New Integration Scheme

1
New Integration Scheme

• Henk Snoeken
• Citizenship and Integration Department
• Ministry of Justice
• The Netherlands

2
Outline presentation

• Revision of Civic Integration System
• Civic Integration examination abroad
• Civic Integration examination in the Netherlands
• Results
• Questions?

3
But

• First some facts
• Roughly 20 Dutch population non-Dutch origin
• Third generation still chooses a partner from
  their homeland
• Family reunification main migration motive
• Integration issues

4
Revision of the Civic Integration System

• Outline agreement 2003
• Those wishing to live in our country on a long
  term
• basis must actively take part in society, master
  the Dutch language, and be aware of and live by
  Dutch values
• Civic Integration Abroad Act
• Minister for Integration, Juvenile Protection,
  Prevention and Probation
• Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Civic Integration Act

5
Revision of the Civic Integration System

• Target groups (16 65 years old)
• All newcomers (who come to the Netherlands for a
  non-temporary purpose)
• All settled non-naturalised migrants
• (or foreigners)
• Spiritual councillors (supplementary programme)

6
Civic Integration Abroad ActOutline

• Regular newcomers (primarily family reunifiers)
  must prepare for integration while still in their
  homeland
• Must pass the Civic Integration examination
  abroad in order to qualify for an Authorisation
  for temporary stay
• Dutch language and knowledge of Dutch society
• Exam costs 350,-
• Purpose quicker and better integration in Dutch
• society

7
Civic Integration examination abroad

• Knowledge of Dutch society
• broad subject range incl. history, living and
  working, legislation/constitution and democracy,
  raising children and education.
• Knowledge of Dutch language
• - basic level A1-minus
• - only speech and listening skills
• Phonepass technology

8
CEF A1-minus
A1-min
9
Civic Integration examination in the Netherlands

• Level A2 (A1 in reading writing for oldcomers)
  
• Two parts
• Practice test (one examination)
• Central test (three examinations)
• - knowledge of Dutch society
• - language test
• - electronical practice test

10
CEF A2
A1-min
11
Civic Integration Examination in the
NetherlandsIncentives and disincentives

• Municipalities call up integration subjects on
  their obligation to integrate
• Integration subjects
• have 3 ½ or 5 years to pass the exam, otherwise
• they risk facing civil financial penalties
• are free to use the available lending facility
• are also entitled to a capped compensation for
• incurred costs
• for special groups offer for integration courses
  possible

12
Results

• Civic Integration examination abroad
• As from 15 March 2006 almost 1,400 newcomers have
  taken the exam worldwide
• 89 passed 7 failed 4 no result yet
• New Integration Act has entered into force on the
  first of January 2007

13
Questions?