Quick Answer
In 2026, France raised naturalisation to DELF B2 (from B1). Portugal kept the 5-year citizenship path; the clock now counts from your residence permit application date. Spain and Italy did not change exam requirements — DELE A2 + CCSE and CELI 2 B1 respectively. Plan exam prep around the rules that apply to your country.
The rules for European citizenship changed in 2026 — and not uniformly. France made the biggest shift, raising its citizenship language requirement by a full level. Portugal survived a legal challenge to its 5-year residency rule. Spain and Italy held steady.
If you're working toward citizenship in any of these four countries, this is what you need to know right now.
2026 Changes at a Glance
| Country | Citizenship exam | Level required | Changed in 2026? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | CIPLE A2 | A2 | No change — 5-year rule survived |
| Spain | DELE A2 + CCSE | A2 | No change |
| France | DELF B2 | B2 | Yes — raised from B1 (Jan 2026) |
| Italy | CELI 2 | B1 | No change |
Bottom line: If you're pursuing French citizenship, the rules changed significantly. If you're pursuing Portuguese, Spanish, or Italian citizenship, the requirements are unchanged from 2025 — but political pressure to tighten them is ongoing.
France: The Biggest Shift
What changed
France raised its citizenship language requirement from B1 to B2, effective January 1, 2026.
This is a meaningful change. B2 is upper-intermediate French — the level at which you can follow complex arguments, write structured essays, and sustain a discussion on abstract topics. It is one full CEFR level above B1.
The full French language ladder in 2026
| Document / status | Level required |
|---|---|
| Multi-year residence permit | A2 |
| 10-year residency card (carte de résident) | B1 |
| Citizenship (naturalisation) | B2 |
Important: If you already hold a DELF B1, it is still valid — for the 10-year residency card. It is no longer sufficient for citizenship applications submitted from January 2026.
Why France made this change
The French government cited two reasons. First, integration standards: B2 ensures applicants can participate fully in civic and professional life — not just manage daily interactions. Second, alignment with stricter EU-wide integration expectations.
The change was introduced by decree and applies to all naturalization applications submitted from January 1, 2026, regardless of when residency began.
Who is affected
Everyone pursuing French citizenship by naturalization is affected. There are no exceptions based on years of residency, profession, or previous language certifications at a lower level. The B2 requirement is universal.
Exemptions exist only for candidates who completed secondary education in French (documented) or who have documented illiteracy.
What the DELF B2 exam requires
The DELF B2 has four sections worth 25 points each. Pass mark: 50/100 overall, with a minimum of 5/25 in each section (the note éliminatoire).
The note éliminatoire is the most dangerous feature: scoring below 5/25 in any single section fails you outright regardless of your total.
First-attempt pass rate: approximately 35–40%.
Full DELF B2 preparation guide →
Portugal: The 5-Year Rule Survived
What happened
In late 2025, Portugal's parliament approved a proposal to extend the citizenship residency requirement from 5 to 10 years. The Constitutional Court subsequently rejected key provisions of the law. As of March 2026, the 5-year rule remains in force.
What actually changed: how the clock is calculated
The 2024 amendment (Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2024) changed how residency time is counted. Your 5-year clock now starts from the date you submitted your residence permit application — not the date your permit was issued.
This is significant. If AIMA took 2 years to process your card, those 2 years now count toward your residency requirement. Many people who thought they were years away from eligibility are already eligible or close.
The CIPLE A2 requirement
Portuguese citizenship still requires demonstrating language proficiency. The accepted options are:
- CIPLE A2 — the most widely used certificate, administered by CAPLE
- PLA (Português Língua de Acolhimento) — a 150-hour course with attendance certificate, an alternative to the exam
For most applicants, CIPLE A2 is the faster and more flexible option — it's a single exam on a fixed date rather than a multi-week course.
Brazilian nationals: Citizens of CPLP countries (including Brazil) who were born in their country of origin are generally exempt from the language requirement. However, this exemption has exceptions — confirm with an immigration lawyer for your specific case.
Why you shouldn't wait
The 5-year rule survived this time, but political pressure to tighten requirements continues. The safest strategy for anyone currently eligible or close to eligibility is to initiate the process as soon as possible under current rules.
The IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado) is currently processing citizenship applications with delays of 12–24 months. Every month you wait is a month added to the back of your timeline.
Full CIPLE A2 preparation guide →
Spain: No Changes — But Deadlines Matter
Spain's citizenship language requirements are unchanged in 2026. The DELE A2 remains the required language exam, administered by the Instituto Cervantes.
Current Spanish citizenship requirements
- DELE A2 — Spanish language proficiency at A2 level
- CCSE — Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España (civic knowledge exam)
- Residency: 10 years standard; 2 years for Ibero-American citizens, nationals of Equatorial Guinea, Philippines, Andorra, and citizens of Portuguese origin; 1 year for spouses of Spanish citizens and others
Both DELE A2 and CCSE are required. They are separate exams with separate fees and separate sessions.
2026 DELE A2 sessions
Upcoming sessions: May 23, 2026 (registration closes approximately 6 weeks before). Additional sessions in autumn 2026 — check Instituto Cervantes for exact dates.
