Integration law for immigrants to the Netherlands

The integration law for immigrants to the Netherlands, known as the Civil Integration Act 2021 (Dutch: Wet inburgering 2021), is a law designed to ensure that long-term immigrants to the Netherlands, who are not citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or Switzerland, integrate into Dutch society. This law requires immigrants to follow a structured process of integration including social integration, which includes learning the Dutch language, understanding Dutch society, and participating in civic life. Immigrants must complete this process, including passing an exam, within three years of their arrival in the Netherlands.^[1]

Since its introduction in 2006, the law has undergone several revisions. The most significant reforms, implemented in 2022, have been met with controversy for several reasons, ranging from concerns about the process's complexity and fairness to issues about how it affects different immigrant groups.^[2][3][4]

According to a separate law, known as the Wet inburgering in het buitenland, certain classes of prospective immigrants must also pass a test involving basic knowledge of Dutch and Dutch society even before they first enter the Netherlands.