The inburgering exam, explained in plain English

The inburgering exam (in Dutch inburgeringsexamen) is the set of tests the Netherlands uses to check that newcomers can manage in Dutch and know how Dutch society works. The word inburgering means "civic integration", so in English you will also see it called the Dutch civic integration exam, the Dutch integration exam or the "inburgeren exam" (after the verb inburgeren, to integrate). They all mean the same set of tests.

It is not one sitting. The inburgering exams are separate tests, one per skill, and you book, pay for and pass each part on its own:

Part	What it tests
Lezen (reading)	Understanding letters, notices, emails and short articles
Luisteren (listening)	Understanding conversations, announcements and short videos
Schrijven (writing)	Filling in forms and writing short practical messages
Spreken (speaking)	Answering questions and describing situations out loud
KNM	Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij: knowledge of Dutch society, work, healthcare, education and government

Depending on which law applies to you, there are also non-exam components: a participation statement (PVT) and a labour-market module (ONA under the 2013 law, MAP under the 2021 law). Our overview of all exam parts has the full details.

Not everyone has to. You are inburgeringsplichtig (obliged to integrate) if you are a non-EU national who moved to the Netherlands for a long stay, for example for family reunification or as a refugee, and you are between 18 and the state pension age. Common groups who are not obliged include:

• EU, EEA and Swiss citizens (and in practice Turkish nationals, through case law);
• people who came on a temporary purpose such as study or many work permits, including highly skilled migrants and usually their partners;
• people who already hold an accepted Dutch diploma or certificate.

If you are obliged, DUO sends you a letter and your status is visible in Mijn Inburgering. If you are not obliged, you may still want to pass the exams voluntarily, because an integration diploma (or an NT2 diploma) is generally needed for permanent residence and for naturalisation. Always confirm your personal situation with DUO or the IND; this page cannot assess individual cases.

The level you need depends on the date your obligation started:

	Wet inburgering 2013	Wet inburgering 2021
Applies if obliged	Before 1 January 2022	On or after 1 January 2022
Language level	A2	Usually B1 (B1-route), sometimes A2 after downscaling
Language exams	DUO inburgering exams	Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I
Extra components	KNM, ONA, PVT for many	KNM, MAP, PVT
Guidance	Mostly yourself	Your municipality, via a personal plan (PIP)

Under the 2021 law your municipality holds a brede intake and writes your PIP, which places you in the B1-route, the onderwijsroute (B1/B2 for further study) or the Z-route (no B1 exams). The PIP is the document that tells you exactly what to do, so read it before you start studying.

For a deeper look at each level, see the A2 exam page and the B1 exam page.

These figures are based on DUO and Staatsexamen NT2 information as of 2026. Formats are adjusted from time to time, so check the official site before your exam date.

Part	A2 (DUO)	B1 (Staatsexamen NT2)
Lezen	25 multiple-choice, 65 min, computer	About 35 multiple-choice on 6 texts, 110 min
Luisteren	25 multiple-choice, 45 min, short videos	About 39 multiple-choice, 90 min, played once
Schrijven	4 tasks, 40 min, pen and paper	About 12 tasks, 100 min, computer, no spellcheck
Spreken	4 parts, about 35 min, computer + headset	16 recorded answers, about 25 min
KNM	40 multiple-choice, 45 min	Same KNM exam for everyone

A paper Van Dale NT2 dictionary is allowed for Lezen and Schrijven, not for the other parts. At A2, a common practice target is about 18 out of 25 for reading and listening; at B1 you need a scale score of 500 per part.

1. Get DigiD. You need it to log in to the official portals. Arrange it early; activation can take several days.
2. Check what you must do in Mijn Inburgering, your DUO letter or your PIP.
3. Book each part separately. A2 exams and KNM are booked in Mijn Inburgering on inburgeren.nl; B1 and B2 Staatsexamen NT2 exams are booked through Mijn DUO.
4. Pay per part. In 2026 an A2 or KNM part costs roughly €50. Fees are indexed, and some people under the 2021 law (for example certain status holders) get attempts paid by the municipality, so check your own costs.
5. Bring valid ID on the day. Without it you cannot sit the exam.

Our guide to registering and exam day walks through the day itself.

Most people who fail do so because of exam technique rather than vocabulary: running out of time in reading, freezing on the speaking recorder, or not answering what a writing task asks. A simple plan works best:

• Start with a diagnostic. Take one timed mock exam per skill to see where you stand.
• Practise your weakest skill most. Short daily sessions beat long weekend sessions.
• Review every mistake. Understanding why an answer is wrong is where progress happens.
• Get feedback on output. Writing and speaking are marked by people on content, coherence, vocabulary, grammar and spelling or pronunciation, so practise against those criteria.
• Do the official DUO practice exams at least once so the screens feel familiar.

Inburgeringklaar is a free, independent practice site. It has practice per part (Lezen, Luisteren, Schrijven, Spreken, KNM), timed mock exams, a mistakes review and AI feedback on your writing and speaking. The AI score is an estimate, not an official result. The 12-week study plan shows how to combine them.