Your route decides which parts you need
The exam abroad is at A1. In the Netherlands, A2, B1 and B2 exams test reading, listening, writing and speaking. Mijn Inburgering (your integration portal) lists your required parts. Under Wet inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Act 2021), also check your PIP (personal integration and participation plan). Your law, route and exemptions determine the knowledge and participation parts.
Which route and level apply to you?
DUO (External site, opens in a new tab) (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) lists your required exams in Mijn Inburgering. Under the 2021 Act, your gemeente (municipality) makes your PIP with you. Your PIP sets your route and exams.
For the exam abroad, IND (External site, opens in a new tab) (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, the immigration service) lists who needs the basisexamen inburgering buitenland (civic integration exam abroad). If you need a machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf (MVV, provisional residence permit) to join a partner or work as a geestelijk bedienaar (spiritual counsellor), you must pass it first. IND also lists exemptions and dispensations. For the residence application, see the family reunification and MVV guide.
B1 and B2 language exams use Staatsexamen Nt2 (Dutch as a second language state exam). The table compares the routes. Your official file decides which requirements apply to you.
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| Situation | Language exam or route | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Before an MVV for a partner or geestelijk bedienaar | A1 basisexamen inburgering buitenland | Check IND exemptions and dispensations. |
| Wet inburgering 2013 (Civic Integration Act 2013) | A2 inburgeringsexamen (civic integration exam), or a higher level | Check your start date and required parts in Mijn Inburgering. |
| 2021 Act: B1-route (B1 learning route) | B1; A2 only if the gemeente approves lowering your level | Check your PIP. The A2 condition is explained below. |
| 2021 Act: onderwijsroute (education route) | B1 or B2 | Check your PIP for your level and other parts. |
| 2021 Act: Zelfredzaamheidsroute (Z-route, self-reliance route) | Learn at A1; A2 language exams are optional | The gemeente arranges participation and a final interview, then you receive a certificate. |
| Citizenship, a more secure residence permit, work or study | An inburgeringsdiploma (integration diploma) or an Nt2 diploma may provide proof | Check the requirements for your application, school, employer or profession. |
In the B1-route, lowering your exam level to A2 may be possible after at least 600 hours of language lessons. If you still cannot take the B1 exams, discuss this with your gemeente. DUO explains the route conditions (External site, opens in a new tab).
For citizenship, see inburgering for naturalisation. For a more secure residence permit, check which integration proof IND accepts. IND assesses the integration requirement for residence applications (External site, opens in a new tab). An Nt2 diploma shows your Dutch level for work or study; check the requirements with your school or employer.
What do the language exams test?
A2, B1 and B2 test the same four skills at different levels. For A2, see the inburgeringsexamen guide. For Nt2, Programma I (Programme I) is B1 and Programma II (Programme II) is B2.
The table shows task types from DUO’s language exam overview (External site, opens in a new tab) and the official Nt2 format guide (External site, opens in a new tab). Choose practice at the level in your official file.
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| Part | What you do | What to practise |
|---|---|---|
| Lezen (reading) | Read texts and choose answers. | Find names, dates, prices, reasons and the main message. |
| Luisteren (listening) | Listen to recordings or watch videos, then answer questions. | Use everyday situations, such as an appointment or a conversation at work. |
| Schrijven (writing) | Complete forms or write messages, letters and longer texts, depending on the level. | Give the requested information in clear sentences. |
| Spreken (speaking) | Record answers to prompts through a microphone. | Give complete answers with the detail the question asks for. |
The A1 exam abroad has three parts: reading, speaking and KNS (knowledge of Dutch society abroad). Naar Nederland (External site, opens in a new tab) (To the Netherlands, DUO’s exam-abroad website) explains these parts. The knowledge exam in the Netherlands is a separate part, explained below.
Which knowledge and participation parts apply?
Your PIP or Mijn Inburgering shows which knowledge and participation parts you need. DUO’s knowledge and participation overview (External site, opens in a new tab) explains these four parts.
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Part | What it covers | Who takes it |
|---|---|---|
| KNM (knowledge of Dutch society) | Work, school, housing, healthcare, rules and society. | A knowledge exam under the 2013 Act and the 2021 B1 and education routes. |
| ONA (Dutch labour market orientation) | Working in the Netherlands. | The 2013 Act from 1 January 2015, or voluntary integration; exemptions can apply. |
| MAP (labour market and participation module) | Work, job search and participation. | The 2021 B1 and Z routes; the gemeente arranges it. |
| PVT (participation declaration process) | Dutch values and active participation. | Required if your integration obligation started on or after 1 October 2017 and you are registered with a gemeente. |
MAP applies to the B1 and Z routes under the 2021 Act. The onderwijsroute has KNM and PVT instead. Rijksoverheid (External site, opens in a new tab) (Dutch central government) explains the route differences. Your gemeente runs PVT and reports completion to DUO.
What does ONA require?
ONA can apply under the 2013 Act or to voluntary integration. Under the 2013 Act, your inburgeringsplicht (integration obligation) must have started on or after 1 January 2015. In both cases, check whether you have an ONA exemption.
If you take ONA, you submit a portfolio with eight resultaatkaarten (result cards) and the required bewijzen (evidence). Once DUO approves your portfolio, you complete either a 64-hour ONA course or an eindgesprek (final interview). If you post your portfolio, you must take the final interview.
