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This is what you need to know about civic integration

Last updated: 9/27/2023, 9:49 AM

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If you have a residence permit and are between 18 and 67 years old, the government requires you to learn Dutch and get to know Dutch society. This is called civic integration. Read here when and how to start civic integration.

You must undergo civic integration if you have an asylum residence permit

If you are between the ages of 18 and 67 and have an asylum residence permit, the Dutch government requires you to undergo civic integration. Civic integration means learning Dutch and learning about Dutch society.

You are required to take courses and do civic integration exams.

Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO)

regulates civic integration in the Netherlands.

You receive a letter from DUO about civic integration

After you have received a residence permit you will receive a letter about civic integration. You will receive this letter by post from DUO within 8 weeks.

You will usually receive a letter explaining you that you have to undergo civic integration. And how long you have to undergo civic integration. Sometimes you receive two letters: one telling you that you have to undergo civic integration and one telling you how much time you have to undergo civic integration.

These rules apply to you

The Netherlands has two different civic integration systems: the integration system since 2013 and the integration system 2021. Both systems have different rules.

To find out which rules apply to you, look at the letter from the

Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)

stating that you will get a residence permit. This is called a 'beschikking'.

The letter from DUO and your personal file on inburgeren.nl also state which civic integration system applies to you.

Choose which civic integration system applies to you below to get information about civic integration in your personal situation:

Contact DUO

If you have not yet received a letter about civic integration and 8 weeks have passed, please contact DUO.

This important information is contained in the letter

The letter you receive from DUO is important. The letter contains 3 things about your civic integration that you will need later:

When to start the civic integration.
How much time you have to undergo civic integration. The government calls this the 'inburgeringstermijn' (civic integration period). You usually have 3 years to complete the civic integration.
In the Netherlands there are two different systems for civic integration. The letter from DUO tells you in which system you have to undergo civic integration.

You have to undergo civic integration according to 1 of 2 laws

There are 2 different laws for civic integration in the Netherlands. The letter from DUO will explain to you which law applies to you. Choose below which civic integration system applies to you to get information about your personal situation:

Civic integration from 1 January 2022

If the date on your letter from the IND stating that you will receive a residence permit is from 1 January 2022 or after, the rules of the "wet inburgering 2021" (Dutch Civic Integration Act 2021) apply to you.

Civic integration before 1 January 2022

If the date on your letter from the IND stating that you will receive a residence permit is before 1 January 2022, the rules of "wet inburgering 2013" (Dutch Civic Integration Act 2013) apply to you.