Basic Civic Integration Examination Abroad (BIB)
The Basisexamen Inburgering Buitenland (BIB for short) is the Dutch civic integration exam you take at a Dutch embassy or consulate, before you're allowed to apply for a provisional residence permit (mvv) to join a partner in the Netherlands, or to come and work as a religious minister.
What is the BIB exam?
If you want to move to the Netherlands to live with a partner, or to work here as a religious minister, you generally need to pass the BIB exam first, at a Dutch embassy or consulate in your own country. Only once you've passed can the mvv application move forward with the Dutch immigration service (IND).
What each part of the exam involves
Speaking (Spreken)
You watch a video of a person saying a sentence, then speak your answer into a microphone, either answering an open question or finishing a sentence they start. There are 22 questions in total (10 open questions and 12 sentence completions), no reading involved, and you have 30 minutes. A human examiner scores your recorded answers afterwards, not live during the exam.
Reading (Lezen)
You read a short Dutch text, then answer multiple-choice questions about it, scored by computer. There are 19 questions in total, and you have 35 minutes. It tests practical reading comprehension, not literary Dutch.
Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNS)
You're shown a photo and a question read aloud, with two possible answers, and you select the correct one with the mouse, scored by computer. There are 30 questions in total, and you have 30 minutes. Instead of testing your Dutch, it tests what you know about Dutch society: government, history, housing, healthcare, and everyday norms and values.
Who needs to take it, and when
You need to pass the BIB exam if you're applying for an mvv (provisional residence permit) to come and live with a partner or spouse in the Netherlands, or to work here as a religious minister. It's taken at a Dutch embassy or consulate in your own country, and you must pass it before the IND will process your mvv application. Some people are exempt from the exam, for example based on nationality or an existing diploma. Check the official source at the bottom of this page to see if an exemption applies to you.
Practice for each part
Practice all 530 real-style speaking questions with instant AI feedback, a new free set every day, no account needed.
Practice with real exam-style passages and questions, try today's daily quiz or the full timed exam.
Practice all 100 KNS questions in daily, practice, or exam mode, and track your accuracy over time.
Format & passing criteria
- All three parts are taken on a computer at a Dutch embassy or consulate.
- Can be done in a single sitting (about 2 hours) or spread across separate appointments.
- Each part is scored from 1 to 10, and you pass once you've scored at least a 6 on all three.
- Results usually arrive within 8 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BIB exam?+
The BIB (Basisexamen Inburgering Buitenland) is the Dutch civic integration exam you take at a Dutch embassy or consulate before an mvv application, testing your Dutch language skills and knowledge of Dutch society.
What happens if I fail part of the exam?+
You only need to retake the part(s) you didn't pass. Passed parts stay valid, but your overall passed result is valid for 1 year, so you need to complete all three parts and apply for your mvv within that year.
How is the BIB exam scored?+
Each part is scored from 1 to 10. You pass once you've scored at least a 6 on all three parts.
How long does it take to get BIB exam results?+
Results usually arrive within 8 weeks.
How much does the BIB exam cost?+
As of writing, a complete exam costs 150 euros, or 50 euros if you're only retaking one part. Fees are set by the Dutch government and can change, so confirm the current price on the official source linked below.
Is the BIB exam the same as the inburgeringsexamen in the Netherlands?+
No. The BIB (Basisexamen Inburgering Buitenland) is taken abroad, at a Dutch embassy or consulate, before you travel to the Netherlands. The inburgeringsexamen is a separate, more extensive exam taken after you've already arrived and are living in the Netherlands.
This page is an unofficial summary. For registration and the full, authoritative details, visit naarnederland.nl.