What is the inburgering exam? A plain definition
Last checked: 29 October 2026
The inburgering exam (inburgeringsexamen) is the Dutch civic integration exam. It checks that you can speak, read, write and understand basic Dutch and that you know how daily life in the Netherlands works. DUO runs it. Passing it ends your duty to integrate and gives you the diploma you need for permanent residence or Dutch citizenship.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Dutch name | Inburgeringsexamen |
| English names | Civic integration exam, integration exam, naturalisation test |
| Who runs it | DUO (inburgeren.nl) |
| What it tests | Dutch (reading, listening, writing, speaking) and knowledge of Dutch society (KNM) |
| Level | A2 under the 2013 law, usually B1 under the 2021 law |
| What you get | An integration diploma, digital since 1 January 2026 (inburgeren.nl) |
More Dutch is not affiliated with DUO. This page is the short definition. For parts, costs and booking, read the inburgering exam guide.
What the word inburgering means
Inburgeren means "to become part of society", roughly "to settle in as a citizen". The noun is inburgering. So the inburgeringsexamen is the exam that shows you have done that: you can manage in Dutch and you know how things work here.
You will see three English names for it. They all mean the same exam:
- Civic integration exam: the name DUO uses in English.
- Integration exam or Dutch integration exam: the short form. Our page on the Dutch integration exam covers who has to take it.
- Naturalisation test: the name the IND uses when you take the exam to become Dutch (ind.nl).
What the exam is for
People take the inburgering exam for one of three reasons:
- You have a duty to integrate. DUO sends you a letter, and you have 3 years to finish (inburgeren.nl).
- You want a stronger residence permit, such as permanent residence. The integration diploma is one of the conditions (inburgeren.nl).
- You want to become Dutch. To naturalise you need the integration diploma at A2 or higher, or an exemption (ind.nl).
What is in it, in one paragraph
You take four language exams (Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking) and KNM, the exam about Dutch society. Depending on your law you also do MAP or ONA, two programmes about work and participation, and the participation statement (PVT). You book and pass each part separately. The full list per law is in the inburgering exam guide.
What the inburgering exam is not
People mix it up with a few other exams. These are different:
| Exam | How it differs |
|---|---|
| Civic Integration Exam Abroad (basisexamen inburgering buitenland) | Taken at a Dutch embassy before you move here, at A1, to get an MVV visa (ind.nl) |
| Nt2 state exam (Staatsexamen Nt2) | A separate language exam at B1 or B2. On the B1 route, its language parts are what you take as your inburgering language exams (inburgeren.nl) |
| A separate citizenship test | Does not exist. The naturalisation test is the inburgering exam. See the Dutch citizenship test |
Which law you fall under
There are two laws, and they change the level and the parts:
- Wet inburgering 2013: if your duty started before 1 January 2022. You arrange it yourself, at A2.
- Wet inburgering 2021: if your duty started on or after 1 January 2022. Your municipality makes a plan with you, and the level is usually B1.
Log in to Mijn Inburgering with DigiD to see which law, which parts and which deadline apply to you. Not sure which level that means? See Dutch language exam levels.
A first step
KNM is the one part everyone takes, under both laws. A quick way to see where you stand is our free KNM practice exam. The questions are written by us, in Dutch, and follow the official themes. Then read how to pass the inburgering exam for a study plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the inburgering exam the same as the civic integration exam?
Yes. Inburgeringsexamen is the Dutch name, civic integration exam is the English name DUO uses. Integration exam and naturalisation test mean the same exam too.
Who has to take the inburgering exam?
Most people from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland who come to live in the Netherlands for a longer period. DUO tells you by letter. Others take it voluntarily, for example to naturalise.
Is the inburgering exam in English?
No. All parts are in Dutch, because the exam tests your Dutch. Explanations and instructions on inburgeren.nl are available in English.
Is the inburgering exam hard?
At A2 most people pass with steady practice. The hardest part is often the format and the time limit, not the content. DUO's free practice exams help with both.
What do I get when I pass?
A digital integration diploma in Mijn diploma's. You can share it with the IND, for example when you apply to naturalise. A paper copy is free once.