2013-law effort waiver: how the 600-hour rule works

This waiver is for the 2013 integration law

The waiver for demonstrable effort (AGI) is not available under the 2021 system. It is also not granted automatically when someone reaches 600 hours. DUO checks the learning path, registered attendance, exam history, and applicable timing before making a decision. If your file follows the 2021 law, discuss progress or difficulty with your municipality instead.

For an A2 course, confirm both attendance and attempts

The usual course route requires at least 600 hours attended in person at a qualifying school, with the integration period having begun at least two and a half years earlier. Online study hours do not count toward this total. DUO allows certain combinations of A2 and B1/B2 language-course hours; in some cases, at least 200 A2 hours can be combined with literacy teaching. Check the exact mix recorded for you. DUO also reviews attempts at the required exams, with limits on how many NT2 attempts count.

Literacy and school-based routes use different checks

A literacy-course route still requires 600 qualifying hours, including at least 300 hours of literacy instruction; the remaining hours may include A2 lessons. DUO may ask for a learning assessment before deciding. A young applicant who followed practice education, qualifying special education, or an international bridging class may use documented Dutch and society lessons toward the total. Those school hours generally need to fall within the two years before applying, and PVT must be complete when it applied to the person. Separate attempt requirements may still matter.

Collect records before sending a request

Check the hours shown in Mijn Inburgering. If the total is short, ask the school to submit the attendance record to DUO or complete the relevant participation statement. Keep contracts, invoices, attendance logs, course dates, and exam results; these can help if the provider no longer exists. Use DUO’s AGI form and postal instructions, and wait for a written decision. The published handling period is up to eight weeks. If the conditions are not met, ask whether a separate extension route could apply.

Do not confuse a waiver with other options

An exemption recognises that a particular requirement is already met, often through qualifying education or results. An AGI waiver is based on documented effort under the 2013 rules. Extra time changes the period available to finish; it does not itself remove an exam. Ask DUO which decision you are requesting and what evidence belongs with it.