DELE and SIELE are the two official Spanish exams linked to the Instituto Cervantes. DELE is taken at one chosen level from A1 to C2 on fixed dates, and the diploma never expires. SIELE is a computer-based test on a date you choose: it reports a level from A1 to C1 for each skill, and the certificate is valid for five years. Madrid's public universities accept either at B2. Recognition of a foreign degree for a regulated profession, such as medicine or law, requires DELE B2 or an official language school certificate. Medical residency (MIR) requires C1.
DELE fees depend on the country. In Spain they run from $128 (€112) for A1 to $274 (€240) for C2. At the Instituto Cervantes in Moscow they run from RUB 5,600 (about $67) to RUB 11,000 (about $131), and in Kazakhstan from $50 to $101 (KZT 22,458–45,450). SIELE prices appear at booking. Below: which exam fits your goal, the full DELE calendar for 2026–2027 and the timing traps that make applicants miss university deadlines.
DELE vs SIELE at a glance
| DELE | SIELE | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Instituto Cervantes on behalf of Spain's Ministry of Education | Instituto Cervantes, UNAM (Mexico), the University of Salamanca and the University of Buenos Aires |
| Format | Paper exam at one chosen level | Computer-based, one multi-level test |
| Levels | A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 | A1 to C1 per skill; no C2 |
| Result | "Apto" (pass) or "No apto" (fail) | Score of 0–1000 (0–250 per skill) and a level for each skill |
| Dates | Fixed sessions several times a year | Any available day, at a centre or remotely |
| Results | About 2 months; about 3 after the May and November sessions | Within 3 weeks |
| Validity | No expiry | 5 years |
| Can you fail? | Yes; a failed exam is retaken in full | No; you get the level you demonstrated |
Which exam and level for which goal
| Goal | Requirement | Is SIELE accepted? |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's at a Madrid public university | B2 for nationals of non-Spanish-speaking countries: DELE, SIELE, an EOI certificate, a Madrid university language-centre certificate, or B2 on the UNEDasiss accreditation | Yes |
| Bachelor's in Catalonia, June round | Spanish language and literature exam within the general block of the PAU or PCE | A certificate does not replace the PCE exam |
| Official master's | Set by the programme; B2 is most common for Spanish-taught programmes, sometimes C1 | Depends on the university; check the list of accepted certificates |
| Renewing a stay for language courses | DELE diploma, DELE registration or a SIELE certificate (for Cervantes-accredited centres) | Yes |
| Recognition of a foreign degree for a regulated profession (doctor, lawyer, etc.) | DELE B2 or higher, an official language school (EOI) B2 certificate, or proof that at least 75% of training was in Spanish | No; SIELE is not on the list in Decree 889/2022 |
| MIR medical residency | C1: DELE C1 or C2, an official language school (EOI) C1 certificate, or SIELE at C1 in each of its four parts | Yes, with C1 in all parts |
| Spanish nationality by residence | DELE A2 or higher plus the CCSE test ($97 (€85)) | No |
For how language requirements fit into admission, see universities in Spain for international students, universities in Madrid and, for doctors, studying medicine in Spain. Visa rules are in the student visa for Spain, and the country overview is at studying in Spain.
In short: if you want one document for every purpose, from study to degree recognition and nationality, choose DELE. If you need a certificate quickly for a university that accepts SIELE, SIELE wins: results arrive in three weeks rather than two or three months.
How DELE works
Levels A1 to C1 have four parts: reading, listening, writing and speaking, each worth 25 points. They are grouped in pairs: reading with writing, and listening with speaking. To pass you need at least 30 of 50 points in each group, so strong listening cannot make up for weak writing.
Example: DELE B2.
| Part | Time | Tasks | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading (Comprensión de lectura) | 70 minutes | 4 tasks, 36 items | 25 |
| Listening (Comprensión auditiva) | 40 minutes | 5 tasks, 30 items | 25 |
| Writing (Expresión e interacción escritas) | 80 minutes | 2 tasks | 25 |
| Speaking (Expresión e interacción orales) | 20 minutes + 20 minutes preparation | 3 tasks | 25 |
The speaking test may be scheduled on the day before or after. Results come out about two months after the written exam, or about three months after the May and November sessions. The diploma is issued digitally with a QR code, and you can print it yourself. A grade review costs 60% of the exam fee, refunded if the result changes to "apto".
