01What are the CCSE and DELE A2, and who has to take them?
Spanish law (Article 22 of the Civil Code and Article 6 of Royal Decree 1004/2015, the citizenship regulation) requires applicants to show a sufficient degree of integration into Spanish society. In practice that means two tests, both designed and run by the Instituto Cervantes:
The requirement applies to every residence route, including the one-year routes for spouses of Spanish nationals and people born in Spain. A short residence period does not get you out of the exams.
- The CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España): a multiple-choice test on the Spanish Constitution, institutions, geography, culture and everyday life in Spain.
- The DELE A2 (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera): an official Spanish language diploma at A2 level, which is basic but functional Spanish.
| Your situation | CCSE | DELE A2 |
|---|---|---|
| Adult from the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia or another non-Spanish-speaking country | Yes | Yes |
| National by origin of a Spanish-speaking country on the official list | Yes | No |
| Already hold a DELE A2 or higher, or an A2, B1 or B2 certificate from a Spanish Official Language School (Escuela Oficial de Idiomas) | Yes | No |
| Completed compulsory secondary education in Spain (título de la ESO) | No (waiver) | No (waiver) |
| Under 18, or legally incapacitated by a court | No | No |
| Officially certified as deaf | Yes | No |
02Am I exempt from the DELE A2?
Only in limited cases. Article 6.5 of Royal Decree 1004/2015 exempts nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Instituto Cervantes adds that the nationality must be by origin, not acquired later.
Speaking Spanish fluently does not exempt you. A British retiree who has lived in Spain for twenty years and speaks excellent Spanish still has to sit the DELE A2, unless they already hold a DELE or an Official Language School certificate at A2 level or above. The good news is that, for a fluent speaker, A2 is a low bar.
Brazil, Portugal, the Philippines and Andorra are not on the list. Their nationals benefit from a shorter two-year residence period, but they still sit the DELE A2.
03How much do the CCSE and DELE A2 cost in 2026?
Prices are set by the Instituto Cervantes. These are the official 2026 figures:
| Exam | 2026 price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CCSE | 85 euros, same price worldwide | Includes two attempts if you fail or miss the first one, the certificate and the official study manual |
| DELE A2 in Spain | 138 euros | One attempt; if you fail you pay again |
| DELE A2 in the UK | 170 pounds | Official price list; your exam centre confirms the final amount |
| DELE A2 in the US | 130 US dollars | Official price list; your exam centre confirms the final amount |
You register and pay online through your private area on the Instituto Cervantes exams website. If you are sitting the CCSE, or the DELE A2 in Spain, for citizenship purposes, you must register with your NIE (foreigner identity number). If you registered with your passport number, ask the user support service to change it before the exam. You can ask for a refund within 14 calendar days of registering.
04What is the CCSE like and what is the pass mark?
The CCSE has 25 questions in five tasks and lasts 45 minutes. Questions are either multiple choice with three options or true/false. Fifteen are about government, law and civic participation, and ten about culture, history, geography and daily life in Spain, such as how to register with a doctor or what a padrón (town hall registration) is.
You pass with 15 correct answers out of 25 (60 %). Wrong answers are not penalised. The questions come from the official manual the Instituto Cervantes publishes each year, which includes the question bank with answers. Study the current manual rather than lists copied from websites, because the question bank is revised.
The questions are in Spanish, written in simplified language, and there is a glossary. If your Spanish is at A2 level, the language will not be the main difficulty; the content will. Results come out about 20 days later. The certificate only says APTO (pass) or NO APTO (fail) and is valid for four years.
05What is the DELE A2 like for a beginner?
The DELE A2 has four papers: reading (60 minutes), listening (40 minutes), writing (45 minutes) and speaking (12 minutes, plus 12 minutes of preparation). The speaking test may be on the day before or after the official date, depending on the centre.
Each paper is worth 25 points. They are grouped in pairs (reading with writing, listening with speaking) and you need at least 30 out of 50 in each group. A total of 60 is not enough if you fail one group. If you fail, you retake the whole exam.
For someone starting from zero, A2 usually means several months of regular study. The speaking paper covers a short presentation on a familiar topic, describing a photo and a simulated everyday conversation, so practise speaking, not just grammar. Results take about two months (about three for the May and November sessions). The diploma never expires.
