Foreign residents preparing for the Dutch integration exam face different language requirements depending on when their official process began and the type of permit they hold.
While the country has moved toward higher language expectations for new arrivals, the required level for passing the citizenship and residency tests remains divided between A2 and B1.
How the integration laws apply
The rules governing the process are split between two pieces of legislation: the 2013 Civil Integration Act and the updated 2021 law.
Residents who received their official notification to integrate from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service prior to January 1, 2022, remain subject to the older A2 standard across all components.
Those whose formal requirement started after that date generally fall under the updated system, which defaults to the higher B1 level for most newcomers.
The role of local municipalities
Under the current system, local authorities manage individual integration tracks through a mandatory assessment known as the broad intake.
During this evaluation, candidates complete a learning capacity test to help officials determine the most appropriate learning path.
The municipality then drafts a personal plan that usually assigns the participant to the B1 language track, an education route for future students, or a lower-level self-reliance route in specific cases.
Voluntary integration and exceptions
The rules differ for long-term residents who choose to integrate voluntarily, such as those holding standard work visas who are applying for permanent residency or citizenship after five years.
These applicants currently continue to take their exams at the A2 level, as proposed legislative changes to raise their requirement have not been enacted.
Residents can check their specific requirements and deadline schedules directly through the national education agency DUO, which oversees the examination process nationwide.
