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When are the CIPLE exam dates in 2027, and where can you sit the exam?

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Short answer: On 27 October 2026 no official 2027 CIPLE dates had been published. CAPLE runs CIPLE in international seasons (May, July, November) and in national CIPLE-P seasons, and each of about 100 authorised centres decides which seasons and how many places it offers. Check the CAPLE calendar and your chosen centre's page for the exact 2027 dates.

If you plan to take the CIPLE (the A2 Portuguese exam) in 2027, you probably want a calendar for the fridge. There isn't an official one yet. This article explains what is known on 27 October 2026, how the CIPLE year is built, and where you can sit the exam.

By the end, you'll know which seasons exist, how to check a date at your own centre, and what time the exam starts. For the registration steps, read how to register for the CIPLE exam. We won't repeat them here.

Are the 2027 CIPLE dates published yet?

No. On 27 October 2026 we found no 2027 CIPLE dates on any official page. The centre pages we checked (Lisbon, Porto and Leiria) list only 2026 seasons. CAPLE's calendar page shows the international and national calendars as images, so the text can't be read or copied (CAPLE exam seasons). Open that page yourself and look at the image for the year you want.

There is one useful clue. The Lisbon centre (LAPE-FLUL) announced its 2026 registrations in December 2025, with registration opening on 6 January (ICLP news item). If Lisbon follows the same timing, its 2027 calendar could appear around December 2026. That's our inference, not an official statement. The news item also has a typo in the year, so it's worth checking the original page rather than relying on a summary.

How the CIPLE year is organised

CIPLE is the A2-level exam. CAPLE says it's held in three international seasons (May, July and November) and also in national seasons called CIPLE-P (CIPLE-Portugal) (CAPLE, CIPLE page). The national sessions are for candidates in Portugal. The Lisbon page marks its October 2026 session as "apenas Portugal" (Portugal only) (CAPLE, Lisbon centre).

Nobody has officially said 2027 will follow the same pattern. Treat it as a reasonable expectation, not a promise.

One more rule affects planning: you can take only one CAPLE exam per exam season (CAPLE exam rules).

Each centre decides its own dates and places

The general calendar is only a starting point. Each centre (called a LAPE) decides which seasons it runs and how many places it offers per level, so dates and availability differ from one centre to another (CAPLE, centres). If you're in doubt, contact the centre.

The 2026 pages for two big centres show how different this can be:

Centre Seasons listed for 2026
Lisbon (Universidade de Lisboa) May, July and November, plus extra national CIPLE sessions in Feb, Mar, Apr, Jun, Sep and Oct (CAPLE)
Porto (Universidade do Porto) May and July only (CAPLE)

There's a second catch. At the Lisbon centre, the May, July and November CIPLE exams are held on a different date from the one published on the CAPLE site, for logistical reasons (ICLP calendar). So even a date on CAPLE's calendar needs confirming with your centre.

Example: how Lisbon builds its year

The Lisbon centre publishes its own calendar with exam dates, registration start and end dates, places, and results and certificate dates. For 2026 it shows roughly monthly CIPLE sessions, with a limit of 175 places per date (ICLP calendar).

Registration for each date opens about one month before its registration deadline. It opens at 15:00, and the start time varies with the exam date. Some dates sold out in 2026 (February and March), so booking early matters (ICLP calendar).

That page has some visible typos in its 2026 table, so we don't quote exact 2026 dates here. Use it to see how a calendar is built, then read the current version yourself.

Where can you sit the exam?

There are about 100 authorised centres in 35 countries. You must find an authorised centre to register, and CAPLE inspects and authorises all of them (CAPLE exam seasons). We only checked the list for Portugal, not the centres abroad.

CAPLE's search for "Portugal" lists about 20 centres, including (CAPLE centre search):

  • Lisbon: Universidade de Lisboa, Universidade Nova and the Lycée français
  • Porto: Universidade do Porto and the Lycée français
  • Aveiro, Braga, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Funchal, Guarda, Guimarães and Leiria
  • Ponta Delgada, Setúbal, Viseu, Bragança, Chaves, Sintra and Vilamoura

Each centre page gives the address, e-mail, phone, coordinator, website and the seasons it offers with their registration deadlines (example: Porto). Deadlines are set per centre, so don't assume the one you saw for another city applies to yours.

How to check your 2027 date

  1. Choose two or three centres you could reach easily, for example by metro, train or on a day off work.
  2. Open each centre's page on the CAPLE site and look at the seasons and deadlines it lists.
  3. Check the centre's own website, if it has one, because it may publish a calendar of its own.
  4. If 2027 isn't listed yet, e-mail or phone the centre and ask when it will publish the year.
  5. When the dates appear, follow the registration steps.

What time does the exam start, and what rules apply?

The written part (reading and writing) starts at 09:00 in national seasons and at 15:00 in international seasons. Listening follows 1h30 after the written start, so at 10:30 or 16:30. The centre sets the speaking time (CAPLE, CIPLE page).

The exam lasts about 2 hours plus a 15-minute break. The fee shown on the CIPLE page is €95 (CAPLE, CIPLE page). We couldn't confirm the fee at every centre, so check it where you plan to register.

On the day, you must:

  • Bring the original ID you used to register: citizen card, passport or residence permit (CAPLE exam rules).
  • Arrive 20 minutes before the start (CAPLE exam rules).

If you arrive more than 15 minutes late to the reading and writing paper, you won't be allowed to sit it (CAPLE exam rules).

If you miss all the papers for a reason that isn't your fault, you can ask within 5 working days to move to the next season at the same centre. This is possible only once and needs a written request with proof (CAPLE exam rules).

Common questions

Can I take the CIPLE in any month? Not necessarily. Each centre decides which seasons it runs, so Lisbon and Porto listed different seasons for 2026 (CAPLE, centres).

Is the exam open to teenagers? Regular exams are open to anyone aged 16 or over whose language is not Portuguese. School versions are for ages 12 to 15 (CAPLE exam rules).

Where do I find the results and certificate dates? The Lisbon calendar lists them next to each exam date (ICLP calendar). For what happens after the exam, see CIPLE results and certificate.

Should I wait for the 2027 calendar before I start studying? The dates don't change the content of the exam, so you can start preparing now. Our complete CIPLE guide explains the exam format.

How OneGrade can help

OneGrade is an online course in European Portuguese built around the CIPLE format. It has 5 modules and 10 CIPLE-style tasks, checked by a teacher. Every plan includes 6 months of access. It doesn't guarantee a pass, and the CIPLE fee isn't included: you pay that when you register for the exam. You can compare the options on the plans section or try the free level test to see where you are now.

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