There's no required order: the DELE A2 and the CCSE are two separate Instituto Cervantes exams and you can take them in whichever order you like, even in the same month. The practical approach is to choose your DELE A2 session first, because it has fewer dates (seven in 2027), and then fit the CCSE, which has ten, into a nearby month. Registration for 2027 opens on 18 November 2026 for the DELE and on 23 November 2026 for the CCSE.

Which exams do you need for Spanish citizenship?

For Spanish citizenship by residence you have to pass two Instituto Cervantes tests:

  • The DELE A2 or a higher level, which certifies a basic knowledge of Spanish.
  • The CCSE (the test of constitutional and sociocultural knowledge of Spain).

Some people are exempt. Exempt from the DELE are, among others, nationals by origin of Spanish-speaking countries or territories, under-18s, people whose legal capacity has been modified by a court, anyone who already holds a DELE A2 or higher, and anyone with an A2, B1 or B2 certificate from a Spanish Escuela Oficial de Idiomas (official language school). Exempt from the CCSE are minors and people whose legal capacity has been modified by a court. You'll find this in the official DELE FAQs and CCSE FAQs, and I sum it up in DELE A2 for Spanish nationality: frequently asked questions.

What is the A2-NA? (It isn't “the citizenship A2”)

“A2-NA” sometimes appears in the official calendar, and many people assume it's a special DELE for citizenship. It isn't. The A2-NA is the DELE A2 adapted for people who can't read or write:

  • It's only held in Spain and only for people applying for citizenship by residence.
  • It consists only of the speaking test, in an adapted form: 15 minutes plus 10 minutes of preparation.
  • On the exam day you must bring the authorisation decision issued by the Spanish Ministry of Justice.

If you can read and write, your exam is the general DELE A2, with its four papers. Source: Non-literate candidates in Spain.

Which should I take first, the DELE A2 or the CCSE?

Whichever suits you. My recommendation is to think about it like this:

  1. Choose your DELE A2 session first. It's the exam that needs the most preparation and the one with the fewest dates.
  2. Fit the CCSE in nearby, before or after. There's a session almost every month, and the fee (€85) includes a free second attempt if you fail or don't turn up the first time.
  3. Don't take it too early. The CCSE certificate is valid for 4 years from the date the results are approved. The DELE diploma, on the other hand, never expires.

An example: if you want to submit your application in the second half of 2027, you could take the DELE A2 on 2 April (registration until 10 February) or on 22 May (registration until 7 April), and the CCSE in March (registration until 25 February) or June (registration until 3 June). Bear in mind that DELE results take a while to come out: I explain the timings in DELE results: when they come out and how to check them.

DELE A2 exam dates in 2027

The DELE A2 is the only level examined in all seven 2027 sessions:

  • Friday 12 February: registration until 7 January 2027.
  • Friday 2 April: registration until 10 February 2027.
  • Saturday 22 May: registration until 7 April 2027.
  • Friday 9 July: registration until 12 May 2027.
  • Friday 10 September: registration until 14 July 2027.
  • Friday 15 October: registration until 1 September 2027.
  • Saturday 13 November: registration until 29 September 2027.

Source: official DELE calendar. You'll find every level in DELE exam dates 2027.

CCSE exam dates in 2027

The CCSE is taken in Spain. Each session has an appointment window of about two weeks that ends on the official date; your centre gives you an appointment within that window. These are the official 2027 dates and the registration deadline for each:

  • January: 28 January (appointments from the 14th). Registration until 7 January.
  • February: 25 February (appointments from the 11th). Registration until 4 February.
  • March: 18 March (appointments from the 4th). Registration until 25 February.
  • April: 29 April (appointments from the 15th). Registration until 8 April.
  • May: 27 May (appointments from the 13th). Registration until 6 May.
  • June: 24 June (appointments from the 10th). Registration until 3 June.
  • July: 29 July (appointments from the 15th). Registration until 8 July.
  • September: 30 September (appointments from the 16th). Registration until 9 September.
  • October: 28 October (appointments from the 14th). Registration until 7 October.
  • November: 25 November (appointments from the 11th). Registration until 4 November.

There are no sessions in August or December. Source: official CCSE calendar.

How do you register for each exam?

To sit them in Spain, you register for both online in the Instituto Cervantes shop, separately: one registration for the DELE A2 and another for the CCSE. If you take the DELE A2 in Spain for citizenship, you must register with your NIE. I walk you through it screen by screen in How to register for the DELE step by step.

When do you need to have passed them?

The sensible thing is to have both passed before you submit your citizenship application. For the DELE you have two options: authorise the Ministry of Justice to check your results with the Instituto Cervantes, or provide a copy of your diploma. The CCSE electronic results certificate can also be added to your file.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take the DELE A2 and the CCSE in the same month?

Yes. They're separate exams with separate registrations. Just make sure the dates don't clash and that you're well prepared for both.

What happens if I fail the CCSE?

Your registration lets you sit the test up to twice. If you fail or don't turn up the first time, you can request your second attempt once the results of your session are published, at the same centre and within a maximum of 6 months from the exam date.

And if I fail the DELE A2?

The DELE doesn't include a second attempt and doesn't carry over the papers you passed: to resit, you pay the full fee again. That's why it's worth preparing properly and choosing a session you can reach with time to spare.

How much do the two exams cost?

In Spain, the DELE A2 costs €138 with the official 2026 prices (the 2027 prices haven't been published yet) and the CCSE costs €85.

Can I take the A2-NA if I find writing in Spanish hard?

No. The A2-NA is only for people who are not literate, with authorisation from the Ministry of Justice. If you can read and write, even in another language or another alphabet, the general DELE A2 is the exam for you.

In short

  • There's no required order between the DELE A2 and the CCSE.
  • Choose your DELE A2 session first (seven in 2027) and fit the CCSE (ten in 2027) in nearby.
  • The A2-NA is for people who can't read or write, not “the citizenship A2”.
  • Registration for 2027 opens on 18 November 2026 (DELE) and 23 November 2026 (CCSE), in the Instituto Cervantes shop.
  • The CCSE includes a second attempt and its certificate is valid for 4 years; the DELE has no second attempt, but the diploma never expires.

If you want to walk into the DELE A2 knowing the exam inside out, my online DELE A2 course gives you strategies for each paper, commented examples, a community, a questions chat and group calls. To practise on paper, there's my DELE A2 book with 4 exam models. If you're not sure you're at A2 yet, take the free level test, and to get a heads-up before each session, join the newsletter 💌.

¡A por el DELE! 🇪🇸