In short
- If you need an MVV (long-stay visa) to live with your partner in the Netherlands, you must first pass the Civic Integration Examination Abroad, unless you are exempt.
- The Civic Integration Examination Abroad has three parts at level A1: Knowledge of Dutch Society, Reading and Speaking; you pass with at least a 6 for all three.
- You register for the Civic Integration Examination Abroad online with DUO via naarnederland.nl and take it at a Dutch embassy or consulate; it cannot be taken in Afghanistan itself.
- After passing the Civic Integration Examination Abroad, the MVV must be applied for within 1 year; otherwise you have to take the whole exam again.
Want to move from abroad to live with your partner in the Netherlands? Then you usually need an MVV: a long-stay visa. Before you can apply for it, you must pass the Civic Integration Examination Abroad (Basisexamen Inburgering Buitenland). This guide explains how it works.
Who must take the exam?
The exam is required if you need an MVV to live with your partner in the Netherlands, or to work as a religious minister. If you are exempt (see below), you do not have to take it.
You are exempt, among other things, if:
- you are under 18 or have reached the Dutch state pension age;
- you are a national of an EU/EEA country, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Monaco or Vatican City;
- you have a State Exam NT2 diploma (Program I or II) or a Dutch school diploma;
- your partner has an asylum residence permit (family members of asylum status holders are exempt).
The full list is on the IND website. Unsure? Use our route finder or ask the IND.
What does the exam test?
The exam has three parts, all at level A1:
| Part | What you do | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge of Dutch Society | Questions about life and rules in the Netherlands | max. 30 min |
| Reading | Read short, simple texts and answer questions | max. 35 min |
| Speaking | Answer in simple Dutch | max. 30 min |
Everything is done on a computer; you do not have to write. All parts on one day take about 2 hours, but you may also spread them over several days. You get a mark from 1 to 10 per part and you pass with at least a 6 for all three.
What does it cost?
The exam costs €150: €50 per part. Note: some older brochures mention other amounts; according to DUO these are out of date. The official “Naar Nederland” self-study pack costs €25, but you can also download it for free.
Where do you take the exam?
At a Dutch embassy or consulate. If your country has no embassy that offers the exam, you choose the nearest one (possibly with a visa).
- Afghanistan: the exam cannot be taken in Afghanistan itself. It can be taken in Iran, Pakistan, India or the United Arab Emirates, among others.
- Iran: since September 2026 you can take the exam at the embassy in Tehran again.
Registering in 4 steps
- Register online with DUO via naarnederland.nl (a paper form is also possible, but takes up to 10 weeks).
- Pay the exam fee (iDEAL or Wero with a Dutch bank account, otherwise a bank transfer).
- Within 5 working days you receive a confirmation with your candidate number.
- Make an appointment at the embassy yourself.
You can change the date or place once, up to 24 hours in advance. If you cancel up to 24 hours in advance, you get your money back.
After the exam
- You receive the result within 8 weeks by email. If your partner’s email address was given, they receive the result too.
- A part you have passed remains valid until you have passed the whole exam.
- Passed everything? Then apply for the MVV within 1 year (usually your partner does this in the Netherlands). Otherwise you have to take the whole exam again.
- Once in the Netherlands, civic integration usually follows. Under the 2021 act, B1 is the standard.
Well prepared
In TaalPro’s A1 course you practise exactly these three parts, with explanations in Farsi, Dari or English. Not sure where you stand? Take the free level test first.