DELE A2 and CCSE: the two exams for Spanish nationality
What nobody tells you when you start the process
You've been living in Spain for years. You have your residency, your job, your life here. And then you discover that applying for nationality isn't just about paperwork: you also have to pass two exams.
That catches a lot of people off guard. Nobody warns you in time. And the worst part is that if you don't prepare properly or don't register on time, you could delay your application by entire months.
In this article we'll walk you through everything you need to know about the DELE A2 and the CCSE: what they are, how they work, how much they cost, and how to pass them.
What are the DELE A2 and the CCSE?
They're two separate tests, organised by the Instituto Cervantes, that measure two different things:
- DELE A2: certifies that you have a basic level of Spanish good enough to communicate in everyday situations.
- CCSE: checks that you're familiar with the Spanish Constitution, the institutions of the State, and Spanish culture and society.
Both are required to apply for nationality by residency. You can't submit your application if you're missing either one.
If your mother tongue is Spanish (you were born in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic or other Spanish-speaking countries), you're exempt from the DELE A2. But the CCSE is something everyone has to do, no exceptions.
The most expensive mistake: registering late (or not at all)
Here's the most common trap: people wait until they have all their nationality documents ready and then remember about the exams.
Big mistake. DELE A2 spots fill up weeks before the exam. If you miss the May sitting, the next one is in October. That's a 5-month delay to your application.
What you should do: register for the exams while you're getting the rest of your documents together, not afterwards.
The CCSE exam: format and scoring
25 multiple-choice questions. 45 minutes. To pass you need to get 15 out of 25 right (60%).
The questions are multiple choice (one correct answer out of three) and true or false. They're split into five topic areas:
- Government, legislation and civic participation
- Fundamental rights and duties
- Territorial organisation of Spain
- Spanish culture and history
- Spanish society
Cost: €85. That fee covers two sittings: if you fail the first one, you get a second chance without paying again.
The CCSE is held almost every month (except August and December), in the afternoon.
The DELE A2 exam: format and scoring
More complex than the CCSE. It has four sections organised into two groups:
| Section | Duration | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Reading comprehension | 60 min | Short texts, everyday vocabulary |
| Written expression and interaction | 50 min | Writing simple texts |
| Listening comprehension | 35 min | Audio clips played twice |
| Oral expression and interaction | 12 min | Conversation with the examiner |
The written and listening sections are on the same day. The oral section takes place on a different date (before or after), which your exam centre will assign to you.
Cost in Spain: €138 in 2026. The price went up compared to 2025 (it was €134). Keep that in mind if you're on a tight budget.
Exam dates in 2026
| Exam | 2026 sittings | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| CCSE | Monthly (Jan–Nov, no August) | Last Thursday of each month |
| DELE A2 | 13 Feb / 17 Apr / 23 May / 17 Oct / 14 Nov | 5 sittings per year |
For the May DELE A2, the registration deadline is 8 April. For October, it's 2 September. For November, it's 30 September.
You register at examenes.cervantes.es. You'll need to create a user account first. Don't lose your password: that's the account you'll use to download your certificates once you pass.
Do these qualifications expire?
No. The DELE diploma you earn doesn't expire: you can use it whenever you're ready to apply for nationality, even if years go by.
The CCSE certificate doesn't expire either. Once you've passed, it's yours for s