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Learning Portuguese in Portugal

Your options for learning European Portuguese, how long each level takes, the CIPLE and other exams, and how to choose a school or tutor.

Learning Portuguese in Portugal

Last verified: September 2026.

Who this is for

  • You live in Portugal, or are moving here, and want to learn European Portuguese.
  • You are a non-EU resident who will need a Portuguese certificate for permanent residence or citizenship.
  • You are choosing between classes, a tutor, an exam, or teaching yourself.

Not for you if: you already know you want the free state course and need to enrol. Read "Free Portuguese Courses for Foreigners in Portugal (PLA)".

Updated September 2026. Since 19 May 2026, citizenship applicants must also prove they know Portuguese culture, history, and national symbols. The detailed test rules are not published yet.

You can live in Portugal without Portuguese, but daily life and paperwork are much easier with it. The state's own course takes a beginner to A2, the basic level the state asks for, in about 150 hours of classes. That is roughly four months at 10 hours a week, or nine months at four hours a week. The state runs free courses for most foreign residents. Private classes vary widely in price. If you need a certificate, the CIPLE exam costs €95, and the last 2026 date in Portugal is 17 October.

Do you need Portuguese?

It depends on where you live and what you do. You can manage with English in central Lisbon, Porto, and the busiest parts of the Algarve. You will struggle without Portuguese if:

  • you live in a small town or the interior;
  • you want to work for a Portuguese employer outside tourism or tech;
  • you deal with the tax office, social security, AIMA, or a hospital on your own;
  • your children go to a Portuguese school and you need to talk to their teachers.

There is also a legal reason. If you are not an EU citizen, you need proof of basic Portuguese to get permanent residence or long-term resident status. You also need it for citizenship. If you are an EU citizen, you do not need a language certificate to live here, but you do need one for citizenship.

European or Brazilian Portuguese

Learn European Portuguese if you live in Portugal. The written language is almost the same as in Brazil, but the spoken language is not.

  • Sound. People in Portugal swallow many unstressed vowels and speak fast. This is the hardest part for most learners.
  • Words. Many everyday words differ. A train is "comboio" in Portugal and "trem" in Brazil. A bus is "autocarro" here and "ônibus" there.
  • Forms of address. In Portugal you will hear "tu" with friends and "o senhor" or "a senhora" with strangers. "Você" is used less than in Brazil and can sound abrupt.

Many popular apps and textbooks teach Brazilian Portuguese by default. Before you pay, check that the course says "European Portuguese" or "Portuguese (Portugal)".

Ways to learn

Most people combine two or three of these. Pick by budget, timetable, and whether you need a certificate.

The free state course

The state runs free Portuguese courses for foreign residents aged 16 and over, called Portuguese as a Host Language (Português Língua de Acolhimento). Classes take place in public schools, public employment service (IEFP) training centres, and Qualifica adult learning centres. A pass at A2 or above is accepted as proof of Portuguese for permanent residence and, under the current rules, for citizenship. Groups open only when enough people sign up.

For who qualifies, how to enrol, and what the certificate counts for, read "Free Portuguese Courses for Foreigners in Portugal (PLA)".

Private language schools and the language centres of public universities run paid courses. Group classes give you structure, a teacher, and people to practise with. See "How to choose a school or tutor" below.

A private tutor

One-to-one lessons, in person or by video, move fastest if you are disciplined. They cost the most per hour. They suit people with fixed goals, such as passing the CIPLE, or awkward working hours.

Free online study

AIMA, the migration agency, runs a free self-study website called the Plataforma de Português Online. It has exercises, level tests, and a tutor you can message. It is available in Portuguese, English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Romanian, and Arabic. It does not give you a certificate that counts for residence or citizenship.

Other free resources run by public bodies:

  • RTP Play, the public broadcaster's free streaming service. Watch Portuguese series and news, first with subtitles, then without.
  • RTP Ensina, the public broadcaster's education site, with short videos on Portuguese language, history, and culture.
  • Public libraries (bibliotecas municipais). They lend books and films free, and some run conversation groups or reading clubs.
  • CAPLE sample exams. The University of Lisbon's exam centre publishes sample papers for each level on its website.

Everyday practice

Classes give you the structure. Practice makes it stick.

  • Swap languages. Meet a Portuguese speaker who wants to practise your language, and split the time.
  • Join something local. A sports club, a choir, or a volunteer group forces you to speak.
  • Use the market and the café. Shop where people have time to chat.
  • Speak Portuguese first. Even if the answer comes back in English, keep going.

"Meeting People and Making Friends in Portugal" lists ways to find language exchanges and local groups.

How long it takes

Language levels in Europe follow a six-step scale, from A1 (beginner) to C2 (near-native). The state course is a useful yardstick. It is designed to take a complete beginner from A1 to A2 in up to 150 hours of teaching, and from B1 to B2 in another 150.

