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Portuguese Language Exams CIPLE, DEPLE, and DIPLE

Researched and written with AI tools from official sources. How we make our guides

The official Portuguese exams for foreigners: levels, fees, how to register, what happens on the day, and which certificate counts for citizenship.

The Portugal Brief 8 min read

Portuguese Language Exams CIPLE, DEPLE, and DIPLE

Last verified: October 2026.

Who this is for

  • You need an official Portuguese certificate for citizenship, permanent residence, work, or study.
  • You are 16 or over, Portuguese is not your first language, and you want to book an exam.
  • You want to know which level to sit, what it costs, and what happens on the day.

Not for you if: you want to know what A2 Portuguese feels like in daily life, or how long it takes to reach. Read What Learning European Portuguese to A2 Level Means instead.

The official Portuguese exams for foreigners are set by CAPLE, the exam centre of the University of Lisbon's Faculty of Letters. The CIPLE is the A2 exam, the level most people need for citizenship and permanent residence. It costs €95 and takes about two hours. The DEPLE (B1) costs €115 and the DIPLE (B2) €135. You register and pay online, sit the exam at an approved centre, and collect your certificate there 15 to 20 working days after results come out.

The six levels and what they cost

CAPLE's exams follow the European scale, from A1 (beginner) to C2 (near-native). You can sit any level first. You do not need to pass the CIPLE before the DEPLE.

ExamLevelFeeLength (about)
ACESSOA1€601 hour 35 minutes
CIPLEA2€952 hours
DEPLEB1€1152 hours 30 minutes
DIPLEB2€1353 hours 30 minutes
DAPLEC1€1554 hours
DUPLEC2€1704 hours 50 minutes

The lengths do not include the breaks of 15 minutes between parts. A pass at A1 or A2 gives you a certificate (certificado). A pass at B1 or above gives you a diploma.

There are school versions of the A1, A2, B1, and B2 exams for young people aged 12 to 15, and a separate exam (TEJO) for children aged 9 to 11.

Which level you need

For citizenship. CAPLE says the CIPLE (A2) is the minimum level for Portuguese nationality. The justice portal accepts a Portuguese as a foreign language certificate from CAPLE as proof of Portuguese. See Getting Portuguese Citizenship by Naturalisation.

For permanent residence. If you are a non-EU citizen, you need basic Portuguese (A2). AIMA accepts a CAPLE certificate such as the CIPLE. See Getting Permanent Residence in Portugal.

For university. CAPLE says Portuguese universities ask for the DIPLE (B2) to complete degree courses. Check with your university before you book.

For work. No law sets one level for most jobs. Ask the employer or the professional body.

If you were born in a Portuguese-speaking country and hold its nationality, you do not need language proof for citizenship.

The citizenship test is changing

The nationality law changed on 19 May 2026. You must now show that you know Portuguese, and also Portuguese culture, history, and national symbols. You prove this by a test or a certificate.

As of 1 October 2026, the detailed rules for the new culture and history part had not been published. Nobody can yet say which tests will cover it, or whether a CAPLE certificate alone will be enough. An A2 language certificate is still the main proof of Portuguese, so it makes sense to get it now.

The state also has its own language test for nationality, the PaN, run by IAVE, the national exams body. It costs €65 and is only for adults. IAVE says no sitting is planned before the end of this year.

If you applied for citizenship before 19 May 2026, the old rules apply to your application.

How to register

  1. Choose your exam and centre. Exam centres are called LAPE. There are about 100 of them, in Portugal and in 35 other countries. Each centre decides which levels it offers and how many places it opens, so check the centre's page on the CAPLE site.
  2. Pick a date. Exams run in Portugal and abroad in May, July, and November. In Portugal, the CIPLE also runs on extra national dates.
  3. Register online. You can only register and pay through the CAPLE website. Registration closes 21 days before the first exam date of each session. You must fill in every field.
  4. Pay within 24 hours. You pay by credit card with 3D Secure. If you live in Portugal, you can also pay by Multibanco reference or MB WAY. If you do not pay within 24 hours, the registration is cancelled and you must wait 48 hours to try again.
  5. Tell the centre about any special needs when you register (see below).

You can only sit one exam per session. The fee is not refunded if you withdraw or do not turn up. You do not have to take a preparation course; CAPLE publishes sample papers for each level.

What happens on the exam day

Bring the original ID you used to register: Citizen Card, passport, or residence permit. Arrive 20 minutes before the start, outside the exam room.

Be on time. If you are more than 15 minutes late for the reading and writing paper, you cannot sit it. If you are late for the listening paper, you cannot sit it. Missing a part cancels the whole exam, except the speaking part, which the centre may rebook if you have a good reason.

Leave your phone away. You cannot use phones, computers, dictionaries, books, notes, or correction fluid. Breaking these rules can cancel your exam.

Write by hand. Answer the writing tasks in blue or black pen on CAPLE's answer sheets. Answers in pencil or on rough paper do not count.

Do not write your name in the answers. If a task asks for personal details, invent them.

The speaking part is video recorded, and you usually take it with another candidate.

The CIPLE in detail

The CIPLE tests whether you can cope in a limited number of everyday situations. It has three papers:

PaperWhat you doTimeShare of the mark
Reading and writingRead public notices and short texts (multiple choice and matching), then write two short texts1 hour 15 minutes45%
ListeningListen to informal everyday conversations and answer multiple-choice questions30 minutes30%
SpeakingTalk with an examiner about yourself, act out an everyday situation, and discuss a current topic15 minutes per pair25%

In Portugal's national sessions, the reading and writing paper starts at 09:00 and listening at 10:30. In the international sessions they start at 15:00 and 16:30. Your centre tells you the speaking time.

Results and marks

Your result is a single percentage across all papers. You need 55% to pass:

  • Suficiente: 55% to 69%.
  • Bom: 70% to 84%.
  • Muito Bom: 85% to 100%.

You see your result on the CAPLE website with your candidate code. Your certificate also shows the mark for each skill. If you fail, you receive a statement of results (comunicação de resultados) instead.

If you think the mark is wrong, ask for a review through your centre within 5 working days after the results are published. The fee is €25. CAPLE replies within 25 working days and there is no further appeal.

Collecting your certificate

You collect your certificate or diploma at the centre where you sat the exam, 15 to 20 working days after results are published. Someone else can collect it for you with your written authorisation.

The certificate is printed on special paper, signed by the faculty and CAPLE directors, with a unique code in the bottom right corner. If you lose it, a second copy costs €25. CAPLE can also post it to you, or hand it over at its office in Lisbon by appointment, for €25. An urgent copy, issued after results but before the normal collection date, costs €30.

If you need special conditions

Tell your centre what you need when you register. Centres can help with mobility needs, and CAPLE helps with hearing and sight needs. If you have dyslexia, bring a medical certificate; CAPLE recommends extra time and an extra play of each listening track.

If you have a disability with an official multi-purpose medical certificate (atestado médico multiúso), or you are 60 or over and cannot read or write, contact the centre before you register. For nationality, the law says the language test must suit your ability. CAPLE may let you sit only the speaking part of the CIPLE.

Other ways to prove A2

An exam is not the only route. For citizenship, the justice portal also accepts a certificate from a Portuguese school and a pass in the state's PaN test. A certificate at A2 or above from the state's free Portuguese course for newcomers (Português Língua de Acolhimento, PLA) also counts for nationality and permanent residence. See Free Portuguese Courses for Foreigners in Portugal (PLA).

For ways to study, see Learning Portuguese in Portugal.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the official pages before you rely on a certificate for an application.

Sources

This guide is written from official sources and, where relevant, organisations' own websites.

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

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