DELE calendar 2026 and 2027
These are the Instituto Cervantes' global dates. Each centre decides which sessions and levels it offers.
| Session | Written exam | Registration closes | Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 16 October (Fri) / 17 October (Sat) | 2 September 2026 (closed) | B1, B2, C1 / A2 |
| November 2026 | 13 November (Fri) / 14 November (Sat) | 30 September 2026 | A2 and school levels / A1, B1, B2, C1, C2 |
| February 2027 | 12 February | 7 January 2027 | A2 |
| April 2027 | 2 April | 10 February 2027 | A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 |
| May 2027 | 21 May (school) / 22 May | 7 April 2027 | School levels / A1–C2 |
| July 2027 | 9 July | 12 May 2027 | A2, B1, B2, C1 |
| September 2027 | 10 September | 14 July 2027 | A2 |
| October 2027 | 15 October | 1 September 2027 | A2, B1, B2 |
| November 2027 | 12 November (school) / 13 November | 29 September 2027 | School levels / A1–C2 |
Registration for 2027 sessions opens on 18 November 2026. The Instituto Cervantes in Moscow publishes its own timetable separately: for 2026 it opened registration on 1 December 2025 and ran only the May, October and November sessions from the global calendar. You can cancel and get a refund within 14 days of registering.
Where to take DELE
Spain
In Spain DELE costs $128 (€112) for A1, $157 (€138) for A2, $197 (€173) for B1, $233 (€204) for B2, $257 (€225) for C1 and $274 (€240) for C2. Exam centres include Cervantes institutes, universities and language schools; you find a centre and pay through the Instituto Cervantes platform.
Russia
The Instituto Cervantes in Moscow runs three sessions in 2026:
- May: all levels, registration closed on 9 April;
- October: A2, B1, B2, C1, registration closed on 2 September;
- November: all levels A1–C2 plus school levels, written exam 13–14 November, speaking 9–14 November, registration until 30 September 2026.
| Level | Moscow fee, 2026 | In dollars |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | RUB 5,600 | $67 |
| A2 | RUB 7,000 | $83 |
| B1 | RUB 8,000 | $95 |
| B2 | RUB 9,000 | $107 |
| C1 | RUB 10,000 | $119 |
| C2 | RUB 11,000 | $131 |
| School A2/B1 and B2/C1 | RUB 8,000 and RUB 10,000 | $95 and $119 |
Early registration earns a 10% discount; in 2026 it ended on 3 September for November and on 20 March for May. Since 21 August 2025 the Moscow institute has accepted DELE payments only in cash at its office. The speaking schedule is emailed 1.5–2 weeks before the exam.
Centres outside Moscow. The Moscow institute's list names centres in Irkutsk, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Oryol, Perm, Pyatigorsk, Rostov-on-Don, St Petersburg, Tver, Volgograd and Voronezh. The list was published for 2025, so confirm dates, levels and fees with each centre's coordinator.
Kazakhstan
The same list includes Centro Cultural Irtysh in Almaty and Centro Sin Fronteras in Astana. The official 2026 Cervantes fee table for Kazakhstan:
| Level | Fee, KZT | In dollars |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 22,458 | $50 |
| A2 | 27,805 | $62 |
| B1 | 33,686 | $75 |
| B2 | 39,033 | $87 |
| C1 | 40,638 | $91 |
| C2 | 45,450 | $101 |
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan does not appear in the official 2026 DELE fee table or in the Moscow institute's centre list. Practical options are SIELE (Uzbekistan is on the booking list at siele.org) or travelling to sit DELE in Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan.
Other CIS and Caucasus countries
The Moscow institute's list also includes a centre in Minsk and one at the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek. The official 2026 DELE fee table for neighbouring countries:
| Country | A1 to C2 | In dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Kyrgyzstan | 3,500–6,000 som | $40–69 |
| Armenia | $72–145 (€63–126) | $72–144 |
| Georgia | 145–265 lari | $56–102 |
| Azerbaijan | 116–169 manat | $68–99 |
For Belarus, ask the Minsk centre for its prices. Each centre decides which levels and sessions it offers.
How SIELE works
SIELE is taken on a computer at an accredited centre or remotely from home if you have a suitable Windows computer, webcam and headset. Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and many other countries are on the official booking list. The fee depends on the country and format and is shown when you book.
| Format | Contents | Time | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIELE Global | Reading, listening, writing, speaking | About 3 hours: 60 + 55 + 50 + 15–20 minutes | Certificate, 0–1000 points |
| S1 | Reading and listening | 60 + 55 minutes | Report, 0–500 |
| S2 | Reading and writing | 60 + 50 minutes | Report, 0–500 |
| S3 | Listening and speaking | 55 + 15–20 minutes | Report, 0–500 |
| S4 | Speaking | 15–20 minutes | Report |
| S5 | Writing and speaking | 50 + 15–20 minutes | Report, 0–500 |
Universities almost always want SIELE Global, because a single module does not prove overall level. If B2 is required, check whether it must be reached in every part or overall. MIR, for example, requires C1 in all four parts.
