 cards and the required evidence.
- Send the complete portfolio to DUO at the address on the form.
On the paper form, choose an invoice from DUO or payment from your DUO loan if you have one.
How long do you wait for the result?
DUO can take 6 weeks to check your portfolio. If you send it online, you receive the portfolio result by email. If you send it by post, you receive the result by letter. If DUO approves a postal portfolio, the letter includes the final-interview registration form.
After portfolio approval, register for the final interview if you chose that route. DUO says the interview takes place within 6 weeks after registration. You can see the result in Mijn Inburgering.
DUO says it sends the ONA exam result by letter within 8 weeks after the exam. You can also see it in Mijn Inburgering. This is the exam result, separate from the portfolio check.
What can you use to complete ONA?
Use the official ONA instructions and result-card downloads (External site, opens in a new tab) first. DUO also provides a woordenlijst (word list) (External site, opens in a new tab) (PDF, 100 KB). Collect the evidence as you complete each card, then check the table above before sending your portfolio.
For the interview, practise explaining why you gave each answer in simple Dutch. Use your own cards. For extra practice in spoken Dutch, try our free A2 (basic Dutch level) speaking mock exam. Its tasks practise general Dutch; prepare your portfolio answers for the ONA interview.
What should you do next for ONA?
If ONA appears in Mijn Inburgering, check exemptions before paying the fee. If you need ONA, complete all 8 cards and collect every required document. For the course route, send your portfolio online and ask a listed school about its 64-hour ONA course and price. For the interview route, practise explaining your own answers.
Start early enough to allow 6 weeks for the portfolio check and another 6 weeks if you need corrections. The interview and result have their own waiting times above.
Postal submission requires the interview route. DUO keeps the fee after you pay.
For your next step, read any of these guides:
- Author
- By Inburgering.org team
- Reviewer
- Reviewed by Kirill Svavolia
Official Sources
- DUO: knowledge exams, including ONA (External site, opens in a new tab) - ONA scope, 8 result cards, digital and postal submission, €40 fee, 64-hour course, interview, waiting times and result notifications.
- DUO: exam registration (External site, opens in a new tab) - Registration routes for ONA, KNM and A2 exams, including Mijn Inburgering and paper forms.
- DUO: which exams you need (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official overview of which exams apply under Wet inburgering 2013 and Wet inburgering 2021.
- DUO: integration and exam costs (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official exam fees, including the ONA fee under Wet inburgering 2013.
- DUO: exam results (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official result timing for knowledge exams and A2 exams.
- DUO: ONA exemptions (External site, opens in a new tab) - ONA exemption routes and conditions: completed MAP, paid employment, self-employment, DGA or international employment, full incapacity and full early retirement.
- DUO: ONA portfolio instructions (PDF) (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO's instructions for each result card: what DUO checks in the portfolio, one paid gewenst beroep on all cards, cards in Dutch, the 2 vacancies, the rules for the application forms, letter and CV, and the final interview.
- DUO: ONA paper registration form (PDF) (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO's registration form for the post route: the checklist of mandatory evidence, payment by invoice or from the loan, no refund after payment, and one final interview per payment.
- Rijksoverheid (Dutch government): letter about EVC certificate fraud (External site, opens in a new tab) - Letter of 13 February 2026 to the Tweede Kamer (Dutch parliament) reporting four ministers’ urgent call to stop using EVC certificates because their reliability could not be guaranteed.
- DUO: Mijn Inburgering login (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official portal login and the exams, letters and results you can check there.
- DUO: ONA cover sheet (PDF) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Personal details required on the cover sheet for a postal portfolio.
- DUO: ONA card 7, finding work (PDF) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Application forms use your own details, including when you use forms for another job.
- DUO: ONA card 8, work culture (PDF) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Card 8 asks for 3 differences in workplace behaviour between the Netherlands and your country of origin.
- DUO: ONA word list (PDF) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Dutch explanations and examples of the words used on the result cards.
- Rijksoverheid: ministerial letter of 13 February 2026 (PDF) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Four ministers’ call on 12 February 2026 to stop using EVC certificates and the reasons for it.
- DUO: employment, incapacity and early-retirement exemption form (PDF) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Employment must meet the 6-month and 48-hour conditions in the 12 months before applying; evidence for full incapacity or full early retirement.
- DUO: international employment and DGA exemption form (PDF) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Conditions and evidence for work at a Dutch branch of an international organisation or company, and for a company director who is also a major shareholder.