Booking the culture exam (CCSE): fees, centres and calendar

Key rules

• Fee: You pay the fee by card online when you register, not at the centre.
• Deadline: Registration closes a few weeks before each session, so book early.
• Where: You can sit the exam in Spain or abroad, depending on the centres offered for each session.
• Exam day: Bring valid identification and keep your registration confirmation.

How to book the CCSE

You register online through Instituto Cervantes, pay the fee by card and choose a centre and a session. You do this in four steps. The checklist below sums them up.

Step 1: Look at the calendar and pick a session

Instituto Cervantes publishes a calendar every year. Sessions are normally held about once a month, usually on a Thursday, and not in August. Exact dates change by year and by centre, so use the current calendar and not last year's dates.

Registration closes a few weeks before each session. Book early. If you need the result for an application, leave time for a second try.

Step 2: Choose a centre

You can sit the exam in Spain or abroad.

• In Spain, it is held at Instituto Cervantes centres and at accredited centres, including many universities and official language schools.
• Abroad, it is held at Instituto Cervantes centres and some accredited centres.

Not every centre offers every session. Pick your session and centre together, using the list published by Instituto Cervantes.

Step 3: Register and pay

Register on the Instituto Cervantes CCSE site, or through the accredited centre you chose. You will:

1. Choose the centre and date.
2. Enter your personal data using your passport or NIE.
3. Keep the confirmation you receive.

The fee was 85 euros in 2025. It is set by Instituto Cervantes and can be revised, so check the amount on the registration page before you pay. You pay online, not at the centre.

Some centres and countries have their own procedures. Follow the instructions of the centre you chose.

Step 4: Sit the exam

Bring valid identification on exam day. The documents list below shows what to take.

Timeline and deadlines

• Look up the yearly calendar and pick a session: before you register; sessions are about once a month, usually on a Thursday, except August

• Sit the exam with valid identification: on the session date

Dates change every year; check the current calendar on the Instituto Cervantes CCSE website.

Documents you need

• Your passport or NIE (foreigner identification number), needed to complete your personal data when you register online.

• Valid identification to bring with you on exam day.

Checklist

• Check the current calendar and choose a session and centre in Spain or abroad.

• Note the registration deadline, which falls a few weeks before the session.

• Pay the 85 euro fee by card online.

• Keep the confirmation you receive after paying.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sit the CCSE outside Spain?

Yes, the CCSE is also held at Instituto Cervantes centres and some accredited centres worldwide. Which centres are open depends on the session, so check the published list for the date you want. Some countries have their own booking procedures, so follow the instructions of the centre you choose.

Do I pay the CCSE fee in Spain at the centre or online?

You pay the CCSE fee online by card when you register, not at the centre. The fee is 85 euros and is the same in Spain and abroad. It can be revised, so confirm the amount on the registration page.

How often is the CCSE held during the year?

The CCSE is normally held about once a month, usually on a Thursday, except in August. Exact dates vary by year and by centre, and registration closes a few weeks before each date, so book early.