Inburgering Registration 2026: DUO Booking & Costs

The expensive mistake on Dutch integration is not “failing by one point.” It is registering for exams your route does not require, at the wrong language level, or in the wrong order — then discovering months later that DUO still expects KNM or a portfolio step you never booked.

Prep2Go is an independent practice site. We are not DUO, not your gemeente, and not part of the official Inburgeren booking system. This page explains how registration actually works so you can align payment with your official file — and where honest practice fits once you know your component list.

Below: check Mijn Inburgering and your PIP, map the four language exams plus KNM and route extras, walk through the official registration flow, and use a practical document and appointment checklist. We do not quote exam fees or registration deadlines here; those belong on inburgeren.nl at the moment you book.

Step zero: Mijn Inburgering and your PIP

Mijn Inburgering is DUO’s personal portal for people with an integration obligation. Your Persoonlijk Inburgeringsplan (PIP) is the document that translates law and municipality decisions into a concrete to-do list: which exams, which level, and which non-exam steps still apply.

Treat the PIP as the source of truth before you enter card details anywhere. Blog posts — including this one — cannot see your file. Two neighbours on the same street can have different lists because one falls under Wet inburgering 2013 and another under Wet inburgering 2021, or because the gemeente approved a scale-down or added a module.

• Log in to Mijn Inburgering with DigiD and open your current PIP and any messages from DUO or your gemeente.
• Note the language level shown for the four skills (A2, B1, or higher where applicable) — do not assume A2 because a friend took A2.
• Check whether KNM (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij) is listed separately from the language exams.
• Look for ONA (Oriëntatie op de Nederlandse Arbeidsmarkt), MAP, or PVT if your route mentions work, education, or participation — these are not interchangeable with “doing well on Lezen.”
• If anything in the portal disagrees with a letter from your gemeente, resolve that mismatch before booking. Paying for an exam DUO will not count toward your obligation wastes money and time.

What you register for: four language exams, plus route extras

DUO’s integration language exams are four separate components. Each has its own appointment, duration, and result. There is no single combined percentage on your official letter that you can copy from a practice app — DUO reports Lezen, Luisteren, Schrijven and Spreken individually.

Official formats and timings for A2, B1 and B2 language exams are published on DUO’s language-exam content page. At A2 level, the standard picture is: Lezen (reading on computer), Luisteren (listening with film clips), Schrijven (pen-and-paper writing tasks), and Spreken (speaking responses recorded at the computer). Your level may be B1 on the same portal if your PIP says so.

The four language components (book only what your PIP lists)

• Lezen — read short texts and answer questions; computer-based for the standard integration exam.
• Luisteren — listen to spoken texts and short films; everyday Netherlands Dutch, not textbook slow audio.
• Schrijven — short writing assignments on paper; legibility and completing every bullet matter.
• Spreken — respond to situations shown on screen; comprehensible Dutch beats memorised scripts that do not fit the prompt.

You may register components one at a time or combine appointments depending on what the booking system offers and what your preparation allows. Many candidates stagger exams so a weak skill gets extra weeks — but each booking typically carries its own fee. Confirm current rules on the registration page rather than relying on forum posts from older years.

KNM is separate — do not merge it with language prep

Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij (KNM) is a knowledge exam about Dutch society — institutions, work, healthcare, norms — not a vocabulary test dressed up as civics. When your PIP requires KNM, you register and sit it as its own exam (official materials describe a fixed-length computer test). Passing Lezen does not substitute for KNM, and a KNM app does not replace Luisteren training.

Budget study time separately: language components need daily listening and speaking reps; KNM needs thematic reading and practice questions aligned with official KNM preparation material. The Inburgering hub focuses on the four language skills; pair it with official KNM resources listed on inburgeren.nl for the knowledge exam.

ONA, MAP and PVT: route-dependent caveats

Not every candidate sees these modules on a checklist, but when they appear, ignoring them is as costly as skipping KNM.

• ONA (Oriëntatie op de Nederlandse Arbeidsmarkt) — labour-market orientation, often portfolio-based with review steps rather than a single morning at an exam centre. Your PIP and gemeente correspondence define whether you submit work, attend interviews, or sit an exam variant.
• MAP — applies on specific education-related routes; requirements differ from the standard four-exam bundle. Check official route guidance rather than copying a generic “inburgering checklist” from social media.
• PVT (Participatieverklaringstraject) — a participation statement trajectory for some obligations; it is procedural and legal, not a fourth language skill. Complete it when your file says so, in parallel with language study if timelines overlap.

If your PIP mentions any of these, read the linked DUO explanations in Mijn Inburgering before you assume “I will register all language exams next Tuesday and be finished.” Some steps have waiting periods, gemeente approval, or submission windows that do not show up in language-exam prep apps.

Official registration: Inburgeren.nl and DUO

Exam registration for the integration exams runs through the official Inburgeren website operated by DUO. Prep2Go cannot book appointments on your behalf or accept exam payments. Use DUO’s registration guidance as the live instruction set — menu labels and payment methods update without third-party sites noticing.

