Which Dutch exam do you need? A1, A2, B1 or B2

There are four Dutch exams used for civic integration and Dutch-language proof. Which one applies to you depends on three things: where you are, when your integration obligation (inburgeringsplicht) started, and whether you also need Dutch for citizenship, residence, or study. This guide compares each path in plain English and ends with a short quiz that gives you a personal answer.

Each exam belongs to a different stage of life in the Netherlands. The table below shows the level, the exam name, and the situation it covers.

The basisexamen inburgering buitenland (basic civic integration exam abroad) is taken outside the Netherlands. Most people take it because they need a machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf (MVV), the provisional residence sticker that lets non-EU/EEA partners and family members enter the country. Spiritual leaders such as imams, priests and pastors who come to serve a congregation in the Netherlands also take this exam.

The exam has three parts at A1 level: reading, speaking, and KNS (Kennis van de Nederlandse Samenleving — knowledge of Dutch society). You sit it on a computer at a Dutch embassy or consulate. Reading and KNS are graded automatically; speaking is graded by certified human assessors. The full set currently costs €150 and the result is valid for one year, which is the window in which you can use it for an MVV application.

Citizens of EU/EEA countries, Switzerland, and several other countries (such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, and South Korea) do not need an MVV and therefore do not take this exam. The IND lists the exact exemptions. After arrival in the Netherlands you may still need a separate inburgeringsexamen — the basisexamen abroad is your entry ticket, not your final exam. For details, see the basisexamen preparation guide.

If you became inburgeringsplichtig before 1 January 2022, you stay under the Wet inburgering 2013 and your exams are at A2. The exact components depend on the start date of your obligation:

• From 1 October 2017: reading, listening, writing, speaking, KNM (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij), ONA (Oriëntatie op de Nederlandse Arbeidsmarkt), and PVT (Participatieverklaringstraject).
• 1 January 2015 to 1 October 2017: the same components but without the PVT.
• 1 January 2013 to 1 January 2015: the four language exams plus KNM only — no ONA and no PVT.

Each language exam currently costs €50, and you register and pay through DUO. The same A2 inburgeringsdiploma is also the standard language proof for Dutch naturalisation and for a stronger residence permit. If you are not formally inburgeringsplichtig but want one of these statuses, you can take the A2 inburgeringsexamen voluntarily.

A2 covers everyday situations: shopping, asking for directions, filling in a short form, describing your background, understanding short notices. It is enough to get by in daily life but not yet enough to follow a regular MBO course or take part in a workplace meeting in Dutch. The main inburgeringsexamen guide covers each component and the costs in detail.

If you became inburgeringsplichtig on or after 1 January 2022, you fall under the Wet inburgering 2021 and the standard target level is B1. The biggest practical change from the old law: your gemeente (municipality) is now in charge of guiding you. After a brede intake, the gemeente writes a Plan Inburgering en Participatie (PIP) with you, and the PIP says which learning route you follow and which exams you take.

There are three routes:

• B1-route: the standard path. You take the four NT2 Programma I exams and complete KNM, MAP, and PVT.
• Onderwijsroute: the education route, mainly for younger newcomers heading towards Dutch MBO, HBO, or university — usually via a taalschakeltraject.
• Z-route: the self-reliance route for people for whom B1 is not realistic. You learn Dutch up to about A1 and complete a participation programme of at least 800 hours.

If you are on the B1- or onderwijsroute, your B1 exam is the Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I — registered through DUO, taken in one of six cities. If you make a serious effort but B1 is genuinely too hard, your gemeente may approve finishing at A2 instead. This is an exception, not a default. For a deeper look, see the Wet inburgering 2021 explainer and the B1-route guide.

B2 sits above the legal inburgering level. You do not need it for inburgering itself, but you do need it for serious study or work in Dutch. Programma II is the standard language proof for HBO (hogeschool) and WO (university) programmes taught in Dutch, and many regulated professions ask for it. Healthcare professionals registering in the BIG-register usually need B2, for example.

Programma II tests the same four skills as Programma I — reading, listening, writing, speaking — at a higher level. Each exam is on a separate date and the diploma has no expiry date. Plan extra time: the jump from B1 to B2 is usually slower than the jump from A2 to B1.

If you only have a minute, answer these three questions in order. The answer usually points clearly at one exam.

• 1. Where are you? If you are abroad and need an MVV, the basisexamen inburgering buitenland comes first. If you already live in the Netherlands, skip to question 2.
• 2. When did your inburgeringsplicht start? Before 1 January 2022 means A2 under Wi2013. On or after that date means B1 under Wi2021, with the route set in your PIP. You can find your start date in Mijn Inburgering.
• 3. Why do you also need Dutch? For naturalisation or a stronger residence permit, A2 inburgering or NT2 Programma I/II works. For MBO admission, NT2 Programma I (B1). For HBO/WO or BIG-register, NT2 Programma II (B2).

Answer a few short questions and get a personalised recommendation.

• A1 is for before you arrive. The basisexamen inburgering buitenland is taken at a Dutch embassy abroad and is your MVV entry ticket, not your final exam.
• A2 vs B1 depends on a date. Inburgeringsplicht before 1 January 2022 stays at A2 (Wi2013). From that date onwards the standard target is B1 (Wi2021).
• B2 is for study and certain professions. It is above the inburgering requirement and aimed at HBO/WO admission or regulated jobs such as the BIG-register.
• Higher always counts. A B1 or B2 NT2 diploma satisfies any place that asks for A2 inburgering.
• Mijn Inburgering tells you which law applies. If you are not sure whether you fall under Wi2013 or Wi2021, log in to Mijn Inburgering — your start date and obligations are listed there.

Once you know the level, the next step is to practise in the format of the actual exam. Our courses cover reading, listening, writing, and speaking from A1 to B2 with exercises that mirror the real exam. The free practice exam gives you a quick taste of the questions, and the 30-day study plan turns this into a weekly schedule.

If you are taking the basisexamen abroad, the official preparation pack is at naarnederland.nl. For NT2 Programma I and II, official information and practice exams are at staatsexamensnt2.nl.