Do inburgering exams expire? How long your results stay valid
Last checked: 29 October 2026
No, your integration diploma does not expire. DUO's diploma pages give no end date, you can download the digital diploma again at any time, and the IND still accepts certificates from before 2007 for naturalisation. Parts you passed keep counting while you finish the rest. The one exception is the exam abroad: its result is valid for 1 year.
| What you have | Does it expire? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Integration diploma (2013 or 2021 law) | No end date given | inburgeren.nl |
| A part you passed, while you finish the rest | Still counts; you only register again for a failed part | inburgeren.nl |
| Nt2 state exam diploma or certificate (B1, B2) | No end date given; in Mijn diploma's if passed since 2011 | duo.nl |
| Civic Integration Exam Abroad (for an MVV) | Yes, valid for 1 year | ind.nl |
| Your integration period | Not the exam, but your deadline: 3 years | inburgeren.nl |
More Dutch is not affiliated with DUO or the IND. We checked the official pages linked here on the date at the top.
Your integration diploma has no end date
Once you pass everything, your integration diploma sits in Mijn diploma's. DUO's diploma page tells you how to download it, how to get it on paper and how to replace it, and says nothing about an end date. You can always download the digital diploma again for free (inburgeren.nl).
The clearest sign that it lasts is the IND's own list. For naturalisation, the IND still accepts a Naturalisation Test Certificate from before 1 April 2007, and newcomer integration certificates (WIN) with pass marks set in 2001 (ind.nl). If those still count, a diploma from 2016 or 2023 does too.
The same IND page accepts a civic integration diploma under the 2013 law and under the 2021 law, at A2 or above. So the law you passed under does not make an older diploma worth less for citizenship. More on that in Dutch citizenship requirements.
One thing that can go wrong: a printout
Since 1 January 2026 all integration diplomas are digital (inburgeren.nl). DUO says to use the digital diploma digitally. A printout of it is not valid. If you need paper, request the paper diploma in Mijn Inburgering. It is free once and takes up to 8 weeks. A duplicate of a paper diploma costs €72 (inburgeren.nl).
Parts you already passed
You take each part separately. If you fail one, you only register again for that part. Your results show in Mijn Inburgering (inburgeren.nl). We found no rule that makes a passed part lapse while you work on the rest.
What does run out is time. Under both laws you have 3 years to finish (inburgeren.nl). If you miss that deadline without a valid reason, DUO can fine you, and you still have to finish. The amounts are in the inburgering exam guide.
Nt2 state exam diplomas and certificates
At B1 and B2 you take the Nt2 state exam. Each part you pass gives a certificate, and all four together give a diploma. Everything passed since 1 January 2011 is in Mijn diploma's, where a free digital extract has the same value as the paper certificate or diploma. For results from before 2011 you can request a statement (Verklaring afgelegd examen), which costs €72 (duo.nl).
For naturalisation, an Nt2 diploma for programme I (B1) or II (B2) exempts you from the integration exam (ind.nl). See the Dutch B1 exam for how that exam works.
The exception: the exam abroad lasts 1 year
The Civic Integration Exam Abroad (basisexamen inburgering buitenland) is the exam some partners take at a Dutch embassy before they move here. Its result is valid for 1 year. You must apply for your MVV within 1 year after passing, or you have to take the whole exam again. While you are still working on it, the parts you passed stay valid until you have passed the whole exam (ind.nl).
This 1-year rule is often quoted online as if it applies to the inburgering exam in the Netherlands. It does not. It is only about the exam abroad and the MVV.
What this means in practice
- Passed years ago and now applying for citizenship? Your diploma still works. Download it from Mijn diploma's and send it as a PDF.
- Passed some parts, then life got in the way? Your passed parts still count, but watch your 3-year deadline in Mijn Inburgering.
- Lost your paper diploma? Download the digital one, or order a duplicate for €72.
Still have KNM to do? Try our free KNM practice exam. It is written by us, in Dutch, and follows the official themes. If you passed KNM long ago and want a refresher before a citizenship interview or a job, the KNM chapter guides are a quick read.
Frequently asked questions
Does the inburgering diploma expire?
No. DUO gives no end date, and the IND accepts integration diplomas under both the 2013 and the 2021 law for naturalisation.
How long are inburgering exam results valid?
Passed parts keep counting while you finish the rest. Once you have the diploma, it has no end date. Only the exam abroad has a limit of 1 year.
I passed my exams in 2017. Can I still use them to naturalise?
Yes. A 2013-law diploma at A2 is on the IND's list of accepted documents for naturalisation, with no age limit given.
Do Nt2 certificates expire?
DUO gives no end date. Results since 2011 are in Mijn diploma's, and a digital extract has the same value as the original.
Is the exam abroad valid for 1 year?
Yes. You must apply for the MVV within 1 year after passing it. Otherwise you take the whole exam again.
Can I use a printout of my digital diploma?
No. DUO says a print of the digital diploma is not valid. Share the digital file, or request the paper diploma.