Due to the lack of examiners and a waiting time of around 15 weeks, the Minister of Social Affairs, Wouter Koolmees, has decided to drop the final evaluation talk, which was part of the orientation of the Dutch labour market section of the Civic Integration Exam (Inburgeringsexamen). The minister has informed the House of Representatives by means of a letter.

Integration in the Netherlands

Many migrants to the Netherlands are required to take the Civic Integration Exam in order to obtain Dutch citizenship or a Dutch residence permit. Migrants who are obliged to pass the Inburgeringsexamen have three years to do so.

There are, of course, other ways to integrate into the Netherlands which are recognised by the Dutch government. Instead of taking the Inburgeringsexamen, you could take the Dutch as a Second Language State Exam (Staatsexamen NT2).

Orientation of the Dutch labour market

The Civic Integration Exam consists of six parts, namely competence in speaking, reading, writing, listening, as well as knowledge of the Dutch society and orientation of the Dutch labour market.

The Minister of Social Affairs has decided to ditch the final evaluation talk, which falls under the orientation of the Dutch labour market section. The reasons behind this are the lack of examiners and the waiting time to take the exam, which had gone up to 15 weeks.

Instead of the final evaluation talk, those sitting the orientation of the Dutch labour market exam will have to prepare a portfolio and prove that they have spent at least 64 hours working on it. A special software programme will be used to ensure that each portfolio is original. The option to have the final evaluation talk instead of handing in a portfolio will still remain.

Koolmees is also looking to see whether those who have already found a job in the Netherlands, but are required to take the Inburgeringsexamen, can be exempted from the orientation of the Dutch labour market section in the future.