A newcomer and her partner looking together at papers from the municipality and DUO on the kitchen table

Inburgering obligation after family migration: what you need to arrange

You have just moved to the Netherlands to live with your partner or family. The moving boxes are not unpacked yet, or you already get a letter from the municipality about inburgering. The question that comes up right away: what exactly do I need to arrange now? In this guide you will read step by step what the inburgering obligation after family migration means, which law applies to you and what you can do this week.

The inburgeringsplicht gezinsmigrant is not a vague idea: you have a legal duty to learn Dutch and to gain knowledge of Dutch society. Depending on when you became subject to the inburgering obligation, you fall under the Wet inburgering 2013 or under the Wet inburgering 2021. The municipality where you live guides you, DUO arranges exams and loans, and IND decides about residence permits and naturalisation. If you do not arrange something on time, that can have consequences for your stay or for naturalisation.

This guide does not give you empty promises, but it does give you clear steps, example sentences and checklists. You will learn which route suits you, how to contact the municipality, what you can find at DUO and how to practise reading, listening, writing and speaking. Grab a cup of tea, because we will go through it calmly.

What exactly is the inburgering obligation after family migration?

As a family migrant you come to the Netherlands for your partner, parent or child. Your residence permit is often linked to that family member. From the moment you live in the Netherlands and become subject to the inburgering obligation, you must learn Dutch and take exams within a certain period. The government wants you to be able to participate independently: do groceries, go to the GP, look for work and talk with the municipality.

The inburgeringsplicht gezinsmigrant means concretely that you must pass language exams and a knowledge exam about Dutch society. Which level you must reach depends on the law that applies to you. If you became subject to the inburgering obligation before 1 January 2022, you fall under the Wet inburgering 2013. If you became subject to the inburgering obligation from 1 January 2022, you fall under the Wet inburgering 2021. The letters from the municipality state which law applies to you.

You are not alone. The municipality has a task to guide you, especially under the Wet inburgering 2021. You get a plan, sometimes a language school, and explanation about the exams. DUO is the government desk for inburgering exams, registration and loans. IND is about your residence permit and later about naturalisation. So it is important to know who is responsible for what, so that you do not go to the wrong desk.

Wet inburgering 2013 or Wet inburgering 2021: which applies to you?

The date on which you became subject to the inburgering obligation is decisive. Did that happen before 1 January 2022? Then you fall under the Wet inburgering 2013. You must then pass the language exams at level A2 or higher within 3 years, plus the KNM exam. Depending on when your obligation started, ONA (Orientation on the Dutch Labour Market) and the participation declaration may also be required. You arrange your exams via DUO and the municipality can refer you to language provision.

Did you become subject to the inburgering obligation from 1 January 2022? Then you fall under the Wet inburgering 2021. This law has three routes: the B1 route, the education route and the self-reliance route (Z route). The B1 route means that you must pass the language exams at level B1 within 3 years, plus the KNM exam. The municipality also arranges the participation declaration trajectory (PVT) and the Labour Market & Participation Module (MAP). The education route is mainly for young people who are following a course; it includes language at B1 or higher. The Z route is for people for whom the other routes are too difficult; there the level is A1.

Note: someone on the B1 route who has followed at least 600 hours of language lessons and still does not reach B1 can discuss with the municipality whether scaling down to A2 is possible. That is officially called 'scaling down'. Never say that all inburgering is A2, and also never that everything is B1. It depends on your law, your route and what the municipality agrees with you.

What you need to arrange after family migration: the first steps

As soon as you live in the Netherlands, you usually get a letter from the municipality about inburgering. It states whether you are subject to the inburgering obligation and which law applies to you. It is wise to keep that letter well and to make an appointment with the inburgering department of your municipality right away. Take your residence permit, your BSN and your DigiD with you. Without DigiD you cannot arrange many things, so apply for it immediately if you do not have it yet.

Under the Wet inburgering 2021 you get a personal plan and language provision. The municipality looks at your situation: are you already working, do you have children, what education have you had? On that basis the municipality determines the route together with you. Under the Wet inburgering 2013 you must apply for your exams yourself at DUO, but the municipality can help you with language provision and information. In both cases: do not wait too long to register, because the clock is ticking.

You also need to think about your residence permit. As a family migrant you often have a permit for a temporary period. For a permanent residence permit or naturalisation you usually must meet the inburgering requirement. IND assesses that. Always check the current requirements on the IND website, because rules can change. A common mistake is thinking that you only need to do something after 5 years. Your inburgering obligation often starts much earlier.

The language exams: reading, listening, writing and speaking

The language exams consist of four skills: reading, listening, writing and speaking. Under the Wet inburgering 2013 you pass them at level A2 or higher. On the B1 route of the Wet inburgering 2021 you pass them at level B1. On the Z route the level is A1. The Staatsexamen NT2 is a separate path: Programme I (B1) and Programme II (B2) are state exams that you can apply for at DUO. Programme I (B1) can count towards the language route. Check this with DUO, IND or your municipality. Programme II (B2) is a higher level and is sometimes required for courses or work.

The KNM exam is separate from the language exams. KNM is a knowledge exam about Dutch society and is taken on the computer. The questions are in simple Dutch at A2 level. The eight themes are work and income, manners and values, housing, health and care, history and geography, agencies, government and rule of law, and education and upbringing. You can prepare well with practice material, but the official content is on inburgeren.nl.

DUO organises the inburgering exams and the loans. For the Staatsexamen NT2 the registration goes through DUO, but the content of the exam is set by CvTE. The municipality guides people under the Wet inburgering 2021. IND decides about residence permits and naturalisation. Never make up costs, number of questions, fees or pass scores yourself: they can change. Always check with DUO or Mijn Inburgering.