LevelWhat you can doTypical class hours from zero
A1Greet people, order food, give your addressAbout 75
A2Handle shops, doctors, and simple forms; chat about your lifeAbout 150
B1Follow most conversations, explain a problem, write a simple emailAbout 225
B2Work in Portuguese, follow the news, argue a pointAbout 300
C1 and C2Work, study, and read almost anything with easeYears of use

These hours assume you also do homework. Here is what speeds you up or slows you down:

  • Faster: you already speak Spanish, Italian, French, or Romanian; you live or work with Portuguese speakers; you practise a little every day.
  • Slower: your social life is in English; you study only once a week; you are afraid of mistakes and stay silent.

For what A2 feels like in practice, read "What Learning European Portuguese to A2 Level Means".

The CIPLE and other exams

If you need a certificate and your Portuguese is already good enough, an exam is the fastest route. The University of Lisbon's exam centre, CAPLE, runs the Portuguese as a foreign language exams. You can sit them at authorised exam centres in Portugal and abroad.

ExamLevelFee
CIPLEA2€95
DEPLEB1€115
DIPLEB2€135

CAPLE also runs higher exams (DAPLE at C1 and DUPLE at C2) and school versions for children aged 12 to 15.

What you need to know:

  • A2 is the level for residence and citizenship. The CIPLE is the exam most people take.
  • You can start at any level. You do not have to pass the CIPLE before sitting the DEPLE.
  • Dates. In Portugal, the CIPLE runs on extra national dates as well as the international sessions in May, July, and November. The remaining national date in 2026 is 17 October. You must register by 5 October, and results come out on 10 December.
  • Payment. You pay by Multibanco or card when you register. If you do not pay within 24 hours, your registration is cancelled. The fee is not refunded.
  • Your certificate. You collect it at your exam centre 15 to 20 working days after results are published.
  • One exam per session. You cannot sit two levels in the same session.

"Portuguese Language Exams CIPLE, DEPLE, and DIPLE" explains the exam papers and how to register step by step.

The state also has its own language test for citizenship, the PaN, set by IAVE, the national exams body. It costs €65. IAVE says no sitting is planned before the end of 2026, so do not count on it this year.

Which certificates count for residence and citizenship

This applies if you are a non-EU citizen applying for permanent residence or long-term resident status, or anyone applying for citizenship.

For permanent residence and long-term resident status, AIMA accepts proof of basic Portuguese, including:

  • a CAPLE exam certificate, such as the CIPLE;
  • a free state course certificate at A2 or above;
  • a basic Portuguese course certificate from the IEFP or from a recognised school;
  • school certificates from Portugal, or from a school in another Portuguese-speaking country.

For citizenship, the current rules accept six kinds of proof. They include a CAPLE certificate at A2 or above, a free state course certificate at A2 or above, and a pass in the PaN.

The 2026 change. A new nationality law took effect on 19 May 2026. You now have to prove Portuguese language and culture, history, and national symbols, by a test or a certificate. You must also know a citizen's basic rights and duties.

The government had 90 days to set the detailed rules. On 23 September 2026 they were still unpublished. Nobody can yet say for certain which certificates will cover the new culture and civics part. An A2 language certificate is still the safest thing to get now.

If you applied for citizenship on or before 18 May 2026, the old rules apply to you. If you are a national of a Portuguese-speaking country, the new law presumes you know the language, unless you clearly do not.

For the full picture, read "Getting Permanent Residence in Portugal" and "Getting Portuguese Citizenship by Naturalisation".

How to choose a school or tutor

Before you pay for classes, ask these questions:

  1. Is it European Portuguese? Ask to see the course book.
  2. Is it built on the European levels (A1 to C2)? A good school gives you a placement test and tells you which level you are in.
  3. How big are the groups? Eight to 12 students gives everyone time to speak.
  4. What is the price per teaching hour? Monthly prices hide very different numbers of hours. Divide the price by the hours to compare.
  5. Does the timetable fit your life? Ask about evening, weekend, and online groups.
  6. Does it prepare for the CIPLE? If you need a certificate, ask whether the course follows the CAPLE exam format.
  7. What certificate do you get at the end? A private school's own certificate usually counts for permanent residence only if the school is officially recognised. For citizenship, you need one of the listed proofs, such as the CIPLE. Ask before you enrol.
  8. Can you try a class first? Many schools and tutors offer a trial lesson.

For a tutor, also ask about their training in teaching Portuguese as a foreign language, and whether they have taught people at your level before.

Mistakes that slow people down

  • Waiting until you are settled. Start before you move, or in your first month.
  • Studying without speaking. Apps and books build vocabulary. Only speaking builds fluency.
  • Learning Brazilian Portuguese by accident. Check the course settings.
  • Giving up on pronunciation. Record yourself, copy native speakers, and accept an accent.
  • Leaving the certificate to the last minute. Exam dates and free course places are limited. If you will need a certificate, plan it a year ahead.

Sources

Last verified September 2026. Rules and fees change; check the official source before acting.

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