· 6 min read
Dutch Exam Abroad for the MVV: 3 Parts
By Language Lab editorial team
Joining a partner in the Netherlands starts with the Civic Integration Exam Abroad: Dutch society, speaking and reading at A1, at the embassy, valid one year.
If you want to live with your partner in the Netherlands, or work there as a spiritual counsellor, you must pass the Civic Integration Exam Abroad before you apply for the provisional residence permit, the MVV. The exam has three parts: Knowledge of Dutch Society, Speaking and Reading. You pass when all three parts are passed; a part you fail can be retaken on its own, for a new fee, and the parts you passed stay valid until the whole exam is done. The result is valid for one year, so the MVV application must be filed within a year of the pass or the whole exam must be redone. You take it at a Dutch embassy or consulate, or at an external provider. People under 18 or at Dutch state pension age, holders of listed Dutch-language diplomas, and applicants for certain temporary purposes are exempt.
The three parts
| Part | Dutch name | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge of Dutch Society | Kennis van de Nederlandse Samenleving (KNS) | Basic facts about life in the Netherlands |
| Speaking | Spreekvaardigheid | Answering simple spoken questions in Dutch |
| Reading | Leesvaardigheid | Reading short Dutch texts and answering questions |
The IND describes the exam as a test about the Dutch language and culture. The level is basic: you are expected to introduce yourself, understand simple questions about everyday life and read short practical texts. DUO sends the result by email as a PDF showing which parts you passed; that PDF goes into the MVV file.
Pass, fail, retake
- The exam is passed only when all three parts are passed.
- If you fail a part, you register again for that part and pay again for it.
- Parts you have passed remain valid until you have passed the whole exam.
- Once the last part is passed, DUO emails the result with the date of issue.
One year to use it
The result of the Civic Integration Exam Abroad is valid for one year. Apply for the MVV within one year of the date of issue; otherwise you must redo and pass the whole exam. You apply for the MVV and the residence permit together, with the exam PDF enclosed.
Who is exempt
- You are younger than 18 or have reached the statutory state pension age.
- You hold one of the listed diplomas or certificates: for example a diploma from Dutch-language education in the Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname or the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom with a pass in Dutch, a European Baccalaureate with Dutch as first or second language, or an International Baccalaureate with Dutch passed.
- You will come for a temporary purpose under the Civic Integration Act, such as self-employment, highly skilled migration, the EU Blue Card, seasonal or intra-corporate work.
- You are a spiritual counsellor who will not offer services to the public, such as a monk, internal assistant or board member.
- You already hold a Dutch residence permit and are changing purpose, or apply under EU law or for asylum.
Exemption is claimed on the IND appendix for the Civic Integration Exam Abroad, enclosed with the MVV application together with copies of the diplomas. A foreign diploma needs an apostille; copies are certified with date, signature and stamp.
Dispensation
Separate from exemption, dispensation is possible where special individual circumstances, such as age, education level, financial situation or health, make passing the exam unreasonable. The IND weighs the efforts you have made and the will you have shown to pass. It is an individual assessment, not a tick-box.
After arrival
The exam abroad is the first step, not the last. Once in the Netherlands, family migrants have three years to complete civic integration under the 2021 Act, which for most people means the B1 route and the state exams. Treat the A1-level exam abroad as the start of that path.
Frequently asked
What is the Civic Integration Exam Abroad?
A test of Dutch language and society that partners and spiritual counsellors must pass before applying for the MVV, taken at an embassy, consulate or external provider.
How many parts does the exam have?
Three: Knowledge of Dutch Society, Speaking and Reading. All three must be passed.
How long is the result valid?
One year. Apply for the MVV within a year of the date of issue or redo the whole exam.
Can I retake only the part I failed?
Yes, for a new fee for that part; passed parts stay valid until the whole exam is passed.
Who does not have to take it?
Under-18s and people at state pension age, holders of listed Dutch-language diplomas, and applicants for temporary purposes such as highly skilled migration or the EU Blue Card, among others.
Checked against the IND's Civic Integration Exam Abroad page and its appendix 7106 on 3 November 2026.
