For Spanish nationality by residence you need the DELE A2 or a higher level, which certifies your Spanish, plus the CCSE, a test on the Spanish Constitution and society. Both are run by the Instituto Cervantes. There are exemptions (for example, if you're a native-born national of a Spanish-speaking country you don't take the DELE, but you do take the CCSE), the DELE never expires and the CCSE is valid for four years.

This isn't about the application file or lawyers, it's about the exams: what they ask of you, who's exempt, how much they cost, which one to take first and how to prepare for the DELE A2.

Which DELE exam do I need for Spanish nationality?

The DELE A2 at least. B1, B2, C1 and C2 also count: if you already have any of them, you don't need to take the A2. It's the official way to prove the basic knowledge of Spanish that the law requires for nationality by residence.

Is the DELE A2 the only thing I need?

No. You also have to pass the CCSE (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España, the test of Constitutional and Sociocultural Knowledge of Spain). They're two different exams, with separate registrations: the DELE A2 measures your Spanish, and the CCSE what you know about the Constitution, how the State is organised and Spanish society and culture. I explain the CCSE in detail in CCSE and DELE A2: the two Spanish nationality exams.

Is the SIELE or another certificate accepted?

The SIELE isn't accepted: the rules require a DELE diploma. What does exempt you from the DELE A2 is a basic (A2), intermediate (B1) or advanced (B2) certificate from a Spanish Escuela Oficial de Idiomas (Official School of Languages). If you want to see how the DELE and the SIELE differ, it's all in DELE or SIELE.

Who is exempt from the DELE A2?

According to the Instituto Cervantes, these people don't have to take the DELE A2:

  • Nationals of Spanish-speaking countries or territories, as long as it's their nationality of origin (not acquired).
  • People under 18.
  • People whose legal capacity has been modified by a court.
  • Anyone who already has a DELE A2 or higher.
  • Anyone with an A2, B1 or B2 certificate from an Escuela Oficial de Idiomas.
  • Deaf people, as long as they officially prove their deafness.

On top of that, the Ministry of Justice can grant two kinds of waiver:

  • Full waiver for people who have completed compulsory secondary education (ESO) in Spain. You have to prove it, and the Ministry decides.
  • Partial waiver for people who can't read or write. It's requested from the Ministry and, with it, you take an adapted exam (the DELE A2-NA), only at centres in Spain, which consists of a single adapted speaking test. Those who pass receive a certificate that's valid for nationality, not the DELE diploma.

Exemptions and waivers aren't automatic: you prove them in your application. If you're unsure about your case, check the Ministry of Justice website before registering for an exam you may not need.

Who is exempt from the CCSE?

Only minors and people whose legal capacity has been modified by a court are exempt from the CCSE. Anyone who has completed ESO in Spain can request the full waiver, and people who can't read or write, the partial one (with an adapted exam). Deaf people do take the CCSE, but they can take an adapted version in Spanish Sign Language. Careful: being a native Spanish speaker exempts you from the DELE, but not from the CCSE.

Do the DELE A2 and the CCSE expire?

The DELE never expires. It's valid indefinitely, and the Instituto Cervantes confirms that DELE diplomas issued before 2008 are still valid for nationality too. If you passed the A2 (or a higher level) years ago, you don't need to sit it again: just keep that diploma safe.

The CCSE, on the other hand, is valid for four years from the date the grade report is approved.

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

My advice: get the DELE A2 first. It never expires, it's the exam that needs the most preparation and its results take longer (about two months, or about three for the May and November sessions). Take the CCSE closer to the date you plan to submit your application, so that its certificate is still within its four years of validity. That way you won't risk one requirement expiring before your application goes in.

What is the DELE A2 exam like?

It has four tests worth 25 points each:

  • Reading comprehension: 60 minutes, 4 tasks.
  • Listening comprehension: 40 minutes, 4 tasks.
  • Written expression and interaction: 45 minutes, 2 tasks (Task 1, written interaction; Task 2, written expression).
  • Oral expression and interaction: a 12-minute exam, with 12 minutes of preparation beforehand, and 3 tasks: Task 1, presenting a topic; Task 2, describing a photo; Task 3, a dialogue in a simulated situation.

To pass you need 30 out of 50 points in each group (reading + writing, and listening + speaking), and the groups don't compensate each other. I explain it in how to pass the DELE A2 and, test by test, in the DELE A2 guide.

