2013 Inburgering (civic integration) loans and fines cancelled for asylum-status holders

Loans and fines are cancelled for 2013-law asylum-status holders

DUO’s 6 July 2026 recovery action applies to asylum-status holders under Wi2013 with paid or outstanding integration loans or fines. Wait for the personal DUO letter. Family and other migrants are outside this action. An integration obligation can still continue.

Separate the July 2026 cancellation from family-member relief

The announced cancellation covers people with asylum status whose integration duty falls under the 2013 law. Eligible outstanding DUO integration loans and fines are cancelled, and eligible payments are refunded automatically. The action does not depend on finishing the exams, but any remaining integration duty continues. People under the 2021 law follow a different funding system; other migrants are not included in this cancellation.

Check the conditions if you are a family member

A partner, parent or child may qualify for a separate full or partial loan reduction, but family relationship alone is not enough. Your own duty must fall under the 2013 law and your residence permit and sponsor must meet the legal conditions. Full relief can depend on completing the required parts, receiving a full exemption or waiver, or becoming Dutch through a qualifying route, all within the applicable deadlines. A missed participation deadline can affect eligibility even if you later complete the exams.

Act quickly after a missed deadline

Some qualifying family members may receive partial relief if they meet a condition within six months of the original or officially extended deadline. The percentage can depend on how many parts remained and how soon you completed them or applied for an eligible waiver. Keep the DUO decision, deadline letters, exam results, PIP or other route records, and proof of any extension. Ask DUO to explain your individual calculation before assuming a balance is cancelled.

Practical next step: identify the integration law in your DUO letter, then compare your own status and dates with the current decision. If the expected refund or cancellation does not appear, contact DUO with your case number and copies of relevant letters.