The onderwijsroute prepares you for further education
The onderwijsroute for inburgering (civic integration) prepares you for further education through a taalschakeltraject (education transition programme) and B1 or B2 Dutch exams. You also take the Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij (KNM, knowledge of Dutch society) exam and complete the participatieverklaringstraject (PVT, participation declaration process). An approved exemption may remove some or all required parts. Your municipality sets your route and requirements. The normal deadline is 3 years.
What is the onderwijsroute?
The onderwijsroute prepares you for mbo (secondary vocational education), hbo (higher professional education) or university. The taalschakeltraject combines Dutch lessons, study skills and subjects needed for further education. You can compare the Dutch language levels B1 and B2 before discussing your study goal.
The onderwijsroute is one of three learning routes listed by DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) (External site, opens in a new tab). These routes fall under the Wet inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Act 2021). The other two are the B1-route (B1 learning route) and the zelfredzaamheidsroute (Z-route, self-reliance route). If you are unsure whether this law and route apply to you, check which Dutch exam you need.
Who can follow the onderwijsroute?
The municipality must judge that you have a high chance of earning a diploma in further education after the taalschakeltraject. Article 8 of the Wet inburgering 2021 (External site, opens in a new tab) sets this condition. During the brede intake (broad intake), tell your municipality if you want to continue into further education.
DUO describes the onderwijsroute as especially for younger newcomers. Age alone does not decide your route.
The municipality assesses your previous education, work experience, learning potential and personal circumstances. It also checks your current Dutch level. These intake factors come from article 14 of the Act and article 5.2 of the Besluit inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Decree 2021) (External site, opens in a new tab). If you studied abroad, see our foreign diploma recognition guide.
After the intake, your municipality makes a persoonlijk plan inburgering en participatie (PIP, personal integration and participation plan) with you. Your PIP records the route and exams you need.
Which parts of the onderwijsroute must you complete?
The table shows the route requirements in October 2026. A DUO exemption (External site, opens in a new tab) may remove some or all required parts. Follow the requirements in your PIP and your exemption decision.
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Part | Requirement | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Taalschakeltraject | Earn a taalschakeldiploma (transition programme diploma). | School, start date, subjects and proof of completion. |
| Dutch language exams | Pass reading, writing, speaking and listening at B1 or B2. | Your required level and who books each exam. |
| KNM | Pass the Dutch-society exam. | Any exemption recorded by DUO. |
| PVT | Complete the process and sign the declaration. | Dates arranged by your municipality. |
The B1 and B2 language exams are the Staatsexamen Nederlands als tweede taal (Nt2, State Exam in Dutch as a Second Language) (External site, opens in a new tab). Your school can explain which exams fit your programme.
DUO needs your taalschakeldiploma details (External site, opens in a new tab) to issue your inburgeringsdiploma (civic integration diploma).
The Z-route ends with an inburgeringscertificaat (civic integration certificate) from the municipality. DUO explains the diploma and certificate outcomes (External site, opens in a new tab).
The Module Arbeidsmarkt en Participatie (MAP, labour market and participation module) requirement does not apply if you follow or have completed the taalschakeltraject. Article 8 of the Act sets this exception. Check your PIP and Mijn Inburgering (My Civic Integration portal) (External site, opens in a new tab) for your own required parts.
For exam practice, start with DUO's official B1, B2 and KNM practice (External site, opens in a new tab). For extra practice, use our free exam selector. Choose the level and parts listed in your PIP.
What should you check before your programme starts?
Check all six points with your municipality before lessons start:
- Which route your PIP names: onderwijsroute, B1-route or Z-route.
- Whether your Dutch target is B1 or B2, and which exams you need to book yourself.
- Which school provides the taalschakeltraject, plus its start date and the diploma you need to earn.
- When your municipality will arrange the PVT.
- What your exact deadline is, and what to do if the programme starts late.
- Who pays for the programme and what support is available to you.
What is your integration deadline?
The normal integration period is 3 years. DUO sends your start date after the PIP is set. Check the deadline in Mijn Inburgering. Revising or replacing your PIP keeps the original start date. Article 11 of the Act (External site, opens in a new tab) sets this rule. If the programme is delayed, ask your municipality whether you need to request extra time. Our integration deadline guide explains that process.
Who pays for your programme?
If you have asylum status under the 2021 Act, your municipality pays the course costs (External site, opens in a new tab). In that case, you cannot borrow from DUO. For other migrants, borrowing depends on income. If you qualify, a DUO loan can pay for a taalschakeltraject (External site, opens in a new tab). Confirm funding before you agree to pay. Our integration costs and loans guide explains the payment options.
What if the route no longer fits?
Contact your municipality if the programme is too difficult, starts late or no longer matches your study goals. Your municipality can change the onderwijsroute to the B1-route or Z-route (External site, opens in a new tab) throughout your integration period. The municipality must record the change in your PIP.
To request a change and keep a written record:
- Tell your municipality what has changed in your programme or study plans.
- Ask for a written PIP update with the change date and any evidence needed from your school.
- After a phone call, send a short message confirming what you discussed.
When should you confirm your programme or ask to change routes?
If your PIP names the onderwijsroute, confirm the school, exam level, PVT dates and funding before lessons start. If the route no longer fits, ask your municipality to review it. Keep working towards the deadline shown in Mijn Inburgering while you wait for a decision. A revised PIP keeps the original start date.
- Author
- By Inburgering.org team
- Reviewer
- Reviewed by Kirill Svavolia
Official Sources
- DUO: route decisions and exams (External site, opens in a new tab) - Broad intake, PIP, three learning routes, B1 or B2 exams, KNM, PVT and the normal three-year deadline.
- Wet inburgering 2021: article 8 (External site, opens in a new tab) - Consolidated law: onderwijsroute eligibility and the MAP exception in article 8.
- DUO: learning routes and route changes (External site, opens in a new tab) - Programme purpose, language levels, diploma outcomes and changes from the onderwijsroute throughout the integration period.
- DUO: paying for a course with a loan (External site, opens in a new tab) - A DUO loan can pay for a taalschakeltraject under the Wet inburgering 2021 when you qualify.
- Wet inburgering 2021: published law (External site, opens in a new tab) - Articles 8, 11 and 14: education eligibility, MAP exception, unchanged start date after a revised PIP, and intake factors.
- Besluit inburgering 2021: broad intake (External site, opens in a new tab) - Article 5.2 includes your current Dutch level in the broad intake.
- Regeling inburgering 2021 (rules implementing the Civic Integration Act): transition programme (External site, opens in a new tab) - The programme includes Dutch, study skills and subjects needed for further education.
- DUO: transition programme diploma (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO needs the transition programme diploma details before issuing the integration diploma.
- DUO: language exams (External site, opens in a new tab) - Reading, writing, speaking and listening exams at B1 or B2 are Staatsexamen Nt2 exams.
- DUO: knowledge exams and participation declaration (External site, opens in a new tab) - KNM and the municipal PVT process, including signing the declaration.
- DUO: diploma exemptions (External site, opens in a new tab) - Full and partial exemptions depend on DUO's decision.
- DUO: loan eligibility (External site, opens in a new tab) - Municipal course funding for asylum status holders under the 2021 Act; other borrowers depend on income.
- DUO: official practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official B1 and B2 language practice and KNM practice.
- DUO: Mijn Inburgering (External site, opens in a new tab) - The portal shows required exams, results, loan information and DUO letters.
- DUO: integration diploma and certificate (External site, opens in a new tab) - Integration diploma after required exams; a municipal certificate after the Z-route.