When you're preparing for Portuguese naturalisation, there's a decision most guides skip over entirely: you don't have to sit the CIPLE exam. There's a second route — the PLA course — that leads to the same certificate, through a completely different process. Choosing the wrong one for your situation can cost you months. Choosing the right one can get you to your citizenship application faster than you expected.
Here's the honest comparison.
What Both Routes Actually Lead To
Both the CIPLE A2 exam and the PLA course satisfy the same legal requirement: proof of "sufficient knowledge" of Portuguese at level A2 or higher, as required under Lei n.º 37/81 for naturalisation. Both produce a certificate that AIMA accepts for the citizenship application. Neither is officially superior to the other.
The difference is entirely in how you get there.
PLA: The No-Exam Path — But Read the Small Print
The PLA (Português Língua de Acolhimento) is a 150-hour structured language course run by IEFP-accredited institutions or public educational centres. Upon completion, you receive a certificate that satisfies the A2 language requirement for citizenship — no final exam required.
On paper, this sounds like the easier option. In practice, it comes with constraints that make it the wrong choice for a significant number of applicants.
The attendance requirement is strict. To receive the certificate, you must attend at least 90% of classes. That's 135 hours out of 150. Miss more than 15 hours across the entire course, and you don't receive the certificate — regardless of your actual language level or how well you performed in class.
For someone with a predictable schedule, this is manageable. For anyone with irregular work hours, travel requirements, childcare responsibilities, or health issues, it's a genuine risk. One bad month — a business trip, a sick child, an unexpected obligation — can push you below the attendance threshold and void months of effort.
The course runs on a fixed schedule. Unlike exam preparation, which you can do at your own pace and time, the PLA course runs on the institution's timetable. Sessions are typically held on weekday mornings or afternoons. Evening and weekend availability exists in some centres but is not guaranteed. You fit your life around the course, not the other way around.
The waiting list can be long. PLA courses are popular, and places at IEFP-accredited centres are limited. In Lisbon and Porto, waiting times of several months before a course even starts are not unusual. If your citizenship eligibility date is approaching, a three-month wait to begin a five-month course is a significant delay.
The timeline from start to certificate is typically 5–6 months — the duration of the course itself, plus administrative processing time after completion.
PLA is the right choice if:
CIPLE: For When You Need the Certificate Yesterday
The CIPLE A2 is a single exam — approximately two hours of written tests plus a 15-minute oral interaction. You prepare on your own terms, at your own pace, and on your own schedule. You sit the exam on one day. Results arrive in approximately six weeks. The certificate follows a month after that.
From start to certificate-in-hand, the realistic timeline for a well-prepared candidate is 3–4 months — roughly half the time of the PLA route, and without any attendance requirement.
You control the preparation schedule entirely. Whether you study intensively over eight weeks or spread preparation across four months, that's your decision. You don't need to be available on Tuesday mornings. You don't need to commute to a centre twice a week.
There's no attendance risk. The only thing that determines whether you get the certificate is how you perform on exam day. Work travel, family obligations, and schedule changes don't put your certificate at risk — as long as you're ready when exam day comes.
Slots fill fast — but alternatives exist. The one logistical constraint of the CIPLE route is registration. CAPLE exam slots in Lisbon and Porto fill quickly after registration opens in January, and the 2024 citizenship law reform has made this worse. However, transfrontier registration — sitting the exam at CAPLE-affiliated centres in Badajoz or Vigo — provides a reliable alternative when Portuguese slots are full.
The pass threshold is achievable with focused preparation. The CIPLE A2 requires a weighted average of 55%, with a minimum of 25% in each of the three components. The exam is not designed to be a barrier — it is designed to confirm a functional A2 level. Candidates who prepare specifically for the exam format, including the Listening section's natural-speed audio, pass on the first attempt.
CIPLE is the right choice if:
Side-by-Side Comparison
CIPLE A2: One exam day · 3–4 months to certificate · Full schedule flexibility · No attendance risk · Slots book fast; transfrontier option available · €79 exam fee + prep
PLA Course: 150-hour course · 5–6 months to certificate · Fixed timetable, 90% attendance required · High risk — missing >15 hours voids certificate · Limited places; waiting lists common · Typically subsidised or free via IEFP
Both certificates do not expire and are equally valid for citizenship. CIPLE suits self-directed learners and tight timelines; PLA suits structured learners with flexible schedules.
The Cost Question
The PLA course is typically free or heavily subsidised through IEFP — this is a genuine financial advantage. The CIPLE exam fee is €79, plus the cost of preparation materials or a prep platform.
However, cost calculation shouldn't stop at the exam fee. If a PLA waiting list adds three months before you can even start, and the course itself takes five months, that's eight months before a certificate — versus three to four months via the CIPLE route. For someone whose citizenship application is on hold pending the language certificate, the cost of delay is real, even if it's harder to quantify.
The financially optimal choice depends on how much your time is worth and how much timeline pressure you're under. For applicants with no immediate deadline, the free PLA course is sensible. For applicants working against a specific citizenship submission window, the CIPLE is almost always faster.
One Rule Applies to Both
Whichever route you choose, the certificate must be in your hands before your citizenship application is submitted. AIMA does not accept pending results or certificates in process. This makes the timeline calculation concrete: work backwards from your intended submission date, account for certificate processing time, and choose the route that gets you there with buffer — not by the skin of your timeline.
For the CIPLE route specifically: results take approximately six weeks after the exam, and the physical certificate takes a further month. Build in at least three months between exam date and intended citizenship submission.
Exam-specific CIPLE A2 preparation. No credit card required. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are both the CIPLE and PLA certificates equally accepted for citizenship? Yes. Both satisfy the same legal requirement under Lei n.º 37/81. AIMA accepts both without preference.
Can I start a PLA course and switch to the CIPLE exam if needed? Yes, there's no restriction on switching. However, the PLA certificate is only issued upon completing 90% of the course — partial attendance gives you nothing. If you're considering switching mid-course, factor in the time already spent.
Does the CIPLE certificate expire? No. CAPLE certificates do not expire for citizenship purposes. The same applies to PLA course certificates.
What if I fail the CIPLE — can I still do a PLA course instead? Yes. The two routes are entirely independent. A failed CIPLE attempt does not affect your eligibility for a PLA course, and vice versa.
Is the PLA course available online? Some IEFP-accredited centres offer blended formats, but fully online PLA courses with recognised certification for citizenship purposes are limited. Confirm the format and accreditation status with the specific centre before enrolling.
Information based on Lei n.º 37/81 and IEFP accreditation requirements. PLA course availability and scheduling varies by centre and region. Always confirm current course availability and citizenship certificate validity with IEFP or the relevant educational institution before enrolling.
Source: CAPLE - Camões Institute for Portuguese Language Certification