Who is this guide for?
- You or your partner are applying for a Dutch MVV (entry visa).
- You want to know exactly what is tested on the basic integration exam.
- You are looking for the official, free preparation materials.
What is the Basic Civic Integration Exam Abroad?
The Basic Civic Integration Exam Abroad (Basisexamen inburgering in het buitenland) is a language and culture test. It is primarily required for foreign nationals who need a provisional residence permit (MVV) to enter the Netherlands for family reunification.
Language level: the Reading and Speaking parts test simple Dutch at A1 level. The third part is Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNS).
The 3 Exam Parts
You must pass all three components to complete the exam successfully. The three parts are:
- 1. Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNS)This part tests your basic knowledge of the Netherlands, such as geography, history, and how society works. You will look at pictures on a computer and answer multiple-choice questions.
- 2. Reading Skills (Leesvaardigheid)You will read short, simple Dutch texts on a computer and answer multiple-choice questions about them. You must also demonstrate that you can read and understand basic words.
- 3. Speaking Skills (Spreekvaardigheid)You will watch videos on a computer, listen to questions, and speak your answers into a microphone. You must also be able to complete short sentences.
How to Prepare (For Free)
You do not need to pay for expensive language courses if you are comfortable studying independently. The Dutch government provides the official study package, called Naar Nederland, entirely for free.
The 100% free digital package includes:
- The KNS film (required for the Knowledge of Dutch Society part).
- Digital workbooks, manuals, and a photo book.
- Audio files to practice pronunciation.
- An online practice program.
Note: You can download these files for free on the official naarnederland.nlwebsite. They also sell a physical box with USB sticks and printed books for €25, but buying the physical box is completely optional.
Costs and Registration Flow
The current official price is €150 for the full exam, or €50 for one exam part. If you fail one part, you only need to register and pay again for that part.
The official process is to register first and then arrange the exam appointment:
- Register: Register for the Civic Integration Exam Abroad with DUO and pay for the exam parts you are taking.
- Arrange the appointment: After registration, contact the Dutch representation or exam location for the country where you will take the exam.
- Take the exam: Bring the required appointment confirmation, passport and passport photo to the exam location.
After the exam
DUO sends the result within 8 weeks. A passed individual exam part remains valid, but once you have passed all three parts you have 1 year to submit the MVV application. If you wait longer than one year, you must pass the complete basic exam again.
Exemptions
Not everyone coming to the Netherlands has to take this exam. Not everyone who needs an MVV has to take this exam either. The IND has several exemptions, including exemptions based on nationality, age, previous education, and certain residence purposes (such as partners of Highly Skilled Migrants).
Check if you are exempt
Because immigration rules are very specific, we highly recommend reading the exemptions section in our Family Reunification Guide or checking your exact situation on the IND website before paying for an exam.