Short answer: ONA stands for Orientation on the Dutch Labour Market. It belongs to the Civic Integration Act 2013. First you build a portfolio of result cards. Then you choose: take a 64-hour course, or have a final interview at DUO. If you fall under the new 2021 law, you do not do ONA but MAP. Not sure which law applies, first read which law applies to you.
What is ONA?
ONA is about working in the Netherlands. You learn how to look for work, how to apply for a job and what employers here expect from you. It is not a language exam. You do not have to produce beautiful sentences, but you do have to show that you have thought about your own place in the labour market.
The result cards
You fill in result cards about yourself and about the work you want to do. Think of your education, your experience, the profession you are aiming for and a job application letter. You submit those cards and your supporting documents through Mijn Inburgering. Together they form your portfolio.
Two ways to complete ONA
| 64-hour course | Final interview at DUO | |
|---|---|---|
| What you do | you take 64 hours of ONA lessons at a school listed on zoekinburgerschool.nl | you talk to DUO about your result cards |
| Final interview needed? | no | yes |
| How long | 64 lesson hours | about 30 minutes |
| Waiting time | depends on the school | expect around 6 weeks |
What happens in the final interview?
You sit across from two DUO staff members. They ask questions about the cards you submitted. The conversation lasts about half an hour. The best preparation is simply rereading your own cards calmly: the questions are about what you wrote down. Register in good time, because the waiting time for an interview is often around six weeks.
Who does not have to do ONA?
- You worked in the Netherlands over the past year and can prove it.
- You have a diploma from an entry-level vocational course (MBO level 1) or higher from the Netherlands.
- You have successfully completed MAP.
An exemption is not automatic: you apply for it at DUO and supply evidence. Do that well before your deadline expires. The exam fee for ONA is a separate amount, apart from the language exams; for all rates see what the civic integration exam costs and check the current amount in Mijn Inburgering.
Do you fall under the new law? Then you do MAP
MAP stands for Module Labour Market and Participation and has replaced ONA. The subject is the same, but the organisation is different: it is not DUO that arranges it, but your municipality. The municipality works with a set of fixed themes, agrees a minimum number of hours with you, and finishes with a final conversation. Those agreements are recorded in your PIP. To see how MAP relates to the rest, have a look at all parts of the exam.
The language parts take the most time
You arrange ONA and MAP with your school or municipality. For reading, listening, writing, speaking and KNM you practise free of charge at Inburgerify.
Create a free account