Complete PVT through your municipality
You complete PVT through your gemeente (municipality). You learn about Dutch values and sign a participatieverklaring (participation declaration). The deadline is 3 years under the 2021 law, or 1 year from municipal registration under the 2013 law. In 2026, PVT is free under the 2021 law. Under the 2013 law, it is free for asylum-status holders and €150 for everyone else.
Who must complete PVT?
PVT is part of inburgering (civic integration). DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) (External site, opens in a new tab) requires PVT when both of these conditions apply:
- You became inburgeringsplichtig (legally required to integrate) on or after 1 October 2017.
- You are registered with a municipality.
What happens during PVT?
Your municipality arranges a programme about Dutch values. You learn about equality, freedom to choose your beliefs and freedom to express your opinion. You also learn that discrimination is forbidden. PVT ends with signing the declaration, rather than a computer exam.
Under the 2021 law, PVT takes at least 12 hours. It includes at least one activity or excursion that shows a Dutch value in practice. These requirements come from the 2021 PVT rules, article 3.1 (External site, opens in a new tab).
The format can differ by municipality. Ask which workshops, group sessions, local information meetings or other guided activities your programme uses. Your municipal letter explains the local arrangements.
How do you complete PVT?
Follow the programme in your municipal letter in this order:
- Read the invitation for the programme dates and location.
- Attend the programme arranged by your municipality.
- Sign the participatieverklaring at the signing meeting.
By signing, you say that you want to take an active part in Dutch society and respect its values.
The municipality reports your signature to DUO. DUO says the signed declaration appears in Mijn Inburgering after about 3 weeks. If the record is still missing after that, ask your municipality whether it has reported your signature.
What is your PVT deadline and cost?
Your deadline and cost depend on your law and asylum status. The older law is Wet inburgering 2013 (Civic Integration Act 2013). These are DUO’s PVT deadlines (External site, opens in a new tab) and PVT fees (External site, opens in a new tab):
You can scroll wide tables sideways.
| Law and status | Time to sign | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 law: everyone | 3 years | Free |
| 2013 law: asylum-status holder | 1 year | Free |
| 2013 law: without asylum status | 1 year | €150 |
Under the 2021 law, the 3 years start the day after the date on your PIP (persoonlijk plan inburgering en participatie, personal integration and participation plan). Article 11 of the 2021 law (External site, opens in a new tab) sets this starting point. Under the 2013 law, the year starts when you are registered with the municipality.
What happens if you complete PVT late?
Asylum-status holders must still complete PVT, but DUO does not fine them for taking too long. DUO’s fines rules (External site, opens in a new tab) confirm this for both laws.
Under the 2021 law, your municipality can separately fine you for failing to cooperate with PIP support or meet your programme obligations. This differs from DUO’s fine for finishing late. Article 23 of the 2021 law (External site, opens in a new tab) covers municipal enforcement.
If a delay is outside your control, or you need more time, contact your municipality. For example, ask about illness, a move, family circumstances or municipal delays. DUO says you may get extra time. Keep copies of your messages and appointment confirmations to show what you have arranged.
What if you have not received a PVT letter?
Contact the municipality where you are registered if you have not received a PVT letter. Ask how to join the programme and what your deadline is. Under the 2013 law, the 1-year clock starts with municipal registration, so contact the municipality early. Keep proof of your attempts to arrange PVT.
For PVT arrangements when you move to another municipality, see moving house during inburgering.
What should you do before your PVT deadline?
If you have an invitation, attend the programme and sign the declaration within your deadline. If the invitation is missing or a delay may stop you finishing, contact your municipality now. If you have already signed, check Mijn Inburgering after about 3 weeks.
Use these pages for your next action:
Official Sources
- Inburgeren.nl (DUO's civic integration website): knowledge exams and PVT (External site, opens in a new tab) - PVT eligibility, Dutch values, municipal invitation and reporting, the roughly 3-week portal update, deadlines and extra time.
- Inburgeren.nl: inburgering costs and PVT fees (External site, opens in a new tab) - PVT is free under the 2021 law; under the 2013 law, it is free for asylum-status holders and costs €150 for other participants.
- Inburgeren.nl: fines for late PVT or MAP (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO late-completion fines under both laws, the asylum-status exception, continuing obligations and loss of borrowing under the 2013 law.
- Besluit inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Decree 2021) (External site, opens in a new tab) - PVT programme rules under the 2021 law; the original official publication is also linked below.
- Wet inburgering 2021: municipal enforcement (External site, opens in a new tab) - Municipal enforcement during the integration programme, separate from DUO late-completion fines; the original official publication is also linked below.
- Inburgeren.nl: Boete (fines) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Original Dutch rules on the €340 PVT fine, the asylum-status exception and 2013 borrowing consequences.
- Besluit inburgering 2021: original official publication (External site, opens in a new tab) - Article 3.1: at least 12 PVT hours, an activity or excursion, signing and municipal discretion over the format.
- Wet inburgering 2021: original official publication (External site, opens in a new tab) - Article 11: 3 years from the day after the date on the PIP. Articles 23–24: separate municipal and late-completion fines.
- DUO: exams under Wet inburgering 2021 (External site, opens in a new tab) - PVT remains required alongside language exams, including when language certificates give exemptions from those exams.