Under the 2021 Act, completing MAP can give you an ONA exemption for a voluntary A2 inburgeringsdiploma. You must also tell DUO that you want that diploma. DUO explains the MAP-based ONA exemption (External site, opens in a new tab).
Where do you register?
For the A1 exam abroad, follow IND’s booking instructions (External site, opens in a new tab) in this order:
- Register with DUO using the exam-abroad form linked by IND.
- Contact the Dutch representation in the country where you will take the exam to arrange an appointment. IND’s country link gives the local booking instructions.
You take the A1 exam at a Dutch embassy, consulate or external provider. For exams and participation parts in the Netherlands, use the registration route below.
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Part | Where to register |
|---|---|
| A2 language exams, KNM or ONA | Use Mijn Inburgering. If you cannot log in, use DUO’s exam registration form or ONA portfolio form. |
| B1 or B2 Staatsexamen Nt2 | Use Mijn DUO (DUO’s personal portal) with your DigiD (Dutch digital identity). If you cannot get DigiD, DUO offers registration without it. |
| MAP or PVT | Contact your gemeente, which arranges these parts locally. |
DUO’s integration exam registration page (External site, opens in a new tab) links the A2 and ONA forms. DUO’s Nt2 registration page (External site, opens in a new tab) gives the B1 and B2 booking options. For help getting or using DigiD, see the DigiD setup and login guide.
Where can you practise your exam parts?
Start with official practice for the exams you need. These pages explain the format and link to practice exams:
For extra preparation, use Inburgering.org’s free timed exam practice or the free KNM study summary. These are additional study materials. Use the official pages for exam rules.
What should you check before choosing practice or booking?
Check these points before choosing practice or booking exams:
- Passing the A1 exam abroad covers the step before an MVV application. After moving to the Netherlands, you may still have an integration obligation.
- Your official start date determines which parts apply under the 2013 Act. Check Mijn Inburgering rather than using only your arrival date.
- ONA belongs to the 2013 system or voluntary integration. MAP belongs to the 2021 B1 and Z routes. Check exemptions before choosing work-related tasks.
- Practise exam tasks as well as grammar: read letters, understand appointments, write messages, speak and study Dutch society.
Which parts should you book?
If you need the exam abroad for an MVV, check IND’s exemptions and book the A1 parts. If you must integrate in the Netherlands, use your required-parts list in Mijn Inburgering. Under the 2021 Act, check your PIP too. Read your latest DUO or gemeente letter for your start date and deadlines.
If your route is unclear, ask DUO or your gemeente before booking. Choose the exams and level listed in your official file. If you follow the Z-route, ask your gemeente about completion and optional A2 exams.
Choose a guide for your next task:
Official Sources
- Inburgeren.nl (DUO's civic integration website) - Welke examens (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO overview of which exam parts apply under Wet inburgering 2013 and Wet inburgering 2021.
- Inburgeren.nl - Taalexamens (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO explanation of A2 language exams and how B1/B2 language exams relate to Staatsexamen NT2.
- Inburgeren.nl - Kennisexamens (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO explanation of KNM, MAP, ONA and PVT.
- Inburgeren.nl - Vrijstelling ONA (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO rules for the ONA exemption after MAP, including under Wet inburgering 2021 when you want the A2 inburgeringsdiploma voluntarily.
- Inburgeren.nl - Aanmelden examen (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO guidance on where to register for A2, KNM, ONA, B1/B2, MAP and PVT.
- IND - Civic Integration Exam Abroad (External site, opens in a new tab) - IND explanation of the basisexamen inburgering buitenland for MVV applicants.
- Staatsexamens NT2 - Inburgeren met het staatsexamen Nt2 (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official explanation of how Staatsexamen Nt2 Programma I and II can be used for inburgering.
- Staatsexamens NT2 - Hoe ziet het examen eruit? (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official format overview for the NT2 writing, speaking, reading and listening exams.
- DUO: learning routes and integration requirements (External site, opens in a new tab) - B1-route A2 lowering after at least 600 lesson hours, education-route levels, Z-route completion and the PIP.
- IND: basisexamen inburgering buitenland (External site, opens in a new tab) - Dutch source for exam-abroad eligibility, exemptions, registration and further integration.
- IND: integration proof for residence applications (External site, opens in a new tab) - IND assesses the integration requirement for a more secure residence permit.
- DUO: how Staatsexamen Nt2 works (External site, opens in a new tab) - Programme I is B1 and Programme II is B2; the diploma shows Dutch proficiency for work or study.
- Rijksoverheid: Wet inburgering 2021 routes (External site, opens in a new tab) - MAP applies to the B1 and Z routes; the education route has different requirements.
- DUO: Staatsexamen Nt2 registration (External site, opens in a new tab) - Registration in Mijn DUO with DigiD and the option for people who cannot get DigiD.
- Naar Nederland: A1 and KNS practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab) - The three exam-abroad parts: reading, speaking and KNS; official practice links.
- DUO: A2 and KNM practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official practice for A2 language skills and KNM.
- Staatsexamen Nt2: official practice (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official B1 and B2 practice environment and preparation instructions.
- DUO: Mijn Inburgering access and functions (External site, opens in a new tab) - Portal access, required exams, DUO letters and booking functions.
- KNM: official learning outcomes (External site, opens in a new tab) - KNM topics including work, housing, healthcare, education, values and public institutions; in force from 1 July 2025.