Is two years of residence an exemption from the DELE A2? The two lists compared
Sources: Royal Decree 1004/2015, article 6.5; Civil Code, article 22.1, read 23 October 2026.
No. Two years of residence and an exemption from the DELE A2 are two separate lists. Andorra, the Philippines, Portugal and Sephardic Jews get the 2-year residence period (Civil Code, article 22.1), but they are not among the 20 countries whose nationals are exempt from the DELE (Royal Decree 1004/2015, article 6.5). Both texts read on boe.es on 23 October 2026.
The two lists side by side
| Group | 2 years of residence (Civil Code 22.1) | DELE exemption (Royal Decree, 6.5) |
|---|---|---|
| Andorra | Yes, named | Not listed |
| Philippines | Yes, named | Not listed |
| Portugal | Yes, named | Not listed |
| Sephardim (a status, not a nationality) | Yes, named | Not listed |
| Equatorial Guinea | Yes, named | Yes, named |
| Puerto Rico | Not named; 22.1 says "Ibero-American countries" without a list: we do not classify it here | Yes, named |
| Brazil | Not named; the Code says "Ibero-American countries" without a list, but the Audiencia Nacional has applied the 2 years to Brazilian applicants in two judgments (SAN of 3 June 2025, rec. 1563/2022, and one more) | Not listed |
Article 22.1 reads, in Spanish: «dos años cuando se trate de nacionales de origen de países iberoamericanos, Andorra, Filipinas, Guinea Ecuatorial o Portugal o de sefardíes». Which countries count as "Ibero-American" is not spelled out there, so check your own case with the Ministry of Justice.
Who is exempt from the DELE (article 6.5 and Orden JUS/1625/2016)
- Anyone who already holds a DELE diploma at level A2 or higher.
- Anyone with an official Spanish certificate at A2, B1 or B2 from an Escuela Oficial de Idiomas or an education authority, entered in the register of qualifications. You must authorise the Ministry of Justice to check it (Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10.3).
- Nationals of these 20 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.
If you hold two nationalities, the exemption depends on the one you prove. When the listed country's nationality is not the main one on record with the Ministry of the Interior, you must also provide that country's valid passport or a consular certificate of recognition (Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10.2).
The exemption is from the DELE only, never from the CCSE
Article 6.1 requires both the DELE (level A2 at least) and the CCSE. The list in 6.5 mentions only the DELE. Someone with 2 years of residence through one of the routes above still sits the CCSE, and also the DELE A2 unless their nationality is among the 20 or another route applies. Two groups are exempt from both tests: people under 18 and people whose legal capacity has been modified by a court (Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10.6). The Ministry of Justice can also exempt both tests for people who cannot read or write or who have learning difficulties, and for people who completed compulsory secondary school in Spain (article 10.5). Ask for the exemption before applying; a Spanish ESO graduate attaches the proof to the application instead.
Next steps
Practise the CCSE with the free 25-question mock below. The DELE A2 practice (reading, listening and writing) is on DELE A2 reading practice. The residence years for every route are on Spanish nationality by residence: requirements, years and tests (in Spanish).
Sources: Royal Decree 1004/2015, article 6; Civil Code, article 22; Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10. These are the texts as consolidated in the BOE on 23 October 2026 (Orden JUS/1625/2016 read on 19 October). The country lists can change with a reform: check the BOE before you decide. For your own case, confirm with the Ministry of Justice.
Questions
Does two years of residence exempt me from the DELE A2?
No. The 2-year residence period (Civil Code, article 22.1) and the DELE exemption for nationals of 20 countries (Royal Decree 1004/2015, article 6.5) are two different lists. Andorra, the Philippines, Portugal and Sephardic Jews have the 2-year period but are not on the DELE list.
Is the DELE exemption also an exemption from the CCSE?
No. Article 6.5 exempts nationals of 20 countries from the DELE only. The CCSE stays compulsory except for people under 18 and people whose legal capacity has been modified (Orden JUS/1625/2016, article 10.6).
Is Brazil on the DELE exemption list?
No. Brazil is not among the 20 countries named in article 6.5 of Royal Decree 1004/2015, read on boe.es on 23 October 2026.
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