KNM and participation: what else is involved?

In addition to the language exams you will deal with KNM. This exam tests whether you know how the Netherlands works: from the GP to the Tax Administration, from the municipality to the rule of law. The questions are in Dutch at A2 level, so you do not need a high language level, but you do need to know the words. Practise with the eight themes and read news in simple Dutch.

Under the Wet inburgering 2021 the B1 route also includes the participation declaration trajectory (PVT) and the Labour Market & Participation Module (MAP). The municipality arranges these parts. You learn about Dutch values and norms and you orient yourself on the labour market. Under the Wet inburgering 2013 ONA may be required, depending on when your obligation started. ONA means Orientation on the Dutch Labour Market: you learn how to look for work and apply.

The participation declaration is not an exam but a trajectory in which you get explanation about rights and duties in the Netherlands. You ultimately sign a declaration. The municipality tells you exactly what you need to do. Make sure you attend all meetings, otherwise your inburgering can be delayed.

Practical example sentences and situations

At the municipality: 'I received a letter about inburgering. Can you tell me which law applies to me?'
At DUO: 'I want to register for the inburgering exam. What steps do I need to take?'
At the GP: 'I would like to make an appointment. I have pain in my chest.'
At Albert Heijn: 'Where can I find the milk? And do you also have whole milk?'
On public transport: 'Do I need to check in with this card? How does the OV-chipkaart work?'
At work: 'I can start at 9 o'clock. Is that okay? I would like to work more hours.'
With DigiD: 'I cannot log in. My password does not work. Can you help me?'
To your child's school: 'My daughter is sick. I want to report her sick. What should I do?'

Step-by-step plan (what you do this week)

Step 1: Find the letter from the municipality about inburgering. Read which law and which date are in it. Keep everything in a folder.
Step 2: Make an appointment with the inburgering department of your municipality. Take your residence permit, BSN and DigiD with you.
Step 3: Ask DUO or Mijn Inburgering which exams you need to do and when you can register.
Step 4: Arrange your DigiD if you do not have it yet. Without DigiD you cannot arrange many online matters.
Step 5: See which language school or language course the municipality offers. Register and go to the lessons.
Step 6: Make a practice plan: 20 minutes of reading, listening, writing or speaking every day. Use practice exams from DUO or an app.

Common mistakes (and what works instead)

Mistake: thinking you only need to do something after 5 years. Fix: your inburgering obligation often starts right away. Check the date in your letter.
Mistake: waiting with DigiD. Fix: apply for DigiD immediately, because without it you cannot log in at DUO or the municipality.
Mistake: only learning grammar and never speaking. Fix: practise out loud every day, even if you feel insecure.
Mistake: not reading the letters from the municipality. Fix: open all mail and take a photo of important papers.
Mistake: forgetting that KNM is a separate exam. Fix: plan KNM alongside the language exams and practise the eight themes.
Mistake: making up fees or dates yourself. Fix: always check with DUO, IND or the municipality, because they can change.

Mini checklist

I know which law applies to me (Wet inburgering 2013 or 2021).
I have made an appointment with the municipality about my inburgering.
I have a DigiD and can log in at DUO or Mijn Inburgering.
I know which exams I need to do: language (A2, B1 or A1) and KNM.
I have a practice plan and practise at least a few times per week.

How to practise this (Dutch Fluency + more)

Practising in exam style means: training reading, listening, writing and speaking separately. On Dutch Fluency NT2 you will find exercises that resemble the real work, without being official exam questions. For example, you can take a reading text about the GP or the municipality and then answer questions. For listening you can use fragments about doing groceries or a conversation at the counter. For writing you practise short messages to the municipality or to your child's school. For speaking you record yourself and listen back.

A good habit is to practise 20 minutes every day. Use the app or website of Dutch Fluency NT2 to see where you stand. You do not have to be perfect; you need to show that you can manage in daily life. By regularly practising with recognisable situations you become more confident, and that helps with both the exam and real life.

Oefen met inburgering A2 →

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Frequently asked questions

What exactly does the inburgering obligation after family migration involve?

You must learn Dutch and take exams at the level that belongs to your law. You must also pass the KNM exam. The municipality guides you and DUO arranges the exams. You must register within the period and pass the exams.

Which level do I need to reach: A2 or B1?

That depends on your law and route. Under the Wet inburgering 2013 it is A2 or higher. On the B1 route of the Wet inburgering 2021 it is B1. On the Z route it is A1. Sometimes the municipality can scale down to A2 if you have followed at least 600 hours of lessons and do not reach B1.

Is the Staatsexamen NT2 the same as the inburgering exam?

No, they are separate exams. The Staatsexamen NT2 has Programme I (B1) and Programme II (B2). The inburgering exam has language exams at A2 or B1, depending on your law, plus the KNM exam. The Staatsexamen NT2 can count towards the language route, but does not replace KNM.

Do I need to do KNM if I am a family migrant?

Yes, KNM is part of the inburgering. It is a knowledge exam about Dutch society with questions at A2 level. You take it on the computer. The eight themes are work, housing, health, history, agencies and more.

What happens if I do not complete inburgering on time?

That can have consequences for your residence permit or for naturalisation. The municipality can address you about your obligation. Check with DUO, IND or your municipality what applies to you. The exact rules and amounts differ and can change. So always check with DUO, IND or the municipality what applies to you.

Where do I ask for help if I cannot manage alone?

You can go to the inburgering department of your municipality. They help you with the plan, language provision and sometimes with referrals. DUO helps with exams and loans. IND is about residence and naturalisation. Feel free to ask for explanation in simple Dutch.

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