DELE and SIELE exams: levels, dates, prices and which one you need for citizenship

DELE and SIELE are the two official Spanish language exams of the Instituto Cervantes. DELE awards a diploma at a level from A1 to C2 that never expires and is required for Spanish citizenship. SIELE is a computer-based exam with no “fail”: it immediately shows your level from A1 to C1, but the certificate is valid for five years and cannot be used for citizenship. Below: how they differ, how the exam works, when the next sessions are, how much DELE costs in Spain and in Moscow, and which level you need for citizenship, study and work.

DELE or SIELE: which to choose

If you need the language for citizenship or for the homologation of a degree, there is only one choice: DELE. SIELE is convenient when you need to prove your level quickly to an employer or a university that accepts it.

Spanish levels from A1 to C2

Both exams use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Level descriptions follow the Instituto Cervantes:

• A1: you understand and use the most common everyday phrases, can introduce yourself and ask simple questions if the other person speaks slowly.
• A2: you cope with simple everyday tasks such as shopping, family and work, and describe yourself in simple words.
• B1: you understand the main points of clear texts on familiar topics, handle most situations while travelling and briefly explain your opinion.
• B2: you understand complex texts, including in your field, speak fluently with native speakers and argue a position in writing.
• C1: you understand long, complex texts and implicit meaning, speak spontaneously and use the language flexibly for study and work.
• C2: you understand virtually everything and express yourself precisely, distinguishing fine shades of meaning.

How the DELE exam works

DELE is the official diploma of Spanish proficiency, issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education. The diploma never expires. You do not have to take a course before the exam and can register for any level straight away. For schoolchildren aged 11–17 there is DELE para escolares (DELE for schools): the tasks are different, but the diploma is the same.

• A1–C1: four parts (reading, listening, writing and speaking), 25 points each. The parts are combined into two groups of 50 points, and to get “apto” you need at least 30 points in each group. A high score in one group does not make up for a shortfall in the other.
• C2: three parts, with at least 20 out of 33.33 points needed in each.
• If you fail, you register and pay again and retake all parts, including those you passed.

For example, DELE A2 lasts 157 minutes: reading 60 minutes, listening 40, writing 45 and speaking 12 minutes plus 12 minutes of preparation. Results arrive about two months after the written part, or about three months after the May and November sessions.

When to sit DELE: 2026 and 2027 sessions

DELE is held in fixed sessions, and registration closes well in advance, usually six to eight weeks before. The schedule according to the official Instituto Cervantes calendar:

Which levels a particular centre offers in a particular session is up to the centre. Registration for the October 2026 session (16–17 October) has already closed.

How much DELE costs in 2026

Prices are taken from the official Instituto Cervantes price table for 2026 and the Instituto Cervantes Moscow page. In other countries the price differs: it is set by the exam centre.

Where to sit DELE and SIELE

In Spain, at accredited centres: Instituto Cervantes branches, universities and language schools. You find a centre with the search on the exams website; registration and payment go through the official Cervantes platform.

In Russia. The Instituto Cervantes in Moscow (Novinsky Boulevard 20a, buildings 1–2) holds DELE in 2026 and is a SIELE centre. Since 21 August 2025, DELE fees in Moscow can be paid in cash only. Early registration gets a 10% discount. Besides Moscow, exams have been held by centres in St Petersburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don, Voronezh, Perm and other cities; the list on the Instituto’s website is headed “DELE 2025”, so check with your chosen centre whether it holds the exam in 2026.

How SIELE works

SIELE is a digital exam taken on a computer at an accredited centre on a day of your choice. There are more than a thousand centres in over 85 countries; registration and prices are on siele.org, and the price depends on the country and the exam option.

• SIELE Global covers all four skills and takes about three hours: reading 60 minutes, listening 55, writing 50 and speaking 15 minutes. Each part is scored on a 0–250 scale, for a total of 0–1000.
• Options S1–S5 are separate combinations of parts; for example, S1 is reading and listening only.
• The result is a level for each part from A1 to C1; you cannot fail the exam. Results arrive within three weeks.
• The certificate is valid for 5 years. A booking can be cancelled with a full refund within 14 days of payment.

Which level you need for Spanish citizenship

For citizenship by residence or by marriage you have to prove integration: pass DELE at A2 or higher and the CCSE (the test of constitutional and sociocultural knowledge of Spain) (Article 6 of RD 1004/2015). Instead of DELE, official A2, B1 or B2 certificates from the state language schools, EOI (Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas), are accepted (Orden JUS/1625/2016, Article 10). SIELE is not accepted for citizenship.

• Cost: DELE A2 in Spain is €138, the CCSE €85, and the CCSE fee includes two attempts.
• The CCSE certificate is valid for 4 years; the DELE diploma never expires.
• Exempt from DELE are nationals by birth of Spanish-speaking countries, minors and persons whose legal capacity has been restricted by a court. People who completed ESO (Spanish compulsory secondary education) in Spain can be granted an exemption from DELE by decision of the Ministry of Justice.

Residence periods and the other documents are covered in the articles Spanish citizenship and Spanish citizenship by marriage.

Spanish for study, degree homologation and residence permits

• University. The required level is set by the university itself; according to SIELE, Spanish universities most often ask for B1 or B2. Check the requirements of your programme. How to apply and which exams foreigners take is explained in the article universities in Spain.
• Degree homologation. Language is required only for a regulated profession and only for homologation, not for equivalence: B2 or higher by DELE, an EOI certificate or proof that your studies were in Spanish (Article 13 of RD 889/2022). SIELE is not on this list. More in the article homologation of a degree in Spain.
• Residence permit. For the digital nomad visa, no lucrativa (non-lucrative residence) or a student visa, a language exam is not on the list of documents; a study programme may require the level set by the university itself.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the DELE diploma valid?

Indefinitely. The SIELE certificate is valid for 5 years, and the CCSE certificate for citizenship for 4 years.

Which DELE level do you need for Spanish citizenship?

A2 or higher, together with the CCSE test. Instead of DELE, A2–B2 certificates from the state language schools (EOI) are accepted; SIELE is not accepted for citizenship.

How much does DELE cost in 2026?

In Spain from €112 for A1 to €240 for C2; A2 is €138 and B2 €204. At the Instituto Cervantes in Moscow from RUB 5,600 for A1 to RUB 11,000 for C2, payable in cash only.

When is the next DELE exam?

13–14 November 2026, with registration until 30 September 2026. The following sessions are in February, April and May 2027.

What is the difference between DELE and SIELE?

DELE is taken in fixed sessions for one chosen level, the result is pass or fail, and the diploma never expires. SIELE is taken on a computer on any day, always shows a level from A1 to C1, and the certificate is valid for 5 years.

Can you take DELE in Moscow?

Yes, the Instituto Cervantes in Moscow holds DELE in 2026; the next session is in November. It is also a SIELE centre.

How many points do you need to pass DELE?

At levels A1–C1, at least 30 out of 50 points in each of the two groups of parts. At C2, at least 20 points in each of the three parts.

Do you need a Spanish exam for a residence permit?

A language exam is not on the list of documents for any residence permit route. It is needed for citizenship, for the homologation of a degree for a regulated profession and, if the university requires it, for study.

Sources

• Instituto Cervantes: DELE, calendar, 2026 prices, CCSE.
• Instituto Cervantes Moscú: DELE in Moscow.
• SIELE: the exam.
• Real Decreto 1004/2015 and Orden JUS/1625/2016: language for citizenship; Real Decreto 889/2022: language for degree homologation.

Checked against official sources on 15 September 2026.