The Z-route normally requires 800 lesson hours
The Z-route normally requires 800 hours of Dutch and society lessons. People with an asylum residence permit and eligible family members must also complete 800 participation hours. A2 (basic Dutch for routine tasks) language exams are optional. The route ends with a municipal interview and a certificate. You normally have three years to finish.
Which rules apply to the Z-route?
The Zelfredzaamheidsroute, called the Z-route, is a learning route under Wet inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Act 2021). It focuses on daily independence and A1 (basic Dutch for simple everyday tasks). DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) describes these routes in DUO’s overview of the three learning routes (External site, opens in a new tab).
You arrange the Z-route with your gemeente (municipality). Your persoonlijk plan inburgering en participatie (PIP, personal integration and participation plan) records your route and requirements.
You must complete the participatieverklaringstraject (PVT, participation declaration programme) and Module Arbeidsmarkt en Participatie (MAP, labour market and participation module), unless exempt. DUO’s knowledge-exam page (External site, opens in a new tab) explains these parts.
Who decides your route?
Your gemeente assigns the Z-route after the brede intake (initial assessment). The assessment looks at your learning ability, education, work experience, health, family situation and daily independence. The Z-route is for people who must integrate. It applies when the B1-route (route towards B1, independent everyday Dutch) or onderwijsroute (education route) is too difficult within the integration period.
After the assessment, your gemeente writes your PIP. If it says Z-route, ask your gemeente to explain your hours, activities, support and review dates. For the rules across all three routes, see Wet inburgering 2021: routes and requirements.
How do the three routes compare?
The routes focus on different goals: B1 Dutch, further education, or everyday Dutch and participation.
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| Route | Goal | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| B1-route | Pass B1 Dutch exams where possible, plus the other integration parts. | People working towards Dutch for paid work, volunteering and daily life. |
| Onderwijsroute | Prepare for mbo (secondary vocational education), hbo (higher professional education) or university. | Mainly younger newcomers preparing for further education. |
| Z-route | Learn everyday Dutch and take part in society. | People for whom the B1-route or onderwijsroute is too difficult within the integration period. |
For the differences between A1, A2 and B1 Dutch, see Dutch language levels from A1 to B2 (Dutch for more complex topics).
Which lessons and activities count?
The normal Z-route requirement is 800 course hours of Nederlands als tweede taal (NT2, Dutch as a second language) and Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij (KNM, knowledge of Dutch society). Literacy lessons can count too. The Z-route rules in Besluit inburgering 2021 (External site, opens in a new tab) (Civic Integration Decree 2021) set these requirements.
Asielstatushouders (asylum status holders) include people with an asylum residence permit and eligible family members. They must also complete 800 participation hours. These activities build daily independence and help you take part in society. They must take place with other people in a Dutch-speaking setting. Family and other migrants outside this asylum group have no separate 800-hour participation requirement.
PVT and MAP hours count towards the 800 participation hours for asylum status holders. Your PIP shows which parts you must complete and any approved exemptions.
Which earlier school hours can count?
Since 10 July 2025, your gemeente can count certain school hours towards the 800 lesson hours. The education-hour amendment (External site, opens in a new tab) covers Dutch and society lessons from the two years before your PIP onwards. The same rules apply if your PIP was set before 10 July 2025. Your gemeente decides which hours count.
Your gemeente assesses whether further Z-route classroom lessons would improve your Dutch. Earlier education hours can count only for young Z-route participants whose further classroom lessons would add no value. Divosa (association for social-service managers) explains this limit in its guide to counting earlier education hours (External site, opens in a new tab).
Ask about this option if you attended any one of these types of education:
- Praktijkonderwijs (practical secondary education).
- Voortgezet speciaal onderwijs (special secondary education), in a programme leading to work or daytime activities.
- An entreeopleiding (entry-level vocational course).
- An internationale schakelklas (newcomer transition class) preparing you for one of those programmes.
You must have attended these lessons in person for them to count. Online lessons can count if they were delivered digitally because of the coronavirus crisis. Each lesson hour counts once, even if it covered both Dutch and society. Ask your gemeente to confirm which hours qualify. Divosa’s guidance on eligible lesson hours (External site, opens in a new tab) sets out these conditions.
These credits reduce the lesson hours you still need. They leave the 800 participation hours for asylum status holders in place. Ask your gemeente to confirm any credits or adjusted requirements in writing.
Do you have to take exams?
A2 language exams are optional in the Z-route. If you want to take one and your gemeente considers you able to do so, it records that choice in your PIP. You still complete the required lessons, activities and final interview.
Practise Dutch for daily tasks such as phone calls, appointments, school, health care, work, transport and gemeente letters.
If you choose an A2 exam, start with DUO’s official A2 practice exams (External site, opens in a new tab). For extra free practice, use Inburgering.org’s A2 summaries and workbooks.
MAP is the work module under the 2021 Act. Oriëntatie op de Nederlandse Arbeidsmarkt (ONA, orientation on the Dutch labour market) is a separate exam under Wet inburgering 2013 (Civic Integration Act 2013) or for voluntary integration.
How do you arrange ONA exemption after MAP?
Completing MAP can give you an ONA exemption if you want an inburgeringsdiploma (civic integration diploma) at A2 voluntarily. Under the 2021 Act, arrange it through these two steps:
- Tell DUO that you want to earn the A2 inburgeringsdiploma voluntarily.
- After you complete MAP, ask your gemeente to record the date of your MAP eindgesprek (final interview) in your PIP.
