· 8 min read
Portuguese Language Test: CAPLE, Celpe-Bras
By Language Lab editorial team
Portuguese language tests explained: Portugal's CAPLE exams from ACESSO to DUPLE, the A2 level for nationality, exam seasons, results, and Brazil's Celpe-Bras.
Portuguese has two official test systems, one for each side of the Atlantic. In Portugal, the University of Lisbon's CAPLE centre is the only Portuguese body that certifies Portuguese as a foreign language. It offers six exams from A1 to C2: ACESSO, CIPLE, DEPLE, DIPLE, DAPLE and DUPLE. Under current Portuguese law, CIPLE, at level A2, is the minimum for acquiring Portuguese nationality, and Portuguese universities ask for DIPLE, at B2, to complete undergraduate courses. Exams are held in three seasons, May, July and November, and the certificates and diplomas have no expiry. In Brazil, the official exam is Celpe-Bras, run twice a year in Brazil and abroad by the government institute Inep. Choose the system of the country you are dealing with.
CAPLE: Portugal's exams
| Exam | Full name | Level | What you receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACESSO | Certificado de Acesso ao Português | A1 | Certificate |
| CIPLE | Certificado Inicial de Português Língua Estrangeira | A2 | Certificate |
| DEPLE | Diploma Elementar de Português Língua Estrangeira | B1 | Diploma |
| DIPLE | Diploma Intermédio de Português Língua Estrangeira | B2 | Diploma |
| DAPLE | Diploma Avançado de Português Língua Estrangeira | Advanced; one of the two C-level diplomas | Diploma |
| DUPLE | Diploma Universitário de Português Língua Estrangeira | University; one of the two C-level diplomas | Diploma |
CAPLE, the Centre for Evaluation and Certification of Portuguese as a Foreign Language, is part of the Faculty of Letters of the University of Lisbon. Its exams assess the six levels of the Common European Framework, A1 to C2. Candidates who pass at A1 or A2 receive a certificate; those who pass at B1, B2, C1 or C2 receive a diploma. There are school versions of some exams for ages 12 to 15, and a test called TEJO for children aged 9 to 11.
What the levels are used for
- Nationality: under Portuguese legislation in force, CIPLE, level A2, is the minimum level for acquiring Portuguese nationality.
- University: Portuguese universities ask for DIPLE, level B2, for the completion of undergraduate courses.
- Work and study more generally: the exams can be used for educational, social, professional or other purposes.
- Recognition: CAPLE certification carries the seal of the University of Lisbon and is recognised in Portugal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Camões institute, and by the Ministry of Education.
Who can sit the exams
Anyone aged 16 or over who has Portuguese as a foreign language. You do not have to start at the lowest level: CAPLE's own example is that a candidate can register for DIPLE at B2 without having taken CIPLE or DEPLE. No preparation course is required, and CAPLE does not run one; it publishes examples of exams instead.
When and where
- Seasons: exams take place in Portugal and abroad in three seasons, May, July and November. In Portugal, CIPLE is held on more dates.
- Registration: open through the year, up to 21 days before the date of the first exam of the season.
- One exam per season: you cannot register for more than one.
- Centres: exams are sat at authorised centres called LAPE. CAPLE says there are about 100 centres in 35 countries.
- Availability: each centre decides which exams it offers and how many places it opens, so check your centre when you register.
- Payment: the fee must be paid within 24 hours of registering or the registration is cancelled, and it is not refunded if you withdraw.
Results and certificates
- You look up your result on the CAPLE website with your candidate code.
- The overall classification is one of four: Insuficiente, Suficiente, Bom or Muito Bom.
- The result also shows the percentage you obtained in each language activity.
- If you pass, you collect your certificate or diploma at your exam centre 15 to 20 working days after the results are published.
- Certificates and diplomas have no limit of validity.
Celpe-Bras: Brazil's exam
Celpe-Bras is the official Brazilian exam for certifying proficiency in Portuguese for foreigners. It is applied every semester, in Brazil and abroad, by Inep, the national institute for educational studies, together with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Tests are held at accredited posts such as universities, diplomatic missions and cultural centres.
- Approach: it assesses use of the language in different communication situations, considering context, purpose and the people involved.
- Format: a written part, covering listening, reading and written production, and an oral part, a face-to-face interaction with assessors.
- Levels: one exam certifies different levels of proficiency according to your performance in its tasks.
Which one should you take?
| Your goal | Exam to look at |
|---|---|
| Portuguese nationality | CIPLE (A2), the legal minimum |
| Finishing a degree at a Portuguese university | DIPLE (B2) |
| Study or work in Brazil | Celpe-Bras |
| A first certificate of European Portuguese | ACESSO (A1) or CIPLE (A2) |
| Advanced proof for academic or professional use | DAPLE or DUPLE, the two C-level diplomas |
Always confirm with the institution or authority which certificate and level it accepts.
How to prepare
- Work through CAPLE's published example exams.
- Practise speaking: every CAPLE exam includes an oral production and interaction test, scheduled by your centre.
- Use free practice material: Portugal's Plataforma de Português Online offers 24 thematic modules at levels A and B.
- Test yourself instead of rereading. A 2013 review of learning research rated practice testing and distributed practice as high utility.
Language Lab's Portuguese course is built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor, a way to rehearse the oral part of the exam.
Frequently asked
What is the official Portuguese language test?
In Portugal, the CAPLE exams of the University of Lisbon, six exams covering A1 to C2, from ACESSO to DUPLE. In Brazil, Celpe-Bras, run by Inep.
What level of Portuguese is needed for Portuguese citizenship?
CAPLE states that, under Portuguese legislation in force, the CIPLE exam at level A2 is the minimum for acquiring Portuguese nationality. Confirm the current rule with the authority handling your application.
When are the CAPLE exams held?
In three seasons: May, July and November, in Portugal and abroad. In Portugal, CIPLE is held on additional dates.
Do CAPLE certificates expire?
No. CAPLE states that its certificates and diplomas have no limit of validity.
Can I take DIPLE without taking the lower exams first?
Yes. You can register for any exam without having taken the others.
How often is Celpe-Bras held?
Every semester, in Brazil and abroad.
How old do I have to be to take a CAPLE exam?
16 or over for the standard exams. School versions exist for ages 12 to 15.
Sources: CAPLE, Centro de Avaliação e Certificação de Português Língua Estrangeira, University of Lisbon: Natureza e missão, Exames, Os exames de PLE, Épocas de Exames and Perguntas Frequentes; Inep (Brazil), Celpe-Bras; AIMA, Plataforma de Português Online; Dunlosky et al., Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 2013. Checked on 13 October 2026. Photo: Belém Tower, Lisbon, Berthold Werner / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
