CCSE and DELE A2 in 2026: dates, deadlines, fees and rules, each with its source and reading date
Sources: 8 links, read on 21 October 2026.
Instituto Cervantes, “When is the CCSE test” (Internet Archive copy of 21 May 2026); Instituto Cervantes, “CCSE grading” (copy of 9 May 2026); Instituto Cervantes, CCSE frequently asked questions (copy of 7 Aug 2026); Instituto Cervantes, “When is the DELE” (copy of 25 Aug 2026); Real Decreto 1004/2015, article 6 (BOE); Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10 (BOE); Instituto Cervantes, flyer “DELE-CCSE 2026” (November 2025; copy of 5 Dec 2025); Instituto Cervantes, “Información clave para las convocatorias DELE y CCSE 2027” (cervantes.org; copy of 23 Oct 2026), read on 21 October 2026.
On 21 October 2026: the CCSE costs €85, has 25 questions, lasts at most 45 minutes and you pass with 15 correct answers.
Registration for the CCSE sitting of 29 October closed on 8 October; the next one with registration open is the sitting of 26 November, until 5 November. No DELE A2 sitting has registration open: the sitting of 13 November closed its registration on 30 September, and the next one with registration is the sitting of 5 March 2027 (registration opens on 18 November).
The Instituto Cervantes website is not answering: where each figure comes from
On 21 October 2026 we tried the Instituto Cervantes websites: www.cervantes.es answered with a maintenance page (HTTP code 500), and examenes.cervantes.es and ccse.cervantes.es could not be opened (error or maintenance). So the figures on this page come from the copies Internet Archive kept of the Instituto’s official pages (each link carries its capture date), from the BOE, from the Instituto’s flyer “DELE-CCSE 2026” and from one exam centre’s page. A copy can be out of date: the official site says to register at tienda.cervantes.org. On 23 October 2026 a browser did open a maintenance page on cervantes.org with the 2027 DELE and CCSE sitting dates (no prices): the 2027 dates come from that page, with its Internet Archive copy. When the official site is back we will check every figure against it and correct this page.
CCSE sittings in 2026 (Spain only)
Test day and last day of registration, according to the Instituto Cervantes. Registration for all of them opened on 15 September 2025.
| Sitting | Registration closes | Status on 21 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| already held | ||
| already held | ||
| already held | ||
| already held | ||
| already held | ||
| already held | ||
| already held | ||
| already held | ||
| registration closed | ||
| registration open |
One note: the Instituto’s flyer of November 2025 gave 7 May as the close for the May sitting, and its official page of May 2026 says 24 April. The table follows the page, which is later. The other dates agree.
CCSE: what the Instituto Cervantes says
- Format. 25 questions with one correct answer each. Each correct answer is worth 1 point and wrong answers lose nothing. To pass you need 15 of 25, which is 60%. The test lasts 45 minutes at most. (Instituto grading page (copy of 9 May 2026); Instituto FAQ (copy of 7 Aug 2026))
- Fee. €85 worldwide. (Instituto FAQ (copy of 7 Aug 2026); the Instituto de Idiomas of the University of Seville gives the same figure for 2026: Seville exam centre page)
- Results. About 20 days after the test, in your private area, with a signed electronic certificate and a verification code. It says APTO (pass), NO APTO (fail) or NO PRESENTADO (absent), not the score. (Instituto grading page (copy of 9 May 2026))
- Validity. The certificate is valid for 4 years from the date of the certificate. (Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10.4)
- Second chance. Whoever is NO APTO or NO PRESENTADO may register a second time without paying again, on the Instituto’s conditions. (Instituto grading page (copy of 9 May 2026))
- Who can sit it. Any nationality, with legal capacity and aged over 16. (Instituto FAQ (copy of 7 Aug 2026))
- Changes and refunds. You can ask for a refund within 14 calendar days of registering, and change the date or the centre while registration for that sitting is still open. (“When” page (copy of 21 May 2026))
- Content. By law, 60% of the questions are about the Constitution and the administrative and territorial organisation of Spain and 40% about Spanish culture, history and society; all are closed-answer and carry the same value. (Real Decreto 1004/2015, article 6.3)
DELE A2: general sittings
Date of the written test and last day of registration, according to the Instituto Cervantes. The DELE A2 and A2-NA (for candidates who cannot read or write) exams are offered in these general sittings. The April 2026 sitting was Spain only.