DUO then sends an ONA exemption letter within 8 weeks. You do not apply separately for this exemption. These are DUO’s ONA exemption rules after MAP (External site, opens in a new tab).
What do you receive at the end?
You finish the Z-route with an eindgesprek at your gemeente after completing the required parts. You receive an inburgeringscertificaat (civic integration certificate). Your gemeente also handles requests for a copy. DUO’s diploma and certificate page (External site, opens in a new tab) explains the difference between this certificate and an inburgeringsdiploma.
Your Z-route certificate is a possible ground for exemption from the integration requirement for certain stronger residence permits. The Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND, Immigration and Naturalisation Service) (External site, opens in a new tab) decides whether you qualify. For the other permit conditions, see Dutch residence permits: choose the right route.
What is your deadline, and what happens if you miss it?
The standard integration period is three years. Check your dates in Mijn Inburgering (My Integration, DUO’s online portal). Under the 2021 Act, DUO sends your start date after your gemeente sets your PIP.
Asylum status holders must continue their integration. DUO gives them no fine for taking too long. Family and other migrants can receive a fine if they miss the deadline and have no right to extra time. DUO’s fine rules (External site, opens in a new tab) explain this distinction.
A gemeente can separately fine you for failing to cooperate with PIP support or the required activities. This rule also applies to asylum status holders. Article 23 of Wet inburgering 2021 (External site, opens in a new tab) sets out these municipal fines.
Illness, a late course offer from your gemeente, school problems or another serious situation may qualify you for extra time. Ask your gemeente early which DUO extension rules (External site, opens in a new tab) fit your situation. Check when you can apply and start gathering proof now.
For a fine letter, use the inburgering fines guide.
What should you check now?
If your PIP says Z-route, check all of these details with your gemeente:
- Your route, lesson hours, activities and any approved school-hour credits.
- Your PVT and MAP requirements, any optional exams and the final interview.
- Your deadline, support and review dates.
Ask which local activities count as participation. Save attendance records, emails, appointment letters and activity confirmations. If your route is delayed, unclear or does not match your learning ability, contact your gemeente in writing and keep a copy.
If you need a residence permit or want Dutch citizenship, check the certificate rules before applying.
If you risk missing your deadline, check the extra-time rules while gathering proof of the delay.
Official Sources
- Inburgeren.nl (DUO's civic integration website): U gaat inburgeren (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO's public overview of the three learning routes, including the Z-route, A1 level, optional A2 language exams, PVT, MAP and the final conversation.
- Inburgeren.nl: Kennisexamens (knowledge exams) (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO's explanation that ONA is only for Wet inburgering 2013 or voluntary integration. People who must integrate under Wet inburgering 2021 do not take ONA; their PIP says whether they do MAP at the gemeente.
- Inburgeren.nl: Vrijstelling ONA (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO's ONA exemption after MAP: under Wet inburgering 2021, if you want the A2 inburgeringsdiploma voluntarily, DUO sends an exemption letter within 8 weeks.
- Wet inburgering 2021 (External site, opens in a new tab) - The law defining the self-reliance route, the three-year term and the certificate instead of a diploma.
- Besluit inburgering 2021 (External site, opens in a new tab) - Detailed legal rules for the Z-route, PIP, hour norms, final conversation, certificate and route changes.
- Inburgeren.nl: Fines (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO's late-completion fine exception for asylum status holders and the rules for family and other migrants, checked against the Dutch Boete page.
- Inburgeren.nl: Diploma (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO's explanation that the Z-route gives a certificate instead of an inburgeringsdiploma.
- Divosa: Z-route course-hour groups (External site, opens in a new tab) - Explanation of the lesson and participation requirements, including the exception for counting eligible earlier education hours.
- Wet inburgering 2021: original publication (External site, opens in a new tab) - Original legal text for the intake, PIP, three-year term and municipal fines; read alongside current DUO guidance.
- Besluit inburgering 2021: original publication (External site, opens in a new tab) - Original legal text for lesson and participation hours, literacy, optional A2 exams, the final interview and certificate; read with later amendments.
- Besluit inburgering 2021: education-hour amendment (External site, opens in a new tab) - The amendment effective from 10 July 2025 allows the municipality to count eligible school hours towards the Z-route lesson requirement.
- Inburgeren.nl: Boete (fine) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Current Dutch source for the late-completion fine exception and the continuing integration obligation.
- Inburgeren.nl: Extra tijd (extra time) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Situations in which DUO may grant extra time, including illness, municipal delays and school problems.
- Inburgeren.nl: Oefenen (practice) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official A2 practice exams for participants who choose to take optional language exams.
- IND: Inburgering bij sterkere verblijfsvergunning (civic integration for a stronger residence permit) (External site, opens in a new tab) - The Z-route certificate can support exemption from the integration requirement for certain stronger residence permits; IND decides.
- IND: Inburgering voor naturalisatie (civic integration for naturalisation) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Completing the Z-route alone is insufficient for naturalisation; DUO advice may support a waiver after demonstrated effort.
- Gemeente Zwolle: 2026 integration rules (External site, opens in a new tab) - Current municipal policy illustrates the distinction between fines for missing support, PVT or MAP activities, and lesson-attendance fines for asylum status holders.
- Divosa: eligible education hours (External site, opens in a new tab) - Implementation guidance on qualifying lessons, attendance in person, the coronavirus-related online lesson exception and counting each hour once.
- Council of Europe: language level descriptions (External site, opens in a new tab) - Official descriptions of the language levels used in the article.
- Divosa: Over ons (about us) (External site, opens in a new tab) - Divosa's description of its association for managers working in municipal social services.