Civic integration: how does it work?

Which law applies to you?

Do you have to integrate from 1 January 2022? Then the Wet inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Act 2021) applies. This page is about that law.

Did you have to integrate before that? Then maybe the old law applies, the Wet inburgering 2013. It has other rules. In Mijn Inburgering on inburgeren.nl you see what applies to you.

Do I have to integrate?

That depends on several things, for example your nationality. DUO sends you a letter about it.

For example, you do not have to integrate if:

• you have the nationality of an EU country, or of Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland
• you are younger than 18, or older than the pension age
• you lived in the Netherlands for 8 years or more when you had to go to school
• you have certain Dutch diplomas or certificates
• you are in the Netherlands for a short time to study or work

Not sure? Read the page of the Dutch government (Rijksoverheid) in the sources below.

How does it start?

1. You get a letter from DUO. It says that you have to integrate. The letter comes when you have a BSN (citizen service number), a residence permit, and are registered at a municipality (gemeente). This can take up to 8 weeks.
2. The municipality invites you for a talk. You also take the learnability test (leerbaarheidstoets, LBT). Together this is called the brede intake.
3. Then the municipality makes a personal plan with you: the PIP (persoonlijk plan inburgering en participatie). It says which learning route you follow and which exams you take.

The three learning routes

• B1 route (B1-route): for paid or volunteer work. You take language exams at level B1 and knowledge exams. Is B1 not possible? After at least 600 hours of lessons you can ask the municipality if the level can be A2.
• Education route (onderwijsroute): mainly for young people who want to go to mbo, hbo or university. You take language exams at level B1 or B2 and knowledge exams.
• Z route (zelfredzaamheidsroute, self-reliance route): when the other routes are too difficult. You learn Dutch at level A1. Exams are not required, but you may take them. You finish with a final talk at the municipality and you get a certificate.

What else is part of it?

• KNM (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij, knowledge of Dutch society). This is part of all learning routes.
• The MAP (Module Arbeidsmarkt en Participatie, labour market and participation), in the B1 route and the Z route. You do it at your municipality. It is about working and looking for work in the Netherlands.
• The participation statement (participatieverklaring, PVT). You sign the statement. Under the Wet inburgering 2021 you have 3 years for this.

How much time do you have?

You have 3 years to integrate. In Mijn Inburgering on inburgeren.nl you see from when you have to integrate.

Who pays?

Are you a status holder (statushouder)? Then the government pays for your integration. Are you a family migrant or another migrant? Then you pay for your integration yourself. The amounts are on inburgeren.nl.

Official practice exams

DUO has practice exams for reading, listening, writing, speaking and KNM. You find them on inburgeren.nl. It is best to take them on a computer.

• Practice exams by DUO on inburgeren.nl (opens in a new tab)