Integration

Are you new to the Netherlands? You may need to integrate. This means learning about life in the Netherlands. You will also learn Dutch. The municipality will help you with this.

Call: 045-5604090

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Please note

The rules below apply from January 1, 2022. Did you start the integration process before January 1, 2022? Then different rules apply to you.

Approach

Integration works as follows:

You will receive an invitation from the municipality for the comprehensive intake.
The municipality will draw up a personal integration and participation plan (PIP) for you.
The municipality monitors your integration progress. Please adhere to the agreements.
At the end, you will take an exam. Or you will have a final interview with the municipality.

Costs

You pay for the integration course and exam yourself. For the costs, seeInburgeren.nl. Are you unable to pay for the course and exam?You can borrow money from DUO.

Are you a refugee and do you have a residence permit? Then the municipality will pay for your lessons. The municipality will also pay for the first two attempts at each exam.

Description

Are you required to participate in an integration program? If so, you will receive a letter from the Education Executive Agency (DUO). You will also receive an invitation from the municipality for a comprehensive intake interview. The comprehensive intake interview consists of:

a test to determine what you already know
a conversation about your situation

The municipality will then draw up a plan setting out how you should integrate. This is called the personal integration and participation plan (PIP). It contains:

which classes you will take
what assistance you can receive
how to complete the integration program. This involves an exam or a final interview.

Are you going to integrate? Then you must also sign the participation declaration. The participation declaration states how we want to interact with each other in the Netherlands. Read more about the participation declaration on DUO.nl.

You can also integrate voluntarily. For example, if you want to become a Dutch citizen. Read more about voluntary integration at IND.nl.

The integration exam consists of:

The subjects reading, listening, writing, and speaking at language level B1
Kennis Nederlandse Maatschappij (KNM). Here you will learn about Dutch customs, history, and culture. For example, you will learn who governs the country. You will also learn how people in the Netherlands interact with each other and deal with situations. For example: what should you do if you are sick? What do you do with your trash?
Labor Market and Participation Module (MAP). You will attend group meetings at the municipality. During these meetings, you will learn about working in the Netherlands. You will learn about the different types of professions and what skills you need to have in the Netherlands. You will also learn how to apply for a job in the Netherlands, for example by writing a letter and attending an interview. The goal is for you to be able to find a job on your own.
Participation declaration. You will attend a two-day workshop at the municipality. Here you will learn about Dutch core values, such as equality, freedom, solidarity, and participating in society. Afterward, you will sign the participation declaration.

The municipality also organizes workshops. We will discuss with you which workshops you would like to attend.

Requirements

You do not need to integrate in the following situations:

You have a Dutch passport.
You are from an EU/EEA country, or Switzerland.
You are under 18 or old enough to retire.
You lived in the Netherlands for 8 years or more when you were of school age.
You are coming to the Netherlands temporarily to study or work.

Are you required to integrate, but are unable to do so? In the following situations, you may not be required to integrate:

You have a serious illness or disability.
Due to personal circumstances, it is difficult for you to integrate.

Are you already familiar with the Dutch language and culture? In the following situations, you may not need to integrate:

You speak Dutch well.
You have been living in the Netherlands for 10 years or longer.
You have been working in the Netherlands for 5 years or longer, or you have been doing volunteer work here for 5 years or longer.
You are following a course of study in the Netherlands or you have obtained a diploma from a Dutch educational institution. Read more about this at Inburgeren.nl.

Term

You must integrate within three years. This three-year period begins when your PIP is established. You can sometimes obtain an extension. For example, if there is a waiting list at the integration school, or if you are ill. Read more about extending the period at Inburgeren.nl.