It is required to pass the  inburgeringsexamen (civic integration examination), in order to qualify for the following applications: 

• To obtain a residence permit for an indefinite period of time based on national law (once having legally resided in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years); 

• To obtain a residence permit as an EU long term resident based on EU law (once having legally resided in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years);To obtain the Dutch nationality / a Dutch passport (once having legally resided in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years); 

• For obtaining a residence permit for  humanitarian non-temporary reasons. This could be a change of residence permit  into a limitation for independent continued residence (This only applies to foreign nationals who apply for continued residence after having stayed for 3 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 3 years with their Dutch spouse); 

• To obtain a residence permit to reside with a Dutch partner / spouse. 

If you submit such an application, the Immigration and Naturalization Services (IND) will check whether you have passed the civic integration examination. For more information about civic integration, please check with the website of the Immigration and Naturalization services ( IND).

Obligations based on the Modern Migration Policy Act

Based on the Modern Migration Policy Act each sponsor, recognized or not, and holder of a Dutch residence permit has three obligations towards the IND:

1. information obligation; 

2. administration obligation; 

3. care obligation.