What level of Spanish does the A2 require?

Basic communication in everyday situations: talking about yourself and your family, your surroundings and your past in simple terms, shopping, understanding short ads and messages and dealing with immediate needs. It's not an exam about literature or complex topics: it's a manageable level if you work on it methodically.

How much do the exams and the application cost?

  • DELE A2: €138 in Spain (2026 fee; check the current one when you register). Outside Spain, it depends on the country.
  • CCSE: €85 worldwide. The registration includes a second attempt if you fail or don't show up.
  • Fee for the nationality by residence application: €104.05, according to the Ministry of Justice (the amount may be revised).

All in all, about €327 in exams and fees, not counting preparation. If you fail the DELE A2, you have to pay for it again, so it's worth going in well prepared.

When can I take the DELE A2?

A2 is the level with the most sessions. In 2027 it has seven: 12 February, 2 April, 22 May, 9 July, 10 September, 15 October and 13 November. Registration for 2027 opens on 18 November 2026. Check that your centre offers the session you want and register early; you'll find all the deadlines in DELE exam dates 2027.

When do the results arrive, and how do I add them to my application?

DELE results come out about two months after the exam (about three in May and November). There's no provisional grade: you receive your grade certificate by email and, if you pass, your digital diploma in that same email. For your application you have two options: authorise the Ministry of Justice to check your result with the Instituto Cervantes, or provide a copy of your diploma or certificate, which carries a secure verification code. CCSE results come out about 20 days after the exam.

How should I prepare for the DELE A2 for nationality?

  1. Take a level test to see where you're starting from.
  2. Look at the official sample exam, free on the Instituto Cervantes website, to see what each test looks like.
  3. Work task by task, not on “Spanish in general”: each task asks for something specific.
  4. Practise speaking out loud and against the clock, as in the real exam: 12 minutes of preparation and 12 of exam.
  5. Write by hand, because the writing test is on paper.
  6. Do full timed practice tests before exam day.
  7. Prepare for the CCSE separately, with the free manual and app from the Instituto Cervantes.

Which mistakes should I avoid?

  • Studying advanced grammar “just in case”. It's better to master the basics (present, past tenses, ir a + infinitive, ser and estar, common prepositions) and use them well.
  • Preparing only with reading. You need all four skills, speaking included.
  • Turning up without having done a single timed practice test. Time is tight, and without a clock you fool yourself.
  • Mixing up the DELE A2 and the CCSE. They're prepared in very different ways, each with its own material.

Other frequently asked questions

Is there a special DELE A2 for nationality?

No. For nationality you take the general DELE A2, the same for everyone. The only different exam is the A2-NA, for people who can't read or write and have the Ministry's waiver. If you're taking it in Spain for nationality, you must register with your NIE, and on exam day you'll be asked for your original TIE and passport.

Can I take the DELE A2 outside Spain?

Yes, at any exam centre in the world. The residence requirements to apply for nationality are a separate matter.

Do I need an agent to register?

No. You register for the DELE A2 and the CCSE yourself on the Instituto Cervantes exams website. If you're taking it in Spain, I walk you through it in how to register for the DELE.

What happens if I fail the DELE A2?

You register for another session and pay again. No test you passed is kept: you retake the whole exam.

In short

  • For nationality you need the DELE A2 (or higher) and the CCSE. The SIELE isn't accepted.
  • Exempt from the DELE, among others: native-born nationals of Spanish-speaking countries, people under 18, deaf people and anyone who already has a DELE A2 or an A2, B1 or B2 certificate from an Escuela Oficial de Idiomas.
  • Only minors and people whose legal capacity has been modified by a court are exempt from the CCSE (plus anyone granted a waiver).
  • The DELE never expires; the CCSE is valid for four years. That's why it's best to get the DELE A2 first and leave the CCSE until you're about to apply.
  • DELE A2 in Spain: €138 (2026); CCSE: €85; application fee: €104.05.
  • In 2027 the A2 has seven sessions.

If you want to prepare for the DELE A2 methodically, my online DELE A2 course gives you strategies for each test, commented examples, a community, a Q&A chat and group calls. If you'd rather practise on paper, there's my DELE A2 book with 4 up-to-date practice tests that simulate the exam. If you're not sure about your level, start with the free level test, and if you'd like deadline reminders before each session, join the newsletter 💌.

¡A por el DELE! 🇪🇸