FreeExamPath

DELE A2: Spain's official Spanish diploma for nationality

The DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) are Spain's official diplomas of Spanish as a foreign language. The Instituto Cervantes designs and runs them. For Spanish nationality by residence, most adults need the DELE at level A2 or higher.

Practise Spanish A2 for free

What the official rules say about the DELE A2

    • It shows that you can understand and use everyday expressions about familiar matters, such as yourself and your family, shopping, places of interest and work, and handle simple, direct conversations
    • It has written tests and an oral test
    • It is held at Instituto Cervantes centres, authorised universities and state language schools, and other recognised exam centres, in Spain and abroad
    • It is taken in person; the nationality rules also allow remote sittings, on conditions the Instituto Cervantes sets
    • If you pass (apto), the Instituto Cervantes issues a digital diploma in the name of Spain's Minister of Education
    • The nationality rules accept a DELE at level A2 or higher that you obtained earlier

    Details we are still checking

    The Instituto Cervantes sets out the exact format of the DELE A2 (its parts, timing and scoring), the pass rule, the exam dates and the prices on its exam website. That website was offline for maintenance when we checked, so we do not show these details yet, and we will add links to any free official model exams once we have checked them there. Check these details on the Instituto Cervantes site before you register.

    Registering and the exam day

    • Register through the Instituto Cervantes' online system, yourself or through your exam centre
    • The Instituto Cervantes sets the price for each country, and exam centres may not charge more
    • A registration is valid for a single exam session. You can cancel within 14 days of registering, but never after the exam date; after that, you cannot cancel or move to another session
    • Your exam centre emails you the dates and places of the written and oral tests
    • Bring your passport together with your foreign resident identity card (TIE), or your national identity card if you are an EU citizen
    • If you have a disability, you can ask for support and reasonable adjustments

    Results and your diploma

    The Instituto Cervantes emails you to say when your grades are available in your personal area on its exam website. If you pass, it issues a digital diploma, which is an official Spanish diploma.

    Who does not need the DELE A2

    • Nationals of the Spanish-speaking countries listed in the rules, such as Argentina, Colombia, Mexico or Venezuela
    • People who already hold a DELE at level A2 or higher
    • People with an official certificate of Spanish at level A2 or higher from a Spanish education authority or a state language school (Escuela Oficial de Idiomas)
    • Applicants under 18, and people whose legal capacity has been modified by a court
    • People exempted by the Ministry of Justice because they cannot read or write or have learning difficulties (they must ask, and get a decision, before they apply), and people who went to school in Spain and completed compulsory secondary education (ESO), who attach proof to their application without asking first

    How the DELE and the CCSE fit together

    For nationality you need both: the DELE A2 for Spanish, and the CCSE for knowledge of the Constitution and Spanish society. The Instituto Cervantes runs both, and you register for each one separately. Nationals of Spanish-speaking countries skip the DELE but still take the CCSE. A CCSE pass is valid for 4 years, while a DELE at level A2 or higher that you obtained earlier still counts. Pass both before you apply.

    How to prepare

    The nationality rules say that preparation courses are never compulsory for the DELE or the CCSE. Use the Instituto Cervantes' official information. FreeExamPath is independent and not affiliated with the Instituto Cervantes.

    Official links

    Frequently asked questions

    Do I need the DELE if I am from a Spanish-speaking country?

    Not if you are a national of one of the countries listed in the rules: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela. You still need the CCSE.

    Can I use a higher DELE level?

    Yes. Any DELE at level A2 or higher counts for nationality.

    Does my DELE expire for nationality purposes?

    The nationality rules accept a DELE at level A2 or higher that you obtained earlier, and they set no expiry date for it. By contrast, a CCSE pass is valid for 4 years.

    Do other Spanish certificates count?

    Only an official certificate at level A2 or higher from a Spanish education authority or a state language school (Escuela Oficial de Idiomas). Other certificates in the international SICELE system do not count for nationality, even though they count as equivalent to the DELE for other purposes.

    What are the parts, the timing and the pass mark?

    The Instituto Cervantes sets these in its exam rules. Its website was offline for maintenance when we checked, so we will add them once we have confirmed them there.

    Can I cancel or change my exam date?

    You can cancel within 14 days of registering, but never after the exam date. After that you cannot cancel or move to another session, and each registration is valid for a single session.

    How do I get my results?

    The Instituto Cervantes emails you to say when your grades are available in your personal area on its exam website. If you pass, you get a digital diploma.

    Are there free official model exams?

    Check the Instituto Cervantes exam website for its official preparation materials. It was offline when we checked, so we will add direct links once we have confirmed them.

    Is FreeExamPath linked to the Instituto Cervantes?

    No. FreeExamPath is independent and not affiliated with the Instituto Cervantes, which alone designs and runs the DELE.

    Official sources (8) · last checked 17 October 2026