Ministerie van Justitie, Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst

As from 1 January 2010 you must have passed the civic integration examination to qualify for one of the following applications: 

• ­the application to obtain a permanent asylum residence permit.

• the application to obtain a permanent non-asylum residence permit; and  

• the application for having the limitation of a temporary non-asylum residence permit changed into a limitation for independent continued residence (this only applies to foreign nationals who apply for continued residence after having stayed for three years with a person with a non-temporary residence permit in the framework of family reunification or family formation, for instance after 'having stayed for three years with their Dutch spouse'); 

If you submit such an application, the IND will check whether you passed the civic integration examination.

This requirement is a result of the linkage between the Civic Integration Act and the Aliens Act. Persons under 18 and persons aged 65 or older are exempt from the civic integration requirement. Exemption from the civic integration requirement can also be granted for medical reasons or on the ground of hardship. More information about this can be found under “Linkage between civic integration and residence” via the “List of frequently asked questions and answers Civic Integration Act” link below.

Why is civic integration necessary?
A large proportion of the Dutch population is made up of people from other countries. To be able to understand each other it is essential that everyone speaks Dutch and that everyone has an understanding of Dutch society.   For this reason, the Civic Integration Act came into force in the Netherlands on 1 January 2007. The Act stipulates that everyone who immigrates to the Netherlands and lives in the Netherlands must learn the Dutch language and have an understanding of the workings of Dutch society. This is referred to as civic integration. Immigrants who are required to follow this process are considered to be subject to civic integration. They must pass the Civic Integration Examination. In some cases the immigrant can be exempt from civic integration requirement under the Civic Integration Act, but must still have passed the civic integration examination as a requirement to obtain a certain type of permanent residence permit or to qualify for continued residence. The local authorities can inform you whether you must undergo civic integration and what you must do to obtain the civic integration certificate.

More information
List with frequently asked questions and answers Civic Integration Act
www.hetbegintmettaal.nl
www.handreikinginburgeringgemeenten.nl
www.naarnederland.nl
www.inburgeren.nl (website of the IB Group)