What is the MAP in the Netherlands?
The MAP is one of the parts of inburgering under the Wet inburgering 2021. That law applies if your inburgering duty started on or after 1 January 2022. Its full name is Module Arbeidsmarkt en Participatie: the labour market and participation module.
The aim of the 2021 law is that newcomers take part in Dutch society as quickly as possible, preferably through paid work. The MAP helps with that. You learn which jobs there are, which jobs suit you and how to apply. You also gain practical experience, for example through volunteer work, an internship (stage) or a paid job.
Under the older Wet inburgering 2013, the work part was ONA, a DUO exam with a portfolio. The MAP took its place for the 2021 law. Read our ONA guide if you still fall under the 2013 law.
Who must do the MAP inburgering module?
Your gemeente decides your learning route after the broad intake (brede intake). It writes this in your PIP, the personal plan for inburgering and participation. Your PIP and Mijn Inburgering show whether you must do the MAP.
- B1-route: the MAP is part of your inburgering.
- Z-route: the MAP is one of your two knowledge parts, next to the PVT (participatieverklaringstraject).
- Onderwijsroute: no MAP, as long as you finish this route successfully.
The MAP is also compulsory if you already work. For asylum status holders the gemeente includes the MAP in its inburgering offer. Family migrants and other migrants arrange and pay for their own learning route. They must also do the MAP and the PVT, which the gemeente offers.
What you do in the module
The gemeente decides how and when it offers the MAP. Divosa, the association of municipal social services, describes two conditions:
- The MAP covers 8 themes about work and the Dutch labour market.
- You gain at least 40 hours of practical experience.
According to DUO, the MAP has two parts:
- Labour market (arbeidsmarkt): you learn about jobs in the Netherlands, which jobs fit you and how to apply. You do this through assignments.
- Participation (participatie): you learn more about Dutch society. You also do practical assignments, such as volunteer work, an internship or paid work. The trainer looks at what suits you best.
Because each gemeente organises the MAP itself, the form, the timing and the trainer differ from place to place. Ask your gemeente how it works where you live.
Exemptions and tailoring
There is no general MAP inburgering exemption. The Wet inburgering 2021 hardly works with exemptions, except for people who successfully finish the onderwijsroute.
There is room for tailoring (maatwerk). If you already know certain things, the gemeente can leave those parts out of your MAP and record that in your PIP. If you work full time, that work can count towards the 40 hours of practical experience.
If a medical or psychological problem means you cannot do inburgering at all, that is a different procedure: an exemption from the whole inburgering duty. See our guide to inburgering exemptions.
Deadline and fine
You must finish the MAP within your inburgering term of 3 years. If you miss it without a valid reason, DUO can fine you €340 for the MAP.
That comes on top of a possible fine of up to €1,000 for your learning route and €340 for a late PVT. DUO never fines asylum status holders. The amounts are on DUO's fine page.
Do you need more time? Read how extending your inburgering term works.
MAP and the KNM exam
The MAP is not an exam, but it overlaps with the KNM exam (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij). One of the eight KNM themes is Werk en inkomen (work and income), with questions about work contracts, benefits and the UWV. What you learn in the MAP helps you answer those questions. See how the KNM exam works, or try a few free KNM practice questions.