| Written test | Registration closes | Status on 21 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| already held | ||
| already held | ||
| already held | ||
| already held | ||
| registration closed |
DELE A2 in 2027
The Instituto Cervantes has published the 2027 DELE sittings. Registration opens on 18 November. General sittings that include level A2:
| Written test | Registration closes | Status on 21 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet |
CCSE in 2027
The Instituto Cervantes has also published the ten 2027 CCSE sittings, on the cervantes.org maintenance page we read on 23 October 2026. Registration for 2027 opens on 23 November. Official sitting date and last day of registration:
| Sitting | Registration closes | Status on 21 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet | ||
| registration not open yet |
The ten sittings with their appointment periods, when registration opens and what is not published yet: CCSE 2027: dates, registration and fee.
DELE A2 fee
The DELE fee depends on the level and the country. The Instituto Cervantes 2026 price table (price table (copy of 21 May 2026)) gives six figures for Spain, €112, €138, €173, €204, €225 and €240, and the one for the DELE A2 is €138. Its price page (“Price” page (copy of 7 Aug 2026)) adds that, to register at an exam centre in Spain, you see the price of each exam during the purchase, once registered: that is the price that applies. Our fees page has the other figures, each with its source (in Spanish).
Who does not have to take the DELE or the CCSE
- DELE. Exempt are people who already hold a DELE diploma at level A2 or higher and nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela. (Real Decreto 1004/2015, article 6.5.) People who hold an official A2, B1 or B2 certificate from an Escuela Oficial de Idiomas (official language school) or an education authority also show the level. (Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10.3.) Brazil, the Philippines, Portugal and Andorra are not on the list: their nationals must take the DELE, although they get 2 years of residence (the Philippines, Portugal and Andorra from the text of the Code; Brazil from two judgments of the Audiencia Nacional), unless another exemption below applies. The Instituto’s FAQ adds that it must be a nationality of origin, not an acquired one. (DELE FAQ of the Instituto (copy of 21 Jul 2026))
- Under-18s and people whose legal capacity has been modified by a court are exempt from both tests. (Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10.6)
- Waiver. The Ministry of Justice can waive the tests for people who cannot read or write or have learning difficulties, and for people who passed compulsory secondary education (ESO) in Spain. The waiver for illiteracy must be requested before applying for nationality. (Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10.5)
Each case, by nationality, in our guide by nationality. The legal list with its texts: the exemptions page.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next CCSE exam?
On 21 October 2026, the sitting with registration open is the one of 26 November, and registration closes on 5 November. The sitting of 29 October closed its registration on 8 October. All the 2026 dates are in the table on this page.
How much does the CCSE exam cost?
€85, worldwide, according to the Instituto Cervantes FAQ. The nationality application fee (€104.05) is a different charge.
How many questions does the CCSE have and how many must I get right?
It has 25 questions and lasts 45 minutes at most. You need 15 correct to pass, which is 60%. Wrong answers lose nothing.
How long do CCSE results take and how long is the certificate valid?
Results arrive about 20 days after the exam. The certificate is valid for 4 years from its date.
When is the next DELE A2?
On 21 October 2026 no DELE A2 sitting has registration open: the one of 13 November closed its registration on 30 September. The next one with registration is 5 March 2027, and 2027 registration opens on 18 November.
Is the Instituto Cervantes website down?
On 21 October 2026, www.cervantes.es showed a maintenance page and the exam sites could not be opened. The figures on this page come from saved official copies, each with its capture date. If the site returns with different figures, the site wins.
Who does not have to take the DELE?
Nationals of the 20 Spanish-speaking countries and territories on the list in Real Decreto 1004/2015, anyone who already holds a DELE A2 or higher, and anyone with an official A2, B1 or B2 certificate from an Escuela Oficial de Idiomas. Brazil, the Philippines, Portugal and Andorra are not on the list.
If you see a different figure
Write to support@civiqpass.com with the link to the source: we correct the table and the reading date the same day. Sources last read: 21 October 2026.
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Every change to these figures and rules is logged, with the old value, the new value, the source and the day we read it: change log.
Explanation written with AI from the official source cited on this page.
CiviqPass is an independent practice service for the CCSE and DELE A2 (reading, listening and writing). Each answer and every figure links to its source. Last updated 21 October 2026.