Who can get a DUO loan for inburgering
Whether you can borrow depends on two things: your residence status and the law you integrate under. If your inburgeringsplicht (duty to integrate) began on or after 1 January 2022, you fall under the Wet inburgering 2021. If it began earlier, you fall under the Wet inburgering 2013. DUO's loan page sets out who can borrow:
- Asylum status holders under the 2021 law cannot borrow. The gemeente pays the course and the first 2 attempts at each exam. A third attempt you pay yourself, and you cannot borrow for it.
- Asylum status holders under the 2013 law can borrow up to €10,000.
- Everyone else, such as family migrants (gezinsmigranten), can almost always borrow. DUO sets the amount from your income.
- Voluntary candidates, including people from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, can borrow up to 3 years after registering with the gemeente.
The €10,000 figure that many sites quote applies only to asylum status holders under the 2013 law, so it is not a general cap for everyone.
How much you can borrow
For a family migrant or another migrant without asylum status, the DUO lening depends on your income. DUO looks at your income from 2 years ago, but if your income has dropped since then, you can ask DUO to use your current income, which may let you borrow more. DUO decides within 8 weeks.
DUO decides how much you can borrow, and after you apply you get a letter with the exact amount (DUO: hoeveel mag u lenen). DUO's online rekenhulp gives an estimate before you apply.
You apply in Mijn Inburgering, which you open with DigiD, under 'Lening aanvragen'. Without DigiD, you can use the paper form Aanvraag lening voor cursus en/of examen. You hear from DUO within 8 weeks.
What the loan pays for
The loan pays for:
- a course at A2, B1 or B2 level;
- a literacy course (alfabetiseringscursus);
- your exam fees.
The course must be at a school approved for inburgering, and you never get the money in your bank account: DUO pays the school or the exam fee directly, and that amount becomes your loan. It is not a loan for living costs.
The A2 language exams and KNM cost €50 per part, so €250 for the five parts (DUO costs). Under the 2013 law you also take the ONA (€40), so the total is €290. Every retake is a new fee, and with a loan every retake adds to your debt. Course prices differ per school, so ask the school before you sign.
Repaying the loan, and who does not have to
Asylum status holders never have to repay their DUO loan. The Raad van State, the highest administrative court, has also ruled on this. DUO may not reclaim inburgering loans from status holders under either law, or fine them for taking too long.
For everyone else, DUO sometimes forgives the loan in full or in part. If not, repayment works like this (repaying the loan):
- you start 6 months after you finish inburgering;
- you pay a fixed amount each month and have 10 years to repay;
- you pay interest for as long as you have a debt. After you finish, your rate stays the same for 5 years at a time. Mijn Inburgering shows your rate (DUO's rate is 2.29% for 2026 and 3.28% for 2027);
- you can ask for a lower monthly amount if your income drops, or repay extra at any time.
The loan and your inburgering deadline
You have 3 years to complete inburgering. The loan does not change that deadline, and borrowing does not protect you from the fine. If you miss the deadline without a reason DUO accepts, DUO can fine you. The fine is up to €1,000 under the 2021 law or €1,250 under the 2013 law. Asylum status holders are never fined. The DUO fine page has the details.
Under the 2013 law there is one more link: if you finish the participatieverklaringstraject (PVT) late, you can no longer borrow from DUO.
The cheapest exam is the one you pass the first time, and DUO's free practice exams show the level before you book, so you do not borrow for retakes you could have avoided.