What has changed for naturalisation candidates since 1 January?
The Civic Integration Act entered into force on 1 January 2007. As a result of this, the Naturalisation Test has been replaced with the Civic Integration Examination Abroad. Since 2 January 2007, foreign nationals who wish to acquire Dutch citizenship have been able to sit the Civic Integration Examination Abroad prior to submitting their application for naturalisation. The format of the Civic Integration Examination Abroad is different to that of the Naturalisation Test, however the level of difficulty has not changed and the fees have remained about the same. 
An important difference is the addition of two new exemption categories: the Exemption Test (Short Form) and the Civic Integration Examination Abroad. A number of grounds for exemption will also be added as of 1 April. See the brochure entitled ‘Inburgeringsexamen: voorwaarde voor naturalisatie’ [‘Civic Integration: conditions in respect of naturalisation’] for details.

What is the difference between the former Naturalisation Test and the new Civic Integration Examination Abroad?
The level of difficulty is the same, namely A2 under the Common European Framework for Languages (this is equivalent to level 2 under the Naturalisation Test), however the examination method is different. The new examination consists of the following components: 
Decentralised component 
• Portfolio 
• Practical tests (assessments) Central component 
• Digital practical test [Digitale Praktijktoets] 
• 'Knowledge of Dutch Society' ['Kennis van de Nederlandse Samenleving'] examination 
• Spoken Dutch Test [Toets Gesproken Nederlands]

A portfolio consists of evidence of 30 situations that an individual has experienced in practice, such as registering a birth or a discussion with a teacher at a child's school. This evidence is assessed by an examination body, after which the candidate will be required to justify his or her evidence in front of a panel from this examination body. If a candidate does not have any evidence of practical situations, he or she may take an oral examination (‘the assessment’) instead of submitting a portfolio. During the assessment, the candidate must demonstrate that he or she has sufficient command of Dutch by taking part in 6 role plays. The assessments are not marked by the Information Management Group [Informatie Beheer Groep, IBG] itself, but by designated examination bodies. It is also possible to combine these two options. If an individual has evidence of a number of situations, however not as many as 30, the candidate may supplement this by taking part in a number of role plays.

The Spoken Dutch Test is a telephone test in which you will be required to repeat sentences, answer questions and give brief accounts of stories. The Digital Practical Test and Knowledge of Dutch Society module are taken using a computer. The Digital Practical Test consists of questions regarding practical situations.

---

Add this article to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites