Last updated: July 2026.
If you registered for the DELE last year, forget everything you knew: registration has changed. The Instituto Cervantes has launched a brand-new online store, tienda.cervantes.org, and the whole process now goes through it (the official exams website redirects you there). In Spain, registration is online only.
And fair warning: the new website has its quirks. There is a screen that looks broken, a button that kicks you out if you don't have an account, and one small oversight that can make you pay for the wrong exam centre.
I'm Mar, an accredited DELE examiner, and I went through the entire process from start to finish (Spain → Madrid → DELE B2 → October 2026 session), taking a screenshot of every screen. In this guide I'll walk you through it, step by step, until your place is booked.
Before you start: what you need at hand
- Your passport or NIE. You are going to copy your details LETTER BY LETTER (I'll tell you later why this matters so much).
- A credit or debit card to pay (payment goes through Santander's payment gateway; Correos prepaid cards are also accepted).
- Your own personal email address. The Cervantes requires a single-person email: that's where your receipt, your exam summons and your results will arrive.
Dates and deadlines left in 2026 (Spain)
- October session: Friday the 16th (B1, B2 and C1) and Saturday the 17th (A2). Registration open until 2 September.
- November session: Friday the 13th (A2) and Saturday the 14th (A1, B1, B2, C1 and C2). Registration open until 30 September.
2026 prices in Spain by level: A1 €112, A2 €138, B1 €173, B2 €204, C1 €225 and C2 €240. You'll find the full official calendar for the year, with every date and level, in When is the DELE and how can you register?
One piece of advice before we go on: don't leave it until the last day. Registration closes on those dates, but exam centres have limited places… and they run out earlier (you'll see it with your own eyes in step 10).
The step-by-step, screen by screen
Step 1: go to tienda.cervantes.org (and don't panic)
See the empty store? It is not broken. The website shows no exams at all until you tell it where you are, because it needs to assign you a "reference Instituto Cervantes centre". The country and city selectors are at the top left.
If it loads in English and you prefer Spanish (or vice versa): at the top right, under "Global | EN", you can change the language.
Step 2: choose your country
Type the first few letters in the search box and select your country. In my example, España (Spain).
Step 3: choose your city
Same thing with the city: in my example, Madrid. One detail to note: this city only sets your "reference" Cervantes centre. You choose the actual exam centre later on, so don't worry if your town isn't listed.
Step 4: click «Ver DELE» (See DELE)
Now the home page shows the product cards. Click «Ver DELE» (See DELE). Don't confuse it with the CCSE, which is the constitutional knowledge test for Spanish citizenship (a different exam).
Step 5: open the exam search
You land on the exam finder, with its filters. Open the first one, «Examen» (Exam).
Step 6: choose your level
Select the level you are taking. And if you are still torn between two levels, my usual advice: take a level test first and clear up your doubts before paying.
Step 7: choose the exam session
The names are a bit cryptic ("DELE_Octubre_16y17_10_2026"), but look at the month and the year. And notice how many there are: for B1 and B2, in all that's left of 2026, just two: October and November. That's all the margin you have.
Step 8: your region and «Buscar» (Search)
Last filter: your region (in my example, "Madrid, Comunidad de"). Click «Buscar» (Search).
Step 9: the available exam centres
Here are the real centres where you can sit the exam. In my search (B2, October, Community of Madrid) five came up: Élite Lenguas, Escuela de Español Santa Bárbara, Universidad Complutense, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria and Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Expand each one to see its address, contact details and date.
Step 10: places in sight and «Ver detalles» (See details)
Inside each centre you'll see a table with the session, the date and the available places. Green means there are places; orange means «Últimas plazas» (last places — and yes, it's real: I ran into it while making this guide). Click «Ver detalles» (See details).
⚠️ Examiner's tip: when the product page opens, scroll down to the "Detalles del centro de examen" (exam centre details) section and check that it is YOUR centre. While preparing this guide, the website opened a different centre from the list on me. Twice. Always check it before paying.
Step 11: review the exam page and «Añadir producto» (Add product)
The exam page gives you all the key information: the real price (€204 for B2 in Spain), the registration period, and the exam dates. And here comes the part that surprises everyone: in my example, the written exam was on 16 October… but the oral exams ran "from 25 September to 6 November". Yes: your oral exam can fall on a different day, even BEFORE the written one, and the exact date is assigned by the centre. Don't book flights or make plans until you have your official summons. Before paying, also review what you should check carefully in the DELE terms and conditions (changes, refunds, personal details). When you're sure, click «Añadir producto» (Add product).
Step 12: the account wall
No account, no cart: when you click «Añadir producto», the site sends you to "Iniciar sesión o registrarse" (sign in or register). My advice: create your account BEFORE starting the whole process, with an email address of your own that you check regularly, so you don't lose everything you had selected.
After registering: details, payment and receipt
Once your account is created, the rest is more straightforward: you fill in your candidate details, pay by card and download your resguardo de inscripción (registration receipt) from your user area. That receipt is your proof of registration: keep it safe. On exam day you will need three things: the receipt, your original ID document (the same one you used to register) and the summons the centre will send you.
The 3 mistakes that can cost you your registration
- Details that don't match your ID document. Incomplete surnames, a mistyped NIE, a wrong birth date… The exam is linked to that document, and correcting it afterwards is a bureaucratic process. If you are taking the exam for Spanish citizenship, it can also affect your application. Copy everything letter by letter.
- A shared email address, or one you never check. The Cervantes requires a single-person email, and everything arrives there: receipt, summons and results.
- Waiting until the last day. October registration closes on 2 September, but centre places can run out before that. You already saw the «Últimas plazas» (last places) warning… in July.
Frequently asked questions about DELE registration
Where do I register for the DELE?
On the Instituto Cervantes' official online store: tienda.cervantes.org. In Spain registration is online only; outside Spain you can also register directly at your exam centre.
How much does the DELE cost in 2026?
In Spain: A1 €112, A2 €138, B1 €173, B2 €204, C1 €225 and C2 €240. Outside Spain fees vary by country (you'll see them on each exam's product page).
Until when can I register for the DELE in 2026?
Until 2 September for the October session and until 30 September for the November session. But remember: centre places can run out before the deadline.
Can I change my session, centre or level after paying?
It's not automatic: in general, once registration is closed there are no changes, and while it's open they depend on availability. I explain it in detail in what to check carefully before paying.
When do DELE results come out?
Results are usually published about 2 to 3 months after the exam, in your user area. If you get an APTO (pass), the diploma is issued afterwards. And if you want to understand how it's scored, here's how the DELE is graded.
DELE or SIELE?
They are different certificates: the DELE is an official diploma by level, while the SIELE is a multi-level exam. If you're not sure which one suits you, here are the differences between DELE and SIELE.
Your place is booked. Now what?
Now comes the important part: getting to the exam and earning your APTO (pass). In my DELE preparation courses I prepare you level by level, with real exam models and my personal feedback, drawing on my experience as an accredited examiner. And if you're still not sure about your level, start with the free level test.
¡A por el DELE! 💪
