Under the Wet inburgering 2021
You may not have to take every exam if:
- you have a serious illness or disability;
- you have an Nt2 certificate or diploma that gives a partial exemption.
You may not have to take any exam if:
- you have a serious illness or disability;
- you earned a diploma in the Netherlands, or a Dutch-language diploma in Belgium or Suriname;
- you have lived in the Netherlands for 10 years and worked at least 5 of them;
- special individual circumstances make integrating impossible (an exemption called BIO).
Under the Wet inburgering 2013
The same reasons apply, and also: at least 6 months of work in the Netherlands in the past year (which can exempt you from ONA) and 600 hours of course attendance.
An adjusted exam
If illness or a disability makes the exam hard, it can sometimes be adjusted. For KNM and the A2 exams, fill in the form "Aanvraag advies aangepast examen" in Mijn Inburgering. A doctor from Argonaut examines you and advises DUO, and DUO decides. Adjustments the Regeling inburgering 2021 names include more time, a different location, breaks, large print, a magnifier, typing instead of writing and a read-aloud function. For the B1 and B2 exams, say so when you book the staatsexamen Nt2; DUO then sends instructions.
Extra time to integrate
You have 3 years. DUO can give more, once per period, if for example:
- you first had to learn to read and write (an alfabetisering course);
- you are following an education in the Netherlands;
- you or a family member are ill, a family member died, or you had a baby;
- you are homeless or live in a women's shelter;
- the municipality or the school caused the delay;
- under the 2021 law: you followed many course hours and passed at least 2 of the 4 exam parts.
Once you reach the AOW (state pension) age you no longer have to integrate. If you later want to naturalize, the municipality or the IND may still ask for the inburgeringsdiploma.