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Essential guide

Who needs DELE A2 for Spanish nationality

Check when Spanish level A2 must be demonstrated, which nationalities are exempt and which qualifications avoid another exam.

Reviewed on 26 August 2026Official sources verified

Applicants for Spanish nationality by residence generally need to demonstrate DELE A2 or higher Spanish. Not everyone, however, needs to sit a new exam.

Who normally needs it

It usually applies to adult applicants who are not nationals by origin of a Spanish-speaking country or territory and do not hold another accepted qualification. EU citizenship does not create an automatic exemption.

Nationalities by origin that are exempt

The regulation exempts nationals by origin 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.

“By origin” matters. If this nationality was acquired later or is not the principal nationality recorded by the authorities, check what further evidence is required.

Existing qualifications

You do not need to repeat the test if you already hold DELE A2 or higher. Instituto Cervantes also lists A2, B1 or B2 certificates from Spain’s Official Language Schools. DELE diplomas have no expiry date.

Minors and other specific legal cases are treated differently. People who studied in Spain and passed compulsory secondary education (ESO) may file for nationality without a prior waiver request, attaching the academic evidence. People who cannot read or write or have learning difficulties must request the waiver first; the Ministry may waive the tests, refuse the request or authorise adapted tests.

Before registering

  1. Check your nationality by origin and how it is documented.
  2. Look for previous DELE or accepted official certificates.
  3. If you passed ESO in Spain, prepare the academic evidence; do not request a prior waiver.
  4. If literacy or learning difficulties require a waiver, start that procedure first.
  5. Verify dates, centre, identification and current conditions with Instituto Cervantes.

Next step

If you need the test, choose a session that leaves time for the result before filing and prepare every A2 skill, not only isolated exercises.