Typical booking flow (verify each step on the official page)

1. Confirm in Mijn Inburgering that you are allowed to register for the exam type you need and that no block (missing PIP step, outstanding fee, identity issue) stops booking.
2. Open the registration section on inburgeren.nl and choose the integration exam component(s) you are paying for — language exam(s), KNM, or other listed modules as shown in the portal.
3. Select an exam location and date from available slots. Large cities fill faster; if travel is feasible, compare two locations before you commit.
4. Enter personal details exactly as they appear on the identity document you will bring — mismatches cause check-in problems on exam day.
5. Pay through the official payment method shown at checkout. Save the confirmation email and any PDF with location, time, and component name.
6. Add appointments to your calendar with travel buffer. Schrijven may be on paper while other components are digital — read the instructions for each ticket separately.

DUO currently says you can change the date or location in Mijn Inburgering, or cancel for a refund, until one week before the exam. Without Mijn Inburgering, DUO must receive your letter at least seven days before the exam. The same official page warns that the wait for an exam can exceed six weeks, so book from your PIP rather than assuming a next-week slot. Recheck these conditions before acting: they are DUO rules, not a Prep2Go guarantee.

Costs: where to look, what we will not guess

Integration exam fees are set by DUO and can change. Each component you book may be charged separately, so “four language exams plus KNM” is often four or five line items, not one flat price. Municipalities sometimes fund courses or exams for eligible residents — that is a gemeente decision tied to your file, not a discount code on a practice website.

This article intentionally does not list euro amounts or “register before date X” claims. Those numbers go stale and mislead candidates in different provinces. At checkout, the official portal shows the price you will pay; your PIP may mention deadlines for completing your obligation — distinguish exam booking cutoffs from legal integration periods.

• Check the fee displayed for each component immediately before payment.
• Ask your gemeente in writing whether they reimburse exam costs for your situation — keep the reply.
• Separate exam fees from prep spend: courses, apps, Anki decks, and mock report packs are optional products; only DUO registration completes an official sitting.

Documents, identity and payment checklist

Use this checklist when you register and again the week before each appointment. Official ID rules are stated on inburgeren.nl and on your confirmation — if they conflict with a blog, trust DUO.

Before you pay

• DigiD working and Mijn Inburgering accessible — fix two-factor or identity issues early.
• Valid passport or Dutch identity document (or the document type DUO lists for your nationality) — not expired on exam day.
• BSN and registered address consistent with DUO records if the form asks for them.
• Payment card or iDEAL-capable bank account enabled for online government payments.
• Email address you actually read — DUO sends confirmations and sometimes last-minute room changes there.

Exam appointment day

• Same original ID you used when registering.
• Printed or offline confirmation with time, address, and component name (Lezen, Luisteren, Schrijven, Spreken, or KNM).
• For Schrijven: pens that write cleanly — centres may provide paper, but bring spare pens.
• Arrive at the stated check-in time, not the exam start time printed in large type on forums.
• Phones off or left in lockers per centre rules — assume no last-minute vocabulary cramming in the waiting room.

Registration mistakes that waste money

• Booking A2 language exams when your PIP requires B1 (or the reverse after a scale-down approval you never received in writing).
• Registering all four language components on consecutive days before you have done timed sets — Luisteren and Spreken fatigue shows up fast.
• Assuming Staatsexamen Nt2 substitutes automatically for inburgering language exams — they are different products with different purposes; your PIP names which path counts.
• Paying for KNM before basic Dutch comprehension is in place — KNM questions are in Dutch; language and knowledge prep run in parallel, not in random order.
• Ignoring ONA portfolio deadlines while chasing exam dates — you can pass Spreken and still miss integration completion if ONA remains open.

After you know your list: prep that matches registration

Registration is the point of no return for your calendar — not for your Dutch level. Once exam fees are paid, shift from “general lessons” to component-specific timed practice aligned with official durations on DUO’s language-exam page.

On Prep2Go, open the Inburgering A2 mock test landing to walk through a readiness preview: four language sections, Netherlands Dutch contexts, and feedback that mirrors how you should split study time. That preview is not a free timed mock exam on the live runner — the full timed mock requires a mock pack or license, same as other exams on the site. Use the preview to decide whether you are ready to pay DUO fees now or whether one component needs another month.

Drill weak skills on the Inburgering A2 hub (reading, listening, writing, speaking). For high-frequency words in exam-style sentences, preview the Inburgering A2 Anki deck in the shop — one-time deck purchase, separate from DUO exam fees.

For route context, timelines, and FAQ on A2 versus B1, keep /inburgering-a2-guide bookmarked next to Mijn Inburgering — official sources first, practice second.

Quick FAQ

Can Prep2Go register me for DUO exams? No. Only the official Inburgeren registration flow can book and charge for integration exams.

Does everyone take A2? No. Wet inburgering 2021 normally targets B1; scale-down to A2 requires a municipality decision that shows on your route. Wet inburgering 2013 routes commonly use A2 language exams. Your PIP states the level.

Is KNM included in a language exam booking? No. When required, KNM is its own exam with separate registration unless the portal bundles selection steps in one checkout — still a distinct component on your results.

Will a Prep2Go mock percentage appear on my DUO certificate? No. Practice scores are readiness indicators only; DUO reports official component outcomes separately.

Official sources

• DUO Inburgeren — integration exam overview
• Registering for the integration exam
• Language exam formats and durations (A2, B1, B2)

Next step after reading: log into Mijn Inburgering, screenshot or print your PIP component list, then open the official registration page with that list beside you. When the list matches your prep, use the mock preview once more — then book.