What you can borrow from DUO
You can borrow from DUO for an integration course and your exam fees. The maximum loan is €10,000.
That matters because DUO charges for each exam part, and you pay again each time you retake a part. If you need multiple retakes, the total cost goes up fast.
If you want the current exam fees, check DUO or inburgeren.nl for the live amount. The fee per exam part can change, so don't rely on an old number from a forum or social media post.
Who has to pay it back
If you are a family migrant or another non-asylum migrant, you must repay the DUO loan in full. DUO says repayment can be spread over up to 10 years, with interest.
If you are an asylum status holder, whether you repay depends on passing your inburgering on time. That legal deadline matters for your money, not only for your diploma.
This is where many people get worried. Every retake is not just another exam attempt. For people who must repay the loan, each retake adds to personal debt because DUO charges again for that exam part.
When the loan is forgiven
For asylum status holders, the DUO loan is forgiven if you pass the exam within the legal deadline. Under the Wet inburgering 2021, the standard inburgeringstermijn is 3 years.
If you miss that deadline, the forgiveness can lapse. DUO can also give a fine of up to €1,250 and extend your obligation if you miss the deadline without a valid verlengingsgrond (official reason for extension).
Some official extension reasons exist. In the 2025–2026 rules, these include childcare shortage, a Persoonlijk Plan Inburgering set while you are still in COA housing, working at least 32 hours a week for at least 6 months, and the birth of a child.
If you think your deadline is at risk, contact DUO or your gemeente (municipality) early. If you want to keep your costs down, steady practice helps you pass with fewer retakes, which is exactly where InburgeringPrep can help.