Language exam countdown
Which CEFR level you need for residency or citizenship in six EU countries, when the next exam is, and how many days you have left. Exam deadlines move and centres add or cancel sessions, so treat every date here as a pointer and confirm it on the official link. We label everything: what we read on an official page, what comes from a secondary source, and what we could not confirm.
- Verified read on an official page on 2026-10-19
- Secondary source blog, press or search snippet only
- Not confirmed we could not confirm it on an official page
Pick your country
-
ES
Spain
Citizenship levelA2 + CCSESecondary sourceNext sessionThu 26 Nov 2026CCSE Secondary source -
PT
Portugal
Citizenship levelA2 (CIPLE)Secondary sourceNext sessionThu 5 Nov 2026CIPLE (A2), international session Verified -
DE
Germany
Citizenship levelB1VerifiedNext sessionMon 2 Nov 2026Goethe-Zertifikat B1 Secondary source -
FR
France
Citizenship levelB2Secondary sourceNext sessionNone confirmedNot confirmed -
IT
Italy
Citizenship levelB1Secondary sourceNext sessionThu 3 Dec 2026CILS B1 Verified -
NL
Netherlands
Citizenship levelA2 commonly cited, not confirmedNot confirmedNext sessionNone confirmedNot confirmed
My exam countdown
Pick a session or type your own date.
Compare the six countries
| Country | Citizenship | Permanent residence | Main exam | Next session | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | A2 + CCSE Secondary source | Not confirmed Not confirmed | DELE A2 + CCSE | Thu 26 Nov 2026 · CCSE Secondary source | DELE A2: not confirmed Not confirmed |
| Portugal | A2 (CIPLE) Secondary source | A2 commonly cited, not confirmed Not confirmed | CIPLE (A2, CAPLE) | Thu 5 Nov 2026 · CIPLE (A2), international session Verified | Not confirmed: set by each exam centre Not confirmed |
| Germany | B1 Verified | B1 Verified | Goethe-Zertifikat B1, telc Deutsch B1, DTZ (B1) or Integrationskurs certificate | Mon 2 Nov 2026 · Goethe-Zertifikat B1 Secondary source | Goethe B1: €259, reduced €207.20 Secondary source |
| France | B2 Secondary source | B1 Secondary source | TCF IRN | None confirmed Not confirmed | Not confirmed Not confirmed |
| Italy | B1 Secondary source | A2 (EU long-term permit) Secondary source | CILS Uno B1 (Siena) | Thu 3 Dec 2026 · CILS B1 Verified | Not confirmed: set by each CILS centre Not confirmed |
| Netherlands | A2 commonly cited, not confirmed Not confirmed | Not confirmed Not confirmed | Inburgeringsexamen (DUO): reading, listening, writing, speaking, KNM, ONA/MAP | None confirmed Not confirmed | €250 for the full set of exams (2021-era sources) Secondary source |
Permanent residence means the main long-term permit we looked at (Spain: long-term residence; Germany: Niederlassungserlaubnis; France: carte de résident; Italy: EU long-term permit). The raw dataset is at /exams/data/exams.json.
Questions
Which language level do I need for citizenship in Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands?
As of 19 October 2026: Germany B1 (confirmed in § 10 StAG). Spain A2 plus the CCSE civic test, Portugal A2, France B2 and Italy B1 come from secondary sources and could not be confirmed on an official page. For the Netherlands, A2 is commonly cited but we could not confirm it. Check the official link on each country page before you book.
Is B1 enough for German citizenship?
§ 10 (4) of the German Nationality Act asks for B1, usually shown with a Goethe, telc or DTZ certificate or the integration course certificate. A secondary report of a March 2026 court ruling says the authority may still check your speaking, so a certificate is strong evidence but not the only test.
How far ahead do I have to register for the exam?
Usually several weeks. Two official examples: the CILS session on 3 Dec 2026 closes registration on 24 Oct 2026, and the CAPLE international session on 5 Nov 2026 closes on 20 Oct 2026. Each country page shows the deadline next to every session, with a countdown.
Are these exam dates official?
Only the ones marked Verified. Each date and value is labelled: Verified (read on an official page on 19 October 2026), Secondary source (blog, press or search snippet) or Not confirmed. Many official exam sites blocked our checks or were in maintenance, so a lot is still amber or grey.
Can I use any exam at the right level?
Not always. Each country accepts specific certificates (for example DELE in Spain, CIPLE in Portugal, CILS, CELI or PLIDA in Italy, TCF IRN or DELF in France). Italy's CILS also has several B1 variants. Ask the office that handles your application which certificate it accepts.
Does the countdown save my data?
Only in your own browser (localStorage). The calendar file is generated on your device. Nothing is sent anywhere, there is no account and no tracking.
Practise speaking before the exam
How it works
- Check the level you need and the next exam date here. Always confirm on the official link.
- Open Meet & Mint: events and people near you on one map.
- Join an event alone and chat with the group before you go.
- Meet at the event. Many events from our sites are in the app too.