Practice for the Basic Civic Integration Examination Abroad (MVV)
Free interactive practice material for all three parts: choose your answers and see instantly whether you (indicatively) passed.
Free interactive practice material for all three parts: choose your answers and see instantly whether you (indicatively) passed.
Do you want to join your partner, spouse, or family in the Netherlands? Then you'll need a provisional residence permit (mvv). Before you can apply for the mvv, in most cases you first need to pass the Basic Civic Integration Examination Abroad — commonly called the "MVV exam." This exam tests your basic knowledge of the Dutch language and society at A1 level: genuine beginner level, meant to show you can make a good start with civic integration once you're living in the Netherlands.
The basic exam is mandatory for most people moving to the Netherlands under family reunification or family formation rules, to live with a partner, spouse, or family member. You're exempt from the exam if, for example, you:
Not sure whether the exam is mandatory for you? Check the IND website or contact the Dutch representation (embassy or consulate) in your country.
Practise each part separately, at your own pace — click a card to get started:
Knowledge of Dutch Society — 30 multiple-choice questions on history, geography, politics, and everyday life. At least 21 correct to pass.
Start KNS practice exam →
22 items: question-and-answer prompts and sentence completion, often with a picture prompt. Practise here with multiple choice.
Start speaking exam →
4 short, simple stories with a total of 19 questions — just like the real exam.
Start reading exam →You take the exam digitally, on a computer, at a Dutch embassy or consulate in the country where you live or of which you hold nationality. If there's no Dutch representation in your country, you'll take the exam in a neighbouring country. You first register via the Dutch Education Executive Agency (DUO), then contact the embassy or consulate to schedule an appointment. The full exam costs €150 (2024 pricing); you can also retake individual parts if you fail just one section, without redoing the parts you already passed.
Once you've passed all three parts, your result is valid for 1 year. Apply for the mvv in time after passing — otherwise you'll need to retake the entire basic exam (and pay again).
Many people prepare using the 100 KNS questions from the official "Naar Nederland" booklet, practise speaking by completing sentences out loud, and read short Dutch texts every day. Personal guidance from an experienced NT2 teacher speeds this process up considerably — especially for the speaking section, where pronunciation and direct feedback are hard to practise on your own.
Want to practise with the real, official practice exams? Use these resources from the Dutch government:
Want to know more about civic integration or moving with your partner? Also check out Dutch for Partners and Civic Integration Exam Preparation.
Dutch Together is an independent NT2 language school and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorised by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), the Dutch Education Executive Agency (DUO), the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, or any other Dutch government body. The practice questions, imagery, and scores on this page are our own teaching material and give an indication of your level only — they are not part of, and do not guarantee passing, the official Basic Civic Integration Examination Abroad. For official, up-to-date information, always check ind.nl and naarnederland.nl.