Integration

What is it?

Learning Dutch is part of civic integration. And you must learn how Dutch people live and work. After that, you take the civic integration exam. If you pass the exam, you are integrated. If you come to live in the Netherlands, you would do well to learn the language quickly, discover Dutch customs and know the written and unwritten rules. Then you will find your way faster and feel more welcome. You will then become part of Dutch society. That is called integration.

The success of your integration must come largely from your own initiative. In addition, the Dutch government imposes obligations on newcomers. The obligation to integrate starts as soon as you receive a residence permit. You fulfill this obligation when you have signed the participation declaration and passed the Inburgeringsexamen.

How does it work?

Compulsory Integration 

Are you obliged to integrate? If so, you will receive a letter from Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO). The letter states the date from which you must integrate. You have 3 years to integrate. This is the integration period.

Do you no longer have the letter? In Mijn Inburgering you can see from when you have to integrate.

Did you have to start civic integration before January 1, 2013? Then this site is not for you. Ask the municipality what you need to do. How can I integrate? You can integrate in several ways.

  • You can take an integration exam. You must pass this exam within 3 years.
  • You can take a state exam in Dutch as a Second Language (NT2). For example, if you have had a good education in your home country. Or if you did secondary school after elementary school (for a number of years).
  • You can follow a vocational training program. If you take intermediate vocational education (mbo) exams and get a diploma, you do not have to take an integration exam.

Integration course search 

You are responsible for choosing a school or course for your integration. On Blik op Werk's website www.ikwilinburgeren.nl you can find schools in your area. Blik op Werk is a quality mark, which indicates the quality of the school. You can check per school how satisfied the students are, how many students have passed the exams and what one hour of lessons costs. If you choose a school with the Blik op Werk quality mark, you can apply for a loan from DUO. With this loan you can pay for the civic integration course and exams.

Integration deadline 

To pass all the exams, you have three years, or five years if you must first become literate (learn to read and write in Dutch script). This is called the integration period. If you pass all the exams on time and you have a permit asylum, you do not have to pay back the loan from DUO. Passing the integration exam is also important if you want to apply for a permanent residence permit or a Dutch passport. If you don't pass the exams within the deadline - and also don't have a good reason why you failed - you can be fined up to 1250 euros.

Extension of integration period 

If, after 300 hours of classes, you think you need more than three years to pass your exams, you can sometimes get an extension of the integration period. You must apply for this at DUO. The municipality, Impuls or your language school can help you with this.

What to do?

Register for the integration exam in My Integration (DUO)

Additional information

Learning Dutch on your own and extra practice 

Taking a course in Dutch is not mandatory. But for your integration, it is important to practice the language a lot. In addition, you must demonstrate to the municipality that you are actively engaged in learning the language. If you want to practice the language yourself, there are the following possibilities:

  • at the library (in cooperation with the Taalhuis) you can go to practice the Dutch language, but also for meetings and other activities that contribute to your integration;
  • workshops provided by the municipality and/or Impuls;
  • A language coach from Impuls can guide you;
  • you yourself can ask neighbors or acquaintances to practice Dutch regularly;
  • you can do volunteer work; you will gain work experience and learn the language.

Participation Statement

Values and norms vary from country to country. As a new resident in the Netherlands, you will have to deal with Dutch values and norms, which are often different from what you were used to. The Dutch constitution and other laws establish values and norms, such as:

  • freedom of belief and expression;
  • everyone is equal, whether you are male, female, straight, gay, lesbian, or transgender;
  • you may not discriminate and others may not discriminate against you;
  • you may decide who you marry.

These topics are discussed during one or more workshops of the participation process. You do not have to find your own school for this; you will receive an invitation from the municipality or the person giving the workshops. At the end of these lessons you sign the participation statement. This must be done within one year after you have received your residence permit. The participation declaration is an obligatory part of the integration process. If you have a regular residence permit you have to pay 150 euros for this; if you have an asylum residence permit the municipality pays.