If preparing for the Dutch civic integration exam abroad (inburgering) is one half of the job, the other half is managing the process properly: when do you register, how do you pay the fee, who books the appointment, when do the results arrive and how long do you have for your MVV application? In this article we walk through the whole process from start to finish, step by step, using only the rules published on the official preparation site. At the end you will find a checklist, a timeline and the answers to the most common questions.

Source note: The fees, time limits and rules in this article are taken from the official preparation site naarnederland.nl (naarnederland.nl, checked on 8 October 2026). Rules can change; check the same site once more before you apply. If you do not yet know what the exam is and which parts it has, read the civic integration exam guide first.

First: do you really have to take the exam?

The exam is for people who need an MVV (the provisional residence permit visa) to settle in the Netherlands long term. Check whether you need an MVV, and the rules on exemption (vrijstelling) and being excused from the exam on medical grounds (ontheffing), on the website of the Dutch immigration service IND: ind.nl. For these questions, trust IND directly and no other site; situations differ from person to person.

If you do have to take the exam, the process consists of the following seven steps.

The process step by step

1. Registration: DUO's digital form

You register for the exam with DUO. You reach the digital application form through the "Aanmelden voor het examen" link on naarnederland.nl. If you cannot use the digital form, you can call DUO on +31 50 599 96 00 and ask for a paper form.

When registering, you state which parts you will take: all three, or only the part you still need (see the question "what if I fail one part?" below).

2. Fee: €50 per part

The exam fee is €50 per part, €150 for all three parts. Payment is made from a bank account in the Netherlands via iDeal or Wero. If you do not have a Dutch bank account, payment by bank transfer is possible on request; you need to indicate this when registering.

Tip: Most candidates have the payment made through their spouse or partner in the Netherlands. Make sure your registration details (name, passport number, date of birth) match your passport exactly; on exam day you will check in at the desk with that same passport.

3. Confirmation and candidate number: 5 working days

Once your registration and payment have been processed, DUO sends you a confirmation within 5 working days. It contains your candidate number and the instructions you need to follow to book your appointment. Keep the confirmation; you will need this number throughout the process.

4. Appointment: embassy or consulate, booked by you

The exam takes place at the Dutch embassy or consulate general, on a computer. The appointment is booked not by DUO but by you: following the instructions in the confirmation letter, you make an appointment with the embassy or consulate.

Appointment rules:

The exam date and the exam location (which mission) can each be changed once; for both, the deadline is 24 hours before the exam.
If you cancel at least 24 hours before the exam, the fee is refunded within 6 weeks.
No changes or cancellations are possible within the last 24 hours.

5. Exam day: passport, fingerprints, computer

On exam day you must have your passport with you. You check in at the desk, your fingerprints are taken and then you proceed to the exam. All three parts (KNS, Lezen, Spreken) are taken in the same sitting, on a computer; the total duration is about 2 hours. Your Spreken answers are recorded and scored by human assessors.

Briefly, the three parts are: KNS (Knowledge of Dutch Society) tests what you know about Dutch society, Lezen (reading) tests whether you understand short Dutch texts, and Spreken (speaking) tests whether you can answer simple questions out loud. Each part has its own detailed preparation guide: KNS, Lezen and Spreken.

To see exam day hour by hour, read the exam day guide; to experience in advance what the exam screens look like, try the real exam simulation.

6. Results: within 8 weeks at the latest

DUO sends the results by email or letter, at the latest 8 weeks after the exam. The result document you will use for your MVV application arrives as a PDF.

The pass rule: you must score at least 6 in every part and have passed all three parts. If you scored below 6 in one part, you retake only that part.

7. MVV application: within 1 year

The parts you have passed stay valid indefinitely. But once you have passed all three parts, the MVV application must be made within 1 year. If that period passes, you have to take the entire exam again. The MVV application itself and its other requirements (income, housing, documents) are IND's domain: ind.nl.

Checklist

Stage	What to do	Done
Before start	Check at ind.nl whether you need an MVV	☐
Before start	Make sure your passport is valid	☐
Registration	naarnederland.nl → "Aanmelden voor het examen", fill in the DUO form	☐
Registration	Choose the parts (all three or the missing part)	☐
Payment	€50 per part; iDeal or Wero, or request a bank transfer if needed	☐
Confirmation	Keep the confirmation and candidate number that arrive within 5 working days	☐
Appointment	Book the embassy/consulate appointment yourself using the instructions in the confirmation	☐
Before exam	Date and location final? Deadline for changes: 24 hours before	☐
Exam day	Passport with you; check-in and fingerprints at the desk	☐
Result	Email/letter within 8 weeks; keep the PDF	☐
MVV	Apply within 1 year of passing all three parts	☐

Timeline

The durations are the upper limits on the official site; yours may be shorter.

When	What happens
Today	You fill in the DUO form and make the payment
+5 working days	Confirmation and candidate number arrive
You decide	You book the embassy/consulate appointment
24 hours before the appointment	Deadline for changing the date/location or cancelling
Exam day	Passport, fingerprints, check-in at the desk; three parts, about 2 hours
+8 weeks at the latest	Result by email or letter, with the PDF
1 year after the result	Deadline for the MVV application

Planning tip: Once you add up the confirmation (5 working days), the appointment and the result (up to 8 weeks), you will see that several months can pass between registration and result. Start preparing today and register the moment you feel ready. For a ready-made schedule, see the 30-day study plan.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take just one part?

The fee is calculated per part (€50), and when you fail a part you retake only that part. If you are taking the exam for the first time, you take all three parts in one sitting; that is the most practical route, because you need to have passed all three for the MVV. You choose which parts to take when you register.

Can I change the exam date?

Yes, once, at the latest 24 hours before the exam. In the same way, you can change the exam location once. No changes are possible within the last 24 hours.

What happens if I fail one part?

The parts you passed stay valid; you register again only for the part you failed and pay the fee for that part (€50) again. That is why being ready for all three parts at the first attempt saves both time and money. Use the practice exams to find out which part you struggle with before the exam.

How long are the results valid?

The parts you passed are valid indefinitely. But once you have passed all three parts, you must apply for the MVV within 1 year; otherwise you take the entire exam again.

Can I get the fee back?

If you cancel at least 24 hours before the exam, the fee is refunded within 6 weeks. There is no refund for later cancellations.

How will I learn my result?

DUO sends the result within 8 weeks at the latest, by email or letter. The document you need for the MVV application comes as a PDF; do not forget to share it with your spouse or partner in the Netherlands.

I do not have a Dutch bank account. How do I pay?

iDeal and Wero require a Dutch account. Someone with an account in the Netherlands (usually your partner) can make the payment; if that is not possible, you request a bank transfer when registering.

Start now

The process is clear: register, book your appointment, take the exam, wait for the result. The real difference is made in your preparation. Sign up for free, see where you stand with the KNS, Lezen and Spreken practice exams, and be a little more ready every day until exam day.