Moving to Spain as a Latin American Spanish speaker

Terms used

• DELE A2 — The DELE A2 is a basic Spanish-language certificate issued by the Instituto Cervantes.
• CCSE — The CCSE is the Instituto Cervantes test on Spanish constitution, culture and society, needed for nationality by residence.
• UNED — UNED is Spain's national distance-learning university, which also accredits foreign school studies for university entry.
• Empadronamiento — Empadronamiento is registration of your home address with your town hall.
• NIE — The NIE is the tax and identity number Spain gives to foreigners.
• Gestoría — A gestoría is a private office that handles paperwork with public offices for a fee.

Key rules

• Nationality tests: Spanish speakers from exempt countries skip the DELE A2 but still sit the CCSE.
• University: Spanish-language schooling means no Spanish test, and other school systems go through UNED accreditation.
• Professions: Regulated professions need recognition of your qualification, not a Spanish certificate.
• Regional languages: Some public posts and teaching jobs in regions with a second official language can require it.

The short answer

You do not need to prove that you speak Spanish. The work that remains is a knowledge test for nationality, some paperwork for study or a profession, and getting used to how Spanish is spoken in Spain. The documents and FAQ below cover the details.

Nationality by residence

If you apply for nationality by residence, you are exempt from the DELE A2 when you are a national of a country where Spanish is official. That mainly means Latin American countries and Equatorial Guinea. The nationality-level rules are explained in full on the page about language requirements. In short, you still sit the CCSE, the knowledge test run by the Instituto Cervantes.

The residence time you need before applying is usually 10 years. It is 2 years for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Portugal and Equatorial Guinea, and for Sephardic descendants. It is 1 year in specific cases, such as marriage to a Spaniard.

This does not apply if you get nationality by option or by origin.

University and regulated professions

You do not need a Spanish certificate for university or for a regulated profession.

• University: if you finished Spanish-language schooling, such as a Bachillerato or an equivalent, universities do not test your Spanish. If you studied in a non-Spanish school system, you go through UNED's accreditation (credencial). If it is required, you then take the university entrance route.
• Some universities: a few ask for a DELE or SIELE certificate from applicants whose schooling was not in Spanish. Nationals of Spanish-speaking countries are normally exempt. Confirm with the university.
• Regulated professions: the key step is homologation, which is recognition of your foreign qualification. No separate Spanish certificate is usually needed. Each professional body sets its own rules, so ask the one for your profession.

Regional languages

Some regions have a second official language. These are Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands. Some public posts and teaching jobs there can require that language, even from native Spanish speakers. Check the requirement with the employer or the regional administration before you plan around a post.

What will sound different

You will be understood everywhere, but expect some changes.

• Plural "you": people use vosotros with friends, family and groups, where you would say ustedes. You will also hear the present perfect more often.
• Tú: people use it widely, even with strangers and at work. Usted is less common than in some Latin American countries.
• Tone: speech is more direct, with fillers such as vale, tío and guay.
• Vocabulary: coche (carro, auto), ordenador (computadora), móvil (celular), piso (apartamento), zumo (jugo), patata (papa), gafas (lentes), melocotón (durazno), aparcar (estacionar), billete (boleto), conducir (manejar).
• Coger: it is an everyday verb for taking or catching something in Spain. In some Latin American countries it is vulgar, so you will hear it often.
• Pronunciation: in northern and central Spain, z and c before e or i sound like English "th".

Writing to offices

Formal letters and emails follow set formulas, such as Estimado/a señor/a to open and Un saludo or Atentamente to close. Dates go day/month/year, and official documents often use 24-hour time. You will also meet administrative words such as empadronamiento, NIE and gestoría.

Documents you need

• Proof of Spanish-language schooling, such as a Bachillerato or equivalent school record, for university admission. It replaces any DELE or SIELE request.

• UNED accreditation (credencial) if you studied in a non-Spanish school system. It is issued by UNED, and you may also need the university entrance route (PAU/EBAU or UNEDasiss).

• Recognition (homologation) of your foreign qualification for a regulated profession. No separate Spanish language certificate is usually needed.

• CCSE test result from the Instituto Cervantes for nationality by residence. You do not need the DELE A2 if you are a national of a country where Spanish is official.

Frequently asked questions

Do I still need to pass the CCSE if I am from Latin America?

Yes, you still sit the CCSE, the constitutional and sociocultural knowledge test, but you are exempt from the DELE A2 language certificate. The exemption covers nationals of countries where Spanish is official.

Do I need a Spanish certificate for university or a regulated profession?

No, native Spanish speakers do not need a Spanish language certificate for university admission or regulated professions. Nationals of Spanish-speaking countries are normally exempt even where a university asks for DELE or SIELE.

Can I be asked for a language test in Catalonia or other regions?

Yes, in Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands, the co-official language may be required for some public posts or for teaching. This applies to native Spanish speakers too. Ask the body that runs the post what level it wants.

Which everyday words will differ from my Spanish in Spain?

Many common words differ, for example coche (carro), ordenador (computadora), móvil (celular), piso (apartamento) and billete (boleto). Be careful with coger, which is an ordinary verb in Spain but vulgar in some Latin American countries. Spaniards also use vosotros for informal plurals and tú even with strangers.