The Dutch civic integration exam abroad: parts, cost and how to pass

Last checked: 29 October 2026

The Dutch civic integration exam abroad (basisexamen inburgering buitenland) is an A1-level computer test that many people from outside the EU must pass before applying for an MVV, the provisional residence permit. It has three parts: Speaking, Reading and Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNS). It costs €150 in total and you take it at a Dutch embassy or consulate.

Sources: Naar Nederland: practice exams, registering and costs, taking the exam, IND.

More Dutch is not affiliated with DUO, the IND or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Who has to take the exam abroad

You need it if you need an MVV and want to come to the Netherlands for a long-term reason, mostly to live with your partner. The IND also names spiritual counsellors (ind.nl). You pass the exam first, then you or your partner in the Netherlands applies for the MVV and the residence permit together.

You are exempt if, among other things (ind.nl):

• you are under 18, or of state pension age,
• you are a national of an EU or EEA country, Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States or Vatican City,
• you apply for a permit with a temporary purpose, or you join a family member who has one. Partners of highly skilled migrants usually fall under this. See the inburgering exam for highly skilled migrants,
• you join a family member with an asylum residence permit,
• you have a Dutch diploma or certificate from the IND's list, such as the civic integration diploma or the Nt2 state exam diploma.

You ask for an exemption with an appendix to the MVV application. If you cannot pass because of a medical condition or other personal circumstances, you can ask the IND for a dispensation.

The three parts

Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNS)

You see photos and hear a question read aloud slowly. You choose one of two answers. The real exam has 30 questions in 30 minutes (Naar Nederland).

The useful part: all KNS questions and answers are printed in the photo book of the official self-study package (Naar Nederland). If you study the photo book well, you have seen every possible question.

KNS is not the same as KNM. KNM is the 40-question exam you take later in the Netherlands, about daily life here. See what is the KNM exam.

Reading

You read short, simple texts and answer 19 questions in 35 minutes. The practice exam is the same length as the real one, only the questions differ (Naar Nederland).

Speaking

You speak into a microphone. There are 10 questions to answer and 12 sentences to complete, in 30 minutes. People, not the computer, mark this part (Naar Nederland). The full list of Speaking questions and sentences is published in Dutch on the practice page.

If you take all three parts on one day, it takes about 2 hours with breaks (Naar Nederland).

How it works, step by step

1. Check whether you need it on ind.nl, using the exemptions above.
2. Register with DUO online on naarnederland.nl. A paper form is possible, but processing can take up to 10 weeks.
3. Pay €150. With a Dutch bank account you can pay by iDEAL or Wero, otherwise by bank transfer.
4. Wait for the confirmation with your candidate number. It comes within 5 working days.
5. Make an appointment at the embassy or consulate yourself. The confirmation says how.
6. Take the exam. Bring your appointment confirmation, a valid passport and a recent colour passport photo. Your fingerprints are taken at the desk.
7. Get the result within 8 weeks. If you passed everything, add the PDF to the MVV application within 1 year.

You can change the date or place once, up to 24 hours before the exam. Cancel at least 24 hours before to get your money back. If you fail a part, you register and pay again for that part only. Parts you passed stay valid until you pass the whole exam (Naar Nederland, IND).

Taking the exam in India

In India you take the exam at the Dutch embassy in New Delhi. After DUO confirms your payment, you book the appointment by email with the embassy, including your candidate number. If you are not an Indian national, also bring valid proof of your stay in India, such as a residence permit or visa (NetherlandsWorldwide).

For other countries, pick yours on NetherlandsWorldwide. If your country has no Dutch embassy or consulate that offers the exam, you choose the nearest one, and you may need a visa for that country. If you live in the EU, you can take it in the EU, but you have to show you live there (Naar Nederland).

How to prepare

• Use the official self-study package. It is free to download, or €25 to buy with the film, photo book, workbook and e-learning (Naar Nederland). It is available in many languages.
• Do the free practice exams for all three parts. The Reading and Speaking practice exams have the same length as the real ones.
• Practise speaking out loud. Record yourself answering the published Speaking questions and listen back.
• Learn basic words first. A1 means short, simple sentences. Start with the 594 most common Dutch words and the pronouns cheat sheet.

Learn the most common Dutch words for free. The first 10 lessons are free and start with the everyday words you meet at A1.

For the basics of sentence building, read Dutch grammar for beginners.

After you arrive

The exam abroad is only the start. Once you live in the Netherlands, you usually have a duty to integrate and take the inburgering exams here, at A2 or B1 depending on the law and your route. Read inburgering exam A2 or B1 and the full inburgering exam guide.

Frequently asked questions

What level is the Dutch civic integration exam abroad?

A1, the most basic level. You read and speak simple Dutch.

How much does the exam abroad cost?

€150 for the whole exam, or €50 per part if you retake one.

Is KNS the same as KNM?

No. KNS is part of the exam abroad, with 30 photo questions. KNM is a separate exam with 40 questions that you take later in the Netherlands.

How long is the result valid?

1 year. Apply for the MVV within 1 year after passing, or you must do the whole exam again.

Where can I take the exam in India?

At the Dutch embassy in New Delhi. You book by email after DUO has confirmed your payment.

Do Americans need the exam abroad?

No. Nationals of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and a few other countries are exempt.