How do I register for the CIPLE (A2) exam online?

Updated

Short answer: You register only online on the CAPLE website, using a form with 5 steps: exam and country, exam centre (LAPE), season, personal data and payment. You then have 24 hours to pay the €95 fee, or the registration is cancelled. Registration is open all year, up to 21 days before the date of the first exam.

If you've already decided to sit the CIPLE (A2) exam, this guide shows you what online registration involves before you begin. The steps follow the official CAPLE form in the order they appear on your screen.

By the end, you'll know what to prepare, what each step asks, how the 24-hour payment window works, what to bring on exam day and what happens if you can't attend.

Who can register, and do you need a course first?

The exam is open to anyone aged 16 or over whose native language isn't Portuguese. No course is required, and it doesn't matter how or where you learned the language (CAPLE, Inscrições).

You also don't have to start at the lowest level. You can register for CIPLE directly, without taking exams at other levels (CAPLE, FAQ).

Registration and payment are online only, through the CAPLE website. CAPLE can cancel a registration if you don't pay or if you give false information (CAPLE, Normas).

What to have ready before you open the form

All personal and statistical fields are mandatory. If one is empty, you can't continue (CAPLE, FAQ). The form asks for:

  • the type and number of your ID document
  • your NIF (tax number)
  • your address
  • your nationality
  • your email and phone number

Use the ID document you'll actually bring to the exam. On exam day you must show the original of the document you used to register: citizen card, passport or residence permit (CAPLE, Normas).

Have a credit card ready too. The payment step comes straight after the form, and you pay by credit card (CAPLE, Inscrição).

The five steps of the online form

The CAPLE form has 5 steps: exam and country, exam centre (LAPE), season, personal data and payment (CAPLE, Inscrição).

Step 1: exam and country

Choose CIPLE as the exam and Portugal as the country. The fee for CIPLE is €95 (CAPLE, CIPLE page). That figure is stated for 2026, so check the amount in the summary before you pay, in case it changes for a later season.

Step 2: exam centre (LAPE)

A LAPE is an authorised exam centre. CAPLE lists about 100 centres in 35 countries, with a map and a search that show contacts, seasons and exams for each centre (CAPLE, Épocas de Exames).

Each LAPE decides which exams it offers and how many places it opens each season. During registration, you only see the places that are available (CAPLE, FAQ). The sources don't list specific centres in Portugal, so use the CAPLE search to find the one nearest to you. If you're unsure, contact the centre directly. Local fees or extras, such as a certificate of attendance, may differ from one centre to another.

Step 3: season

Exams run in 3 international seasons (May, July and November). In Portugal, CIPLE is offered on more dates, in national seasons called CIPLE-P (CAPLE, FAQ).

You can register for only one exam per season (CAPLE, FAQ). The exact 2026/2027 dates are published on CAPLE's season page as images, so I can't copy them here. The enrolment tool shows the registration deadline, exam date and results date for each season, so read them there.

Step 4: personal data

Fill in the fields listed above. If you need special conditions, such as for reduced mobility, hearing, sight or dyslexia, tell the LAPE when you register. For dyslexia, a medical certificate is needed, and CAPLE recommends one third extra time on written, reading and oral tasks (CAPLE, FAQ).

There is a separate route for people with a disability, or aged 60 or over, who cannot read or write. They must contact the LAPE before registering and send proof of their condition and ID. Only these groups can take the oral part (PIO) alone (CAPLE, FAQ).

Before you submit, you confirm that you have read the exam rules and know that the oral part is video-recorded. You also tick a consent box about CAPLE keeping the recording (CAPLE, Inscrição).

Step 5: payment

You have 24 hours to pay by credit card once you've registered, so don't leave the payment for later. When your payment is done, the confirmation of registration arrives (CAPLE, Inscrição).

One point is unclear. The FAQ mentions Multibanco (for candidates in Portugal) as well as credit card, but the enrolment page says only credit card. Check the live payment step to see what is offered. You can print the receipt-invoice at the time of registration (CAPLE, FAQ).

The deadline and the 24-hour rule

Registration is open all year, up to 21 days before the date of the first exam (CAPLE, FAQ). This is the general rule. The tool shows the precise deadline for each season. The sources don't make clear whether the national CIPLE-P dates follow exactly the same rule, so trust the date on screen.

If you don't pay within 24 hours of registering, the registration is cancelled and you have to register again (CAPLE, FAQ). Start the form only when you're ready to finish it.

After you pay

Once the LAPE has your registration, it emails you the date of your oral test (PIO). Watch for that message, and check your spam folder if it doesn't arrive. The oral date can fall on a different day from the written exam, so read the email closely. Hang on to your candidate code: you'll need it for the exam and to check your result (CAPLE, Inscrições).

When results come out, see CIPLE results and certificate for what happens next.

What to bring and when to arrive

  • The original ID document you used to register: citizen card, passport or residence permit (CAPLE, Normas).
  • Your candidate code, which you'll need for the exam (CAPLE, Inscrições).

Arrive 20 minutes early. If you're more than 15 minutes late for the written part, you can't sit it (CAPLE, Normas).

What if you miss the exam?

The fee is not refunded if you withdraw or don't show up (CAPLE, FAQ).

There is one exception. If you miss every part of the exam for reasons beyond your control, you can ask to move your registration to the next season at the same LAPE. You must ask within 5 working days, starting the day after the exam, and this can be done only once (CAPLE, Normas). The sources don't say what counts as beyond your control, so contact your LAPE quickly and ask.

Common questions

Can I register on paper or at the centre? No. Registration and payment can only be done online on the CAPLE website (CAPLE, Normas).

Do I need to take a course first? No. A preparation course is not compulsory (CAPLE, FAQ). If you want free classes, see the guide to free state Portuguese courses.

Can I register for two exams in the same season? No. You can register for only one exam per season (CAPLE, FAQ).

Is CIPLE the right exam for my residence or nationality plans? That depends on your case. See A2 Portuguese and permanent residence and the full CIPLE guide.

How OneGrade can help

OneGrade is an online course in European Portuguese built around the CIPLE format. It doesn't register you for the exam, and the €95 fee isn't included: you pay it to CAPLE when you register. The course has 5 modules and 10 CIPLE-style tasks checked by a teacher, with 6 months of access. It doesn't guarantee that you'll pass. You can compare the plans or try the free level test first.

This article explains official CAPLE rules in plain English and is not legal advice. Check the official CAPLE enrolment page for current fees, seasons and deadlines before you register.

Official sources