Your Spanish study plan

It is for anyone thinking about moving to Spain, preparing to go, or already living there. You will leave with a concrete study plan that fits your timeline and your limits.

Start with "What to study before the move, in month one and year one". It sets out the order of your learning, and the other articles build on it. Next, read "Should you learn Spanish before you move or after you arrive?" to decide how to split your study between home and Spain.

Then pick the article that matches your situation: a weekly plan that mixes classes and practice, a pace that suits your moving stress, a small budget, a full-time job with Spanish working hours, or learning alongside your children at school.

Key rules

• Plan review: Review your plan every 4 to 8 weeks, with a quick weekly check that you did the sessions you planned.
• Before you go: Learn only a core minimum: greetings, your name and address, numbers, appointments, housing and health words.
• After you arrive: Put most of your study into Spain, starting with free or low-cost public classes.
• Enrolment window: Public adult courses usually open enrolment in June to July, so plan before you arrive.
• Mid-year start: If you arrive between school years, private schools and university language centres start new groups almost monthly.
• Three parts: A good week includes a class, self-study and speaking practice, not just one of them.

Your Spanish study plan: the whole process, step by step

• Decide how much Spanish you need and when. Residence or nationality plans can set a language deadline (see: Should you learn Spanish before you move or after you arrive?): before you start planning

• Sequence your learning by phase: before the move, month one and year one (see: What to study before the move, in month one and year one): before the move

• Pick a pace that fits your relocation stress: steady in the first weeks, then increase once routines settle (see: Intensive course or slow and steady): in the first weeks after arrival

• Learn the survival vocabulary for appointments (cita previa), registration, the bank, renting and the health centre: in month one

• Enrol in a public course: CEPA enrolment is usually in June–July or early September, and courses run from late September or October to May or June (see: A realistic Spanish study plan on a small budget): June–July or early September, for a course starting in late September or October

• Or start a private school course: groups start almost monthly, with standard courses of about 15–20 lessons per week and intensive ones of about 25–30: any month, usually booked by the week

• Build your weekly plan mixing class, self-study and speaking practice, roughly a third each (see: Building a weekly Spanish plan that mixes classes and practice): once your course is booked

• If you have children, line up your study around school hours, which run from early to mid September to late June (see: Learning Spanish as a parent while your children learn at school): before the school year starts in September

• Fit study around work hours and shifts (see: Fitting Spanish study around a full-time job and Spanish working hours): when your job schedule is settled

• Take the language exams your residence or nationality route needs, such as the DELE A2 for nationality, before you file: before you apply

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• Your NIE or TIE — Should you learn Spanish before you move or after you arrive?
• Proof of padrón registration — Should you learn Spanish before you move or after you arrive?
• Your ID or NIE — A realistic Spanish study plan on a small budget
• Proof that you are registered in the padrón — A realistic Spanish study plan on a small budget
• Proof of enrolment in regulated training — What to study before the move, in month one and year one

Other documents

• CCSE test result — Should you learn Spanish before you move or after you arrive?, What to study before the move, in month one and year one
• Report of social integration — Should you learn Spanish before you move or after you arrive?, What to study before the move, in month one and year one
• DELE A2 certificate from Instituto Cervantes — Should you learn Spanish before you move or after you arrive?
• DELE A2 certificate in Spanish as a foreign language — What to study before the move, in month one and year one

Your Spanish study plan: questions that cross several articles

Can I learn enough Spanish just by living in Spain?

Daily life alone usually gets you to survival level (roughly A1–A2), then progress often stalls. For B1 or higher, add classes and a language exchange. Read Building a weekly Spanish plan that mixes classes and practice.

How many class hours do I need to reach A2 or B1?

Reaching A2 typically takes about 180–200 guided hours in total, and B1 about 350–400. See Should you learn Spanish before you move or after you arrive?.

Are there free Spanish classes in Spain?

Yes, free classes exist through CEPAs, town halls and NGOs, and you usually need to be registered in the padrón, the town hall register. See Should you learn Spanish before you move or after you arrive?.

Do I need Spanish to get residence or nationality?

Nationality by residence requires the DELE A2 exam and the CCSE test, unless you are exempt, while residence permits have no general language test. Take the exams before you apply. Read Should you learn Spanish before you move or after you arrive?

Which tasks in my first weeks need Spanish?

Most official paperwork, housing contracts and public healthcare run in Spanish, while banking and private clinics often offer English. See What to study before the move, in month one and year one.

How do I get free practice with real speakers?

Language exchange groups and apps, university tandem programmes and library conversation circles are free in many cities. Free RTVE and Instituto Cervantes materials help between sessions.