The CCSE
The CCSE is often underestimated. It tests specific knowledge of Spanish history, geography, constitution, and social norms — in Spanish. Preparation typically requires 6–8 weeks of dedicated study. It is not a language exam — it's a knowledge exam, but answering it requires solid A2-level reading comprehension.
Full DELE A2 preparation guide →
Italy: No Changes — But CELI 2 Is B1
Italy's requirements are unchanged. The CELI 2 (Certificato di Lingua Italiana — Livello 2) at B1 level remains the required language certification for citizenship, administered by CVCL at the Università per Stranieri di Perugia.
Current Italian citizenship requirements
- CELI 2 B1 — Italian language proficiency at B1 (intermediate) level
- Residency: 10 years standard; 4 years for EU citizens; 5 years for stateless persons and citizens of former Italian territories; 2 years for spouses of Italian citizens residing in Italy
Why CELI 2 is harder than it sounds
CELI 2 is B1 — one full CEFR level above the A2 exams required by Portugal and Spain. This is a meaningful difference: B1 requires approximately 2,500 active vocabulary words, ability to write formal letters and structured opinion texts, and comfortable participation in conversations on social topics.
The first-attempt pass rate is approximately 61%.
CELI 2 does have one significant structural advantage: the carry-over policy. Sections where you score 70%+ on a failed attempt are banked for 2 years. On your retake, you only sit the sections you didn't pass.
2026 CELI 2 sessions
Typical windows: March/April, June/July, October/November. Exact dates vary by centre — check with your local CVCL-authorized centre at least 3 months in advance.
Full CELI 2 preparation guide →
The Section Minimum Trap: Why Prepared Candidates Fail
Across all four exams, one pattern explains more failures than any other: candidates who speak the language well enough, prepare reasonably well, and still fail because of section minimum rules they didn't know about.
Each exam has its own version of this trap:
CIPLE A2: 25% minimum in each of three sections. Scoring 24% in Listening fails you even if your overall score is 75%.
DELE A2: 30/50 minimum in each skill pair (Reading+Writing and Listening+Speaking). A weak Listening score can drag your pair below 30 even with strong Speaking.
DELF B2: 5/25 minimum in each individual section. The note éliminatoire — below 5 in any one skill is automatic failure regardless of total.
CELI 2: No individual minimums — but 70% overall is a high bar, and the carry-over only activates on a failed attempt.
Why general language apps fail citizenship candidates
Duolingo, Babbel, and similar apps build conversational vocabulary and basic grammar. They do not train you for:
- Timed exam sections at natural audio speed
- Formal written register expected at B1/B2 level
- Specific task formats that examiners score against explicit criteria
- The section-minimum structure that differs between exams
Passing these exams requires exam-specific preparation — not just language improvement.
The Trend: Requirements Are Getting Stricter
France's 2026 change is the clearest example of a broader European trend: governments are replacing informal language participation with formal, tested proof of ability.
Portugal survived this time but the political pressure remains. Spain's requirements haven't changed but are periodically reviewed. Italy at B1 is already stricter than most EU countries.
The strategic implication: If you are currently eligible — or will be within 12 months — the best time to start the process is now. Waiting exposes you to potential future tightening of requirements that you'd then need to meet under harder conditions.
What to Do Right Now
If you're pursuing Portuguese citizenship: Check your residency start date against the new Lei Orgânica 1/2024 calculation (from permit application date, not issuance). If you're eligible or close, start the CIPLE A2 preparation process now.
If you're pursuing French citizenship: You need DELF B2 — not B1. Assess your current French level honestly. If you're at B1, plan for 8–16 weeks of focused B2 preparation. If you're below B1, plan for longer.
If you're pursuing Spanish citizenship: Register for the next DELE A2 and CCSE sessions. Both exams need preparation — don't underestimate the CCSE.
If you're pursuing Italian citizenship: Confirm your residency eligibility dates. CELI 2 is B1 — plan for 12–16 weeks from A2 level.
Which Country's Language Exam Should I Prepare For?
Official Source
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a DELF B1 certificate still count for anything? Yes — for the 10-year French residency card. It no longer satisfies the citizenship requirement, which has been raised to B2 since January 2026.
I'm a Brazilian citizen — do I need to do CIPLE A2? Generally no — Brazilian nationals born in Brazil are typically exempt from the language requirement for Portuguese citizenship. There are exceptions; confirm with an immigration lawyer.
Can I use the same certificate for multiple countries? No. Each country has its own required exam in its own language. CIPLE is for Portugal, DELE for Spain, DELF for France, CELI for Italy.
How long do these certificates stay valid? All four — CIPLE, DELE, DELF, and CELI — are permanent certificates with no expiry date.
What's the fastest European citizenship to obtain? Depends heavily on your eligibility. Spanish citizenship is available after 2 years for Ibero-American nationals. Portuguese citizenship is available after 5 years. French and Italian citizenship typically require 5 and 10 years respectively.
Prepare for Your Exam
Prep2go covers all four citizenship language exams: CIPLE A2, DELE A2, DELF B2, and CELI 2 B1. Personalized study plan by exam date, exam-format exercises, readiness score by section.
Last updated: March 2026. Always verify current requirements with the relevant national authority before submitting your citizenship application.