06When and where can I sit the exams, and can I take them from the UK or US?
The CCSE is held on the last Thursday of every month except August and December, and only at exam centres in Spain (there are more than 200). Your centre gives you a specific appointment within the session. You cannot take it online or abroad. The remaining 2026 sessions are 29 October (registration closes 8 October) and 26 November (registration closes 5 November). Registration for 2027 opens on 23 November 2026.
The DELE A2 can be taken in Spain or at Instituto Cervantes centres and accredited centres abroad, including in the UK and the US. All 2026 A2 sessions have closed. For 2027, registration opens on 18 November 2026 and the A2 is offered on 12 February (registration closes 7 January), 2 April, 22 May, 9 July, 10 September, 15 October and 12 November.
If you are planning a move and expect to apply for citizenship years from now, there is no harm in taking the DELE A2 early: it does not expire. The CCSE certificate lasts four years, so time it closer to your application.
07Are there exemptions for age, illiteracy or disability?
There is no exemption for older applicants. You may read online that people over 65 or 70 are exempt, but the regulation does not say so. The automatic exemptions are for minors and people legally incapacitated by a court.
Applicants who cannot read or write can ask the Ministry of Justice for a partial waiver. With that authorisation, they take an oral version of the CCSE and an adapted DELE A2 (A2-NA, oral paper only). These versions are only available in Spain and only for citizenship applicants.
If you have a visual, hearing or mobility impairment, dyslexia or another recognised difficulty, you can ask for special arrangements such as extra time or an adapted format. Send the request with supporting documents to your exam centre at least two weeks before the exam.
08Can I apply for citizenship before I pass?
It is not advisable. The Ministry of Justice expects the CCSE and DELE results, or your authorisation for it to check them with the Instituto Cervantes, as part of the application. If they are missing, you can expect a formal request for documents (requerimiento), and if you cannot answer it in time the file may be closed or refused.
Use the waiting time to prepare everything else: a birth certificate and a criminal record certificate from your country, apostilled and translated into Spanish (for UK applicants, an ACRO police certificate; for US applicants, an FBI background check), your padrón certificate and the fee. Then you can file the month your results come out.
09Frequently asked questions
Can I take the CCSE online?
No. The CCSE is an in-person, paper-based test taken only at exam centres in Spain. The DELE A2 is also in person, including the speaking paper.
How many times can I retake the CCSE?
As many times as you like. Each 85 euro registration gives you two attempts: if you fail or miss the first one, you can retake it free once results are published. After two failed attempts, you register and pay again.
Does a DELE B1 or B2 count instead of A2?
Yes. The law asks for DELE A2 or higher, and Official Language School certificates at basic, intermediate or advanced level also count. If you already hold one, you do not need the A2.
How do I prove to the Ministry that I passed?
Tick the box on the application form authorising the Ministry of Justice to check your results with the Instituto Cervantes, or attach the certificates. The electronic certificates carry a secure verification code, so a printed copy is accepted.
I am married to a Spanish citizen. Do I still need the exams?
Yes. The one-year route for spouses is still citizenship by residence and requires both exams, unless you fall within one of the exemptions or waivers above.
Do my children need to sit the exams?
No. Children under 18 are exempt from both. Instead, their parents provide certificates from the schools or training centres they have attended.
Can I ask for my result to be reviewed?
Yes, once. For the DELE you have one month, and the review costs 60 % of the exam price, refunded if your result changes to a pass. A review can also lower your mark, so it is only worth it if you were very close.
··Official sources
- examenes.cervantes.es/es/ccse/cuanto
- examenes.cervantes.es/es/ccse/calificaciones
- examenes.cervantes.es/es/ccse/cuando
- examenes.cervantes.es/es/dele/cuando
- examenes.cervantes.es/sites/default/files/ic-tabla-precios-dele-2026.pdf
- examenes.cervantes.es/es/dele/preguntas-frecuentes
- boe.es/eli/es/rd/2015/11/06/1004/con
- mjusticia.gob.es/es/ciudadania/nacionalidad/informacion-nacionalidad
Information reviewed on 03.10.2026 against the law in force. This page is for general information and is not a substitute for advice on your own case.