Price, deadlines, the step-by-step registration process, and what to bring on exam day.
In 30 seconds
- The full exam costs €150. Each separate module costs €50.
- You pay the DUO, receive your candidate number by e-mail, and only then schedule at the embassy.
- The result arrives within 8 weeks — usually 2 to 4 — and is valid for 1 year.
- Failed a module? You only retake that one and pay only for that one.
How much it costs
- Full exam: €150, paid to the DUO.
- Separate module: €50 each (KNS, reading, or speaking).
- Retaking a module: €50. You do not pay again for what you already passed.
Deadlines
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Exam result | Up to 8 weeks — usually 2 to 4 |
| Validity of the pass | 1 year from the date |
| MVV visa review (IND) | Up to 90 days, by law |
The pass is valid for 1 year. The visa application must be submitted within that year — beyond that, the exam would have to be retaken.
The step-by-step registration process
The registration is split between the DUO and the embassy, in this order. Skipping a step does not work: the embassy only opens the schedule after the DUO confirms the payment.
- Register on the DUO portal with your details exactly as they appear in your passport. A swapped name is troublesome to correct later.
- Pay the €150 via iDEAL/Wero (if you have a Dutch account) or by international transfer.
- Wait for the kandidaatnummer — the DUO sends it by e-mail as soon as the payment comes through.
- Schedule at the embassy through the NederlandWereldwijd.nl website, choosing a day and time.
- Show up on the day with your valid original passport, the appointment confirmation, and a recent passport-style photo.
If you fail a module
You do not lose the others. You re-register only for the one you missed, pay €50, and book a new date. The modules you passed remain valid.
But the cost is not just money. It is waiting again for the embassy's schedule, waiting again for the result, and watching the visa deadline tick by while you wait. Arriving prepared costs far less than retaking.
You are already going to spend €150. Preparing well costs a fraction of that
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Frequently asked questions
Where do I take the exam?
At the embassy or consulate-general of the Netherlands in the country where you live. The appointment is made at NederlandWereldwijd.nl, after the DUO sends your number.
What do I bring on the day?
A valid original passport, the appointment confirmation, and a recent passport-style photo. Without the passport, you cannot take the exam.
When do the results come out?
By e-mail, with the PDF statement, within eight weeks. In practice, it usually arrives in two to four.
This series has 4 parts
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