600-Hour Rule for Inburgering: AGI Waiver Under Wet Inburgering 2013

The 600-hour rule is not a general shortcut for everyone doing inburgering. It is an official DUO waiver called ontheffing wegens aantoonbaar geleverde inspanningen, or AGI, for people under the Wet inburgering 2013 who have made serious effort but still cannot finish the exams. As of May 2026, it does not apply if your integration duty falls under the Wet inburgering 2021.

• This page is only about AGI under Wet inburgering 2013. If you are under Wet inburgering 2021, contact your gemeente if your PIP is not realistic.
• AGI is an ontheffing, or waiver. It is different from a vrijstelling based on a diploma or certificate.
• For the common A2-course route, only classroom attendance counts. Online course hours do not count.
• Your inburgeringstermijn must usually have started at least 2.5 years ago.
• DUO normally decides within 8 weeks after receiving your application.
• If you do not meet the AGI conditions, you may still be able to ask for extra time instead.

The words are confusing, even in Dutch. A vrijstelling means you do not have to do an exam because you already meet a condition, for example with a Dutch diploma. An ontheffing means you did have an obligation, but DUO may release you because of your situation. AGI is an ontheffing based on proven effort.

For the broader list of ways to do fewer or no exams, use our inburgering exemptions guide. If your main problem is the deadline, read the extra-time guide as well.

Start with your DUO letter or Mijn Inburgering account. If DUO says you are under Wet inburgering 2013, this article may be relevant. If you are under Wet inburgering 2021, this DUO AGI page is not for you; your PIP and gemeente route decide what happens next.

Count only hours when you physically attended school. DUO says online hours do not count for this AGI route. For the normal A2-course path, the school also had to be on zoekinburgerschool.nl when you began the course. If your hours are missing in Mijn Inburgering, ask the school to send them digitally to DUO.

For the A2-course route, DUO says you must have tried to pass all exams at least 3 times. For each exam, no more than 2 Staatsexamen NT2 attempts may count. For the practical education, VSO or ISK route, the same 3-attempt idea usually applies, but DUO says you should still apply if you do not have every attempt; DUO may require the learning-capacity test.

For the literacy-course route, the exam-attempt rule is different. DUO warns that if you already passed inburgering exams, you may not receive this waiver. DUO can ask you to take a test to see what you learned and whether you can still learn Dutch.

• Check in Mijn Inburgering whether DUO has registered at least 600 course hours.
• If hours are missing, ask your school to send the hours digitally to DUO.
• If digital reporting is not possible, ask the school to complete the DUO declaration included with the AGI application form.
• Fill in the DUO form called Aanvraag ontheffing aantoonbaar geleverde inspanningen.
• Send the form and any declarations or evidence to DUO by post.
• Wait for DUO's decision. DUO says you receive a response within 8 weeks.

Not meeting the 600-hour AGI conditions does not always mean there is no option. You might be closer to an extension of your deadline, a medical route, or another exemption. The safest next step is to check the reason you are stuck: too little time, illness or disability, missing documents, repeated failed exams, or a residence/naturalisation requirement.

For next steps after repeated failed exams, read what to do if you failed inburgering several times. If your goal is naturalisation or a stronger residence permit, also check the rules for naturalisation and permanent residence.