Slaagkans
Exemptions: when do you not have to sit the exam?
September 29, 2026 · 2 min
There are three ways out of the integration obligation: an exemption because you already hold a qualifying diploma, a medical exemption, or — if B1 proves unreachable after at least 600 hours of lessons — sitting the exam at A2. All three are assessments: you must apply and provide evidence; none apply by themselves.
- Exemption
- on the basis of a diploma
- Medical exemption
- with evidence
- 600 hours
- a route to A2, not a right
| Route | Basis | Who assesses |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma exemption | a diploma that already meets the requirement | DUO |
| Medical exemption | a condition that permanently prevents learning | DUO, on medical advice |
| Exam at A2 | B1 unreachable after ≥ 600 hours of lessons | DUO and municipality |
The 600-hour rule is not an escape hatch
If you have had at least 600 hours of Dutch lessons and B1 proves out of reach, sitting the exam at A2 can come into play. Note: that is an assessment of your programme, not a choice you make. You must be able to show the hours really happened — so keep your attendance records and invoices.
Medical exemption
A medical exemption is for people who, because of a condition, permanently cannot meet the requirement. It requires independent medical advice; a note from your own GP is not enough. Discuss it with your municipality, who will guide you through the procedure.
If you receive an exemption, mention it for your loan too: completing your obligation — through exams, an exemption or the learnability test — is exactly what DUO weighs when assessing partial remission.
What this means for you
- Keep attendance records and invoices; without evidence the 600-hour rule counts for nothing.
- Start an application as soon as the grounds exist, not at the end of your deadline.
- Ask your municipality for the procedure — they know the route and the forms.
Frequently asked questions
Does my foreign diploma count as an exemption?
Sometimes. It must meet the stated requirement; DUO assesses that and often asks for an apostille.
Do I get A2 automatically after 600 hours?
No. It is an assessment of whether B1 is reachable, not an automatic right.
Want to know whether B1 is within reach for you? Measure it with a full mock.
Take a B1 mockSources
- DUO — U gaat inburgerenofficial
- DUO — Kwijtschelding leningofficial
- Divosa — Veelgestelde vragen inburgeraars
Last checked: August 5, 2026. Rules and amounts change — always check your own situation with DUO or the IND.
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Read next
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- Broad intake, learnability test and PIP: what happens
The interview and test at the start set your route, your final level and your pace. The result is a decision — and you can object to it.
- B1 route, education route or Z route: which is yours?
Your route sets your final level and whether you sit an exam at all. Your municipality picks it after the broad intake; switching is sometimes possible.