The CCSE exam is meant for anyone seeking Spanish citizenship. Legally capable candidates over the age of 18 of whatsoever nationality are eligible to register.
CCSE candidates
The Cervantes Institutes accepts applications for CCSE tests from all candidates who pay the registration fees, irrespective of nationality or origin.
The CCSE tests are designed for a literate public of all ages, although geared to adults over the age of 16.
Parents or legal tutors or representatives may register minors or persons lacking legal capacity.
Special conditions
The Cervantes Institute may make special arrangements for access to the CCSE test for candidates with some manner of disability, difficulty or impairment envisaged in national legislation, as follows.
- Candidates with any of the following (temporary or permanent) disabilities:
- Low or partial vision or blindness.
- Poor or partial hearing or deafness.
- Impaired mobility.
- Candidates with learning difficulties (dyslexia or dysgraphia).
- Candidates living in cloistered religious institutions or health facilities (for over 2 months) or confined in penitentiaries.
The procedure for establishing special arrangements for the CCSE test is as set out below.
- The candidate submits an application form listing the measures requested to the testing centre where they are registered, together with substantiating documents, within 48 hours of registering.
- The testing centre must determine whether it can make the arrangements requested and uploads the application to the SICIC (Cervantes Institute certification system) platform.
- The Cervantes Institute approves or denies the request and notifies the testing centre accordingly.
- The testing centre serves notice of the decision on the candidate.
Further information is available on the links listed under ‘Related files’ below.
Dispensation from the CCSE test
Illiterate persons may apply to the Ministry of Justice for dispensation from the CCSE test. Consequently, special arrangements for illiteracy may not be requested.
In addition, in some cases applicants for Spanish citizenship over the age of 70 may also request dispensation from the CCSE exam, in light of inherent age-related learning difficulties.
