Welcome to Naar Nederland
This website is for people who wish to prepare to take the Basic Civic Integration Examination Abroad. This is the examination which some people must take and pass in order to obtain a provisional residence permit (mvv) allowing them to live in the Netherlands.
News
Abrogation of the Basic Civic Integration Examination Abroad for Turkish nationals.
Mr. J.P.H. Donner, the Dutch minister of internal affairs, has decided that, with retroactive effect, persons of Turkish nationality and their family members, for extension of their provisional residence permit (mvv) no longer need to demonstrate to have passed the Basic Civic Integration Examination Abroad. Examination fees of exams that have been taken since last August 16th will be refunded.
Ministers Donner and Drs. G.B.M. Leers emphasize that despite the omission of the obligated civic integration for Turkish nationals, knowledge of the Dutch language and society remain essential requirements to actively participate in Dutch society. Therefore, Minister Donner, in cooperation with among others Turkish organizations, will look at how the civic integration of Turkish nationals can be warranted. The self-study packs with Turkish and Kurdish as supportive languages remain available.
For more information see: here.
New self-study pack available from 1 March 2011
More information about the new study-pack can be found here.
Changes to examination programme and regulations published
A new examination programme and amended examination regulations came into effect on 28 January 2011. Further information can be found: here.
My TIN codes for the practice tests have expired (or will do so shortly). Can I still use these TIN codes?
The answers to this and other frequently asked questions can be found here.
Changes to examination requirements from 1 April 2011
The Basic Civic Integration Examination Abroad is to be modified with effect from 1 April 2011. The required level for the Toets Gesproken Nederlands (Spoken Dutch test; TGN) is to be raised from ‘A1 minus’ to A1. The examination will also be expanded to include the Toets Geletterdheid en Begrijpend Lezen (Literacy and Understanding Written Texts test; GBL). The examination regulations have been amended accordingly. The new requirements apply from 1 April 2011.
Further information can be found at:
www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/inburgering/inburgeren-in-het-buitenland
www.officielebekendmakingen.nl
How can I apply to take the Basic Civic Integration Examination Abroad with the current (pre-1 April 2011) requirements?
The registration procedure remains unchanged. You can register yourself or your partner for the examination through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. This site includes information about the payment of the examination fee, confirmation of receipt and how long it will take to process your payment before you can make an appointment to take the examination.
How will the Basic Civic Integration Examination change after 1 April 2011?
Until 31 March 2011, the examination is in two parts:
1. Kennis van de Nederlandse Samenleving (Knowledge of Dutch Society; KNS)
2. Gesproken Nederlands (Spoken Dutch; TGN) at level ‘A1 minus’.
From 1 April 2011, the examination will be in three parts:
1. Kennis van de Nederlandse Samenleving (Knowledge of Dutch Society; KNS)
2. Gesproken Nederlands (Spoken Dutch; TGN) at level A1
3. Geletterdheid en Begrijpend Lezen (Literacy and Understanding Written texts: GBL).
The KNS component remains unchanged. From 1 April 2011, the TGN test will remain in the same form, but the candidate must achieve a higher score in order to pass. The minimum score for level ‘A1 minus’ is 16. The minimum score to pass at A1 level is 26. The Literacy and Understanding Written Texts component is new. The new Naar Nederland self-study pack contains comprehensive course material enabling students to prepare thoroughly and to meet the new examination requirements which come into effect on 1 April 2011.
How should I prepare for an examination to be taken on or after 1 April 2011?
If you intend to take the examination on or after 1 April 2011, you are advised to use the new Naar Nederland self-study pack to prepare. New course material has been added to the pack in line with the more stringent pass requirement (A1 level) for the TGN test and the introduction of the new GBL test. The pack has been developed under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. It can be ordered through this site and other (online) book retailers from 1 March 2011. This site contains full information about the new self-study pack.
If you plan to take the examination before 31 March 2011, the current Naar Nederland practice pack is sufficient.