Temporary residence purposes under the Civic Integration Act

Last update: 27 March 2026

Sometimes you do not have to do the civic integration examination abroad before you apply for a residence permit. This is the case when you apply for a residence permit with a temporary purpose of stay under the Civic Integration Act 2021. Find out which residence purposes are temporary under the Civic Integration Act.

Temporary residence purposes under the Civic Integration Act

Under the Civic Integration Act (in Dutch: Wet inburgering), the following residence purposes are temporary.

Exchange
Study
Work in paid employment*
Work as a self-employed person
Trainee or Student on Work Placement
Seasonal labour
Frontier work
Orientation year for highly educated persons
Work as a highly skilled migrant
Residence as holder of a European Blue Card
Researcher within the meaning of Directive 2005/71/EC, Researcher within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/801
Residence with a family member or relative, if the residence purpose of the family member with whom you reside is temporary
Temporary humanitarian grounds
Medical treatment
Waiting for an application under Section 17 of the Netherlands Nationality Act (RWN)
Work as non-privileged military or non-privileged civilian personnel
Residence as a wealthy foreign national
Intra-corporate transfer (Directive 2014/66/EU)
Seafaring service as a crew member on board a seagoing vessel

*Are you going to work in paid employment as a spiritual counsellor? This is non-temporary under the Civic Integration Act. You must therefore pass the Civic Integration Exam Abroad.