Planning the exam around your application
The main trap is how long results take. Judging by the 2026 cycle, applications to Madrid's public universities for 2027/28 will close around 7 July. On the calendar:
- DELE in November 2026 (register by 30 September): results around February 2027, with time for a retake;
- DELE on 2 April 2027 (register by 10 February): results around early June, very tight, and Moscow did not run an April session in 2026, so this option may not exist for candidates in Russia;
- DELE on 22 May 2027: results around late August, too late;
- SIELE: take it any time before early June and receive the certificate within three weeks.
For a master's, check each programme's deadline: many Spanish master's programmes close their first round in winter or spring.
How to prepare
- Start with official materials. The Instituto Cervantes publishes a specification, guide and sample exam for each DELE level; SIELE publishes an exam guide and a demo.
- Train your weaker group. In DELE, writing and reading are scored together, so a weak essay cannot be offset by good listening.
- Write against the clock. DELE B2 allows 80 minutes for two texts, and writing is where students from conversation-only courses lose the most points.
- University courses. In Spain, university language centres run preparation. The Complutense Centre for Spanish Teaching, for example, charges $160 (€140) for a SIELE preparation course, and its annual course includes a DELE preparation module. See Spanish language courses in Spain.
Which mistakes to avoid
- Taking DELE in May before a July deadline. Results arrive after admissions close.
- Using SIELE for degree recognition. For a regulated profession, Decree 889/2022 requires DELE B2, an EOI certificate or training in Spanish.
- Taking a single SIELE module instead of Global. Universities and MIR expect a level in every skill.
- Expecting C2 from SIELE. SIELE tops out at C1.
- Trying to pay by card in Moscow. Since August 2025 the Moscow institute accepts DELE payments only in cash.
- Forgetting expiry. A SIELE certificate is valid for five years and may lapse before a MIR application or a second degree.
FAQ
A DELE diploma has no expiry date, so the same certificate can serve for university admission, degree recognition and citizenship years later. A SIELE certificate is valid for five years from the date it is issued. If you may need Spanish certification for a later application, such as MIR or a second degree, check that a SIELE result will still be valid by then or choose DELE.
Most often B2. Madrid's public universities require B2 for most programmes from nationals of non-Spanish-speaking countries. MIR requires C1, and recognition of a medical degree requires B2.
In Spain, from $125 (€112) for A1 to $275 (€240) for C2; B2 is $230 (€204). In Moscow, from RUB 5,600 to RUB 11,000, with B2 at RUB 9,000. In Kazakhstan, from $50 to $101 (KZT 22,458–45,450).
13–14 November 2026, with registration until 30 September 2026. The global calendar then has 12 February 2027 (A2 only) and 2 April 2027 for A1–C1, but Moscow ran neither session in 2026. Check the Moscow institute's 2027 timetable in December.
Uzbekistan is not in the official 2026 DELE fee table. SIELE can be booked in Uzbekistan, and DELE can be taken in neighbouring countries such as Kazakhstan.
Many do: for B2 at Madrid's public universities, SIELE is listed alongside DELE. Each programme sets its own list of certificates, especially at master's level.
Not for a first visa to study at a university. To renew a stay for language courses at a Cervantes-accredited centre, you need a DELE diploma, a DELE registration or a SIELE certificate.
Sources
- Instituto Cervantes — DELE dates 2026 and 2027
- Instituto Cervantes — official DELE fee table 2026 by country
- Instituto Cervantes — DELE B2 structure
- Instituto Cervantes — DELE B2 exam guide and scoring rules
- Instituto Cervantes — DELE results and reviews
- Instituto Cervantes Moscow — DELE dates and fees 2026
- Instituto Cervantes Moscow — DELE centres outside Moscow
- Instituto Cervantes — DELE fee table 2026 (PDF)
- SIELE — exam formats
- SIELE — exam guide
- SIELE — booking and remote format
- Instituto Cervantes — CCSE test
- UAM — Spanish B2 requirement at Madrid's public universities
- BOE — Royal Decree 889/2022, Article 13 (language for degree recognition)
- BOE — Order SND/854/2026 on MIR 2027, language requirements
- BOE — Immigration Regulation RD 1155/2024, Article 55 (renewal for language courses)
- BOE — Royal Decree 1004/2015 on nationality by residence
Dollar amounts use the ECB rate of 29 September 2026 (€1 = $1.1355) and 23 September 2026 rates from the Bank of Russia ($1 = RUB 84.07) and the National Bank of Kazakhstan ($1 = KZT 447.85), and are rounded.
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