Dutch civic integration exam abroad: the A1 exam for your MVV

The Dutch civic integration exam abroad, officially the basisexamen inburgering buitenland and in English often called the Dutch basic civic integration exam, is a short exam at A1 level. It checks that you have a basic start in Dutch and know some essentials about life in the Netherlands before you move there.

It is not the same as the inburgering exam you take after arriving. The exam abroad is the first step; once you live in the Netherlands, you may still have to complete the full civic integration process at A2 or B1. See the main inburgering exam guide for that stage.

The Dutch civic integration exam for an MVV (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf, the long-stay entry visa) mainly applies to people who move to the Netherlands to live with a partner or family member and who need an MVV. You must pass it before your sponsor (referent) applies for the MVV and residence permit.

Many people are exempt, for example:

• people who do not need an MVV, such as EU/EEA and Swiss citizens and nationals of certain other countries;
• people coming for a temporary purpose such as study, or for work under schemes like the highly skilled migrant route, and usually their family members;
• people under 18 or of state pension age;
• people who can show a qualifying Dutch diploma.

A waiver may also be possible for medical reasons or other serious circumstances. Exemption lists change and depend on your exact situation, so check the IND website before you register and pay.

The exam is taken on a computer at the embassy or consulate. The level is A1, which is about the first few months of learning a language: introducing yourself, numbers, days, simple questions and answers. That is why people searching for inburgering A1 usually mean this exam.

Exact numbers of questions and timings for Lezen and Spreken are explained in the official Naar Nederland materials; check there for the current version before your exam.

1. Check that you need the exam on the IND website (see exemptions above).
2. Register with DUO through the Naar Nederland website and pay the fee. At the time of writing the full exam cost around €150, with separate prices for retaking single parts; fees can change.
3. Wait for DUO's payment confirmation, which includes your candidate number. This normally arrives within a few days.
4. Book an appointment at the Dutch embassy or consulate that offers the exam for your country, using your candidate number. The embassy's page on the Dutch government's Nederland Wereldwijd website explains how.
5. On the day, bring a valid passport, your appointment confirmation and the other documents the embassy asks for (often a recent passport photo, and proof of legal residence if you take the exam outside your country of nationality).
6. Wait for the result. DUO sends it, typically within about 8 weeks.
7. Apply for the MVV in time. A pass is valid for a limited period (one year at the time of writing) within which the MVV application must be submitted.

The process is the same everywhere: register and pay through DUO, then book with the embassy. Only the location and the contact details differ.

If you search for the Dutch civic integration exam in the Philippines or the Dutch civic integration exam in India, the authoritative source is the Nederland Wereldwijd page for that country, reached via naarnederland.nl. Locations and booking procedures can change, and waiting times for appointments differ per embassy, so book early. If you live in another country than your nationality, you can usually take the exam where you legally reside, with proof of residence.

The official preparation is the Naar Nederland self-study package, available in many languages. It includes the film about life in the Netherlands and the photo material behind the KNS questions, plus language exercises. Use it as your core material.

A practical plan:

• KNS: study the official photo material until you recognise every image and know the answer. Many people find this part the most predictable.
• Lezen: learn the most common everyday words (family, work, housing, time, numbers) and practise reading short messages slowly and carefully.
• Spreken: speak out loud every day. Practise answering simple questions in full sentences and repeating sentences with correct word order.
• Practise under time pressure at least once before the exam.

Inburgeringklaar focuses on the exams you take after arriving in the Netherlands (A2, B1 and KNM). For the exam abroad, naarnederland.nl is the right starting point. Once you have arrived, you can continue with free practice per part and KNM practice to build on your A1 foundation.