If you pass the DELE, your certificate (the official diploma) arrives as a digital PDF in the same email as your grades, about two months after the exam (about three for the May and November sessions). You can download it whenever you need it from your personal area on the Instituto Cervantes website, anyone can verify it with its secure verification code (CSV) or its QR code, and it never expires.
It's one of the questions I get most after every exam session: “when will my diploma arrive?”, “will they post it to me?”, “is it valid forever?”. Here's everything you need to know, based on what the Instituto Cervantes says.
(The video is in Spanish, with subtitles available.)
Is the DELE certificate digital or on paper?
Digital. Since the 2024 exam sessions, candidates who pass no longer receive a paper diploma: they receive the official diploma as a PDF. It's issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education and it's just as valid as the old paper ones.
If you want a printed copy, you can print the PDF. But for any official procedure, what really matters is that it can be verified online (more on that below).
When will I receive my DELE certificate?
On the same day as your grades. When the Instituto Cervantes publishes the results of your exam session, it emails you at the address you used to register:
- If you pass (APTO), that email includes your grade certificate and your digital diploma.
- If you don't pass (NO APTO), you only receive the grade certificate, with your score for each paper.
Results take about two months from the written exams, and about three for the May and November sessions. If you sat the exam in November 2026, expect them between February and early March 2027 (that's my estimate based on previous years, not an official date). I explain it in detail in DELE results: when they come out and how to check them.
What's the difference between the grade certificate and the diploma?
They're two different documents, and it's easy to mix them up:
- The grade certificate (certificado de calificaciones) goes to everyone, pass or fail. It shows your score for each paper and the final result, APTO or NO APTO.
- The diploma only goes to candidates who pass. It's the document that certifies your level of Spanish.
Both include a secure verification code (CSV): on the grade certificate it's on the left-hand side, and on the diploma it's at the bottom right.
How do I download my DELE diploma?
If you've lost it or can't find the email, don't worry: you can download it again from your personal area. Here's how:
- Go to your personal area. Right now, the official exams page links to the login of the Instituto Cervantes online shop to check grades and certificates.
- Log in with the same email address you used to register for the exam.
- If you don't remember your password, request a new one from the login screen. The email to set it up may land in your spam folder.
- Find the section with your certifications (the official guide calls it “Mis certificaciones”) and download your diploma.
One important warning: don't create a new account with a different email. That account won't have your exam linked to it, so you won't see your results. And one more thing: the Instituto Cervantes is rebuilding its exams website (November 2026), so some button names may change, but the idea stays the same: log in with your registration email and look for your certifications.
What if my diploma is from before 2024?
Diplomas from 2024 onwards can be downloaded directly from your personal area. If yours is older, contact the exam centre where you sat the exam and ask them for a digital copy in your personal area.
What if there's a mistake in my name?
If you request a change to your personal details, or if a grade review changes your result, the digital diploma is automatically regenerated with the new information. To request the change, contact your exam centre or the Instituto Cervantes user support service. That's why I always insist on copying your details letter by letter when you register.
How can someone verify a DELE certificate?
This is what makes the PDF as good as paper. A university, an employer or a government office can check that your diploma is genuine in two ways:
- With the CSV, the code at the bottom right of the diploma. It's entered in the Instituto Cervantes verification page, which then shows the original document.
- With the QR code, at the bottom left. Any QR reader takes you straight to the verification page.
Be careful with one thing: the CSV gives access to your document. Only share it with people who really need it, and don't post it on social media.
Does the DELE certificate expire?
No. The DELE diploma has no expiry date: a DELE B2 you passed years ago still certifies your B2 today. A specific university or employer might ask for a recent certificate, but that's their own rule, so check with them first.
Don't confuse it with other Instituto Cervantes exams: the CCSE certificate (the culture test for Spanish citizenship) is valid for 4 years, and the SIELE for 5.
What do I do with the diploma for Spanish citizenship?
If you passed the DELE A2 (or a higher level) for citizenship by residence, you have two options when you apply: authorise the Ministry of Justice to check your results with the Instituto Cervantes, or submit a copy of your diploma. I cover it all in DELE A2 and CCSE for Spanish citizenship.
DELE certificate: frequently asked questions
Will they post my DELE diploma to me?
No. Since 2024 the diploma is digital: it arrives by email with your grades and it's always available in your personal area.
How much does the DELE certificate cost?
Nothing extra. The diploma is included in the exam registration fee; there's no charge to download it.
Is the digital diploma as valid as the paper one?
Yes. It's the official diploma, and it can also be verified online with the CSV or the QR code.
I didn't pass: do I get any document?
Yes, the grade certificate with your score for each paper. It shows you which group you were short in so you can prepare for the next session. If you think a grade is unfair, you can request a review within 30 days of the email with your certificate.
Can I get my diploma before the results come out?
No. The Instituto Cervantes doesn't release results before the publication date, and the diploma arrives together with the grades.
In short
- Since 2024 the DELE diploma is digital: a PDF you receive with your grades if you pass.
- You can download it anytime from your personal area, logging in with your registration email.
- If your diploma is from before 2024, ask your exam centre for a digital copy.
- It's verified with the CSV (bottom right) or the QR code (bottom left).
- The DELE certificate never expires.
And if you don't have yours yet because your exam is still ahead, my online courses for each level give you strategies for every paper, commented examples, a community, a Q&A chat and group calls. If you're not sure which level to sit, start with the free level test, and if you'd like reminders before every registration deadline, join the newsletter 💌.
¡A por el DELE! 🇪🇸
