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CIPLE or PLA certificate: which one counts for AIMA?

By OneGrade editorial team Updated

Short answer: For permanent residence, AIMA accepts a certificate from a test at a CAPLE centre and, separately, a certificate showing you finished level A2 or higher in a PLA course. CIPLE is the CAPLE exam at A2, while PLA is a mostly free public course of 75 hours per level, so the two are different routes to proof, not different levels of proof.

If you are applying for permanent residence in Portugal, you need proof that you speak basic Portuguese. Two names come up often: the CIPLE exam and the PLA course certificate. They are not the same thing, and people mix them up all the time.

This article explains what AIMA lists as accepted proof, how the CIPLE exam and a PLA certificate differ, and which route might suit which person. We use official sources only, and we say so where they leave a gap.

What does AIMA accept as proof of Portuguese?

For a permanent residence application, AIMA requires proof of basic Portuguese (AIMA). The list of accepted proofs is wider than just CIPLE and PLA. It includes:

  • A certificate of basic Portuguese from a test at a Centro de Avaliação de Português como Língua Estrangeira (CAPLE, the Portuguese as a Foreign Language assessment centre) (AIMA).
  • A certificate showing you completed level A2 or higher in a Português Língua de Acolhimento (PLA, Portuguese as a Host Language) course (AIMA).
  • School certificates from Portuguese schools, and certificates from schools in Portuguese-speaking countries (AIMA).
  • A basic Portuguese course certificate issued by the IEFP, the public employment and training institute (AIMA).

AIMA's March 2026 FAQ repeats the full list for a permanent residence grant (AIMA FAQ, 03/2026).

One detail matters. In the wording we could see, the AIMA page mentions a test at a CAPLE centre and basic Portuguese. It does not name the CIPLE or give a CEFR level for that route. CIPLE is the CAPLE exam that corresponds to level A2 of the Council of Europe's CEFR (CAPLE). Re-check the wording on the live AIMA page before you apply.

How does the CIPLE exam work?

CIPLE is an exam, not a course. It certifies a basic ability to handle a limited number of predictable everyday situations (CAPLE).

Here are the main facts:

  • Parts: a written part (reading and writing), a listening part and an oral part. The written part is 45% of the grade, listening 30% and speaking 25% (CAPLE).
  • Length: about 2 hours plus a 15-minute break (CAPLE).
  • Pass mark: 55% or more (CAPLE).
  • Fee: €95. It is non-refundable, and a registration is cancelled if you do not pay within 24 hours (CAPLE FAQ).
  • Sessions: international sessions in May, July and November, plus national sessions called CIPLE-P. You can register all year, up to 21 days before the first exam date, and you can take only one exam per session (CAPLE FAQ).
  • Certificate: if you pass, you collect the paper certificate at the exam centre 15 to 20 working days after results are published. If you fail, you get only a results statement (CAPLE FAQ).
  • Preparation: a course is not compulsory, and CAPLE does not run preparation courses. Candidates must be 16 or older (CAPLE FAQ).

Our page on CIPLE exam dates and centres is a useful starting point. We have not verified dates for sessions after this one, so check the CAPLE calendar.

How does a PLA certificate work?

PLA is a course, not an exam. You attend classes, and you receive the certificate once you finish the course (IEFP).

PLA courses are run by public-sector bodies: public schools (through DGEstE), IEFP training centres and Qualifica Centres. A certificate only counts if it comes from this network or from entities with an AIMA or IEFP protocol (AIMA).

The main points:

  • Legal basis: the law that created the PLA courses says that reaching level A2 or higher proves Portuguese knowledge (Portaria 183/2020).
  • What it proves: AIMA states that PLA certification at A2 or higher is proof of Portuguese for permanent residence, long-term resident status and nationality (AIMA).
  • Cost: most PLA courses are free, but this depends on the organising body and on whether EU funds co-finance the course (AIMA Q&A).
  • Length: 75 hours per level (A1, A2, B1, B2), or up to 100 hours for learners who use a non-Latin alphabet (IEFP).
  • Who can join: a migrant aged 16 or over with no Portuguese (per the CEFR), who also meets at least one status condition. Examples are legal residence or an ongoing legalisation, a NISS, or a work, temporary-stay or residence visa (IEFP).

If you want help finding a course, our guide to free PLA Portuguese courses is a good next step.

CIPLE and PLA side by side

CIPLE PLA certificate
Type One exam at a CAPLE centre (CAPLE) Public-network course (AIMA)
Level A2 of the CEFR (CAPLE) A2 or higher needed as proof (AIMA)
Cost €95, non-refundable (CAPLE FAQ) Mostly free, depends on the body (AIMA Q&A)
Time About 2 hours plus a 15-minute break (CAPLE) 75 hours per level, up to 100 for non-Latin alphabets (IEFP)
Who can take it Age 16 or older (CAPLE FAQ) Migrants aged 16 or over with no Portuguese and a status condition (IEFP)
Preparation Your choice, nothing compulsory (CAPLE FAQ) The course itself

Which one should you choose?

The official sources do not rank the two. Both appear as separate accepted proofs, so the right choice depends on your situation.

PLA may suit you if you meet the eligibility rules, want to avoid an exam fee, and can attend a set course. The cost and time are the main trade-offs: the course is mostly free but takes 75 hours per level. Waiting lists and seat availability vary by entity, and we found no official source on them. Ask the school, IEFP centre or Qualifica Centre near you.

CIPLE may suit you if you prefer one exam on a fixed date, want to prepare in your own way, or do not meet the PLA conditions. You pay €95, and a failed attempt gives no certificate, only a results statement. To see how the exam is built, read the CIPLE A2 exam format.

Some points remain unclear:

  • AIMA says PLA courses certify levels A1 and A2, and IEFP says each level is 75 hours. It is unclear whether a learner starting from zero needs one 75-hour module or two to reach an A2 certificate. Ask the course provider, or check the IEFP organisational guide for PLA.
  • A1 alone is not enough for nationality, and the IEFP page lists no A1 exception for residence (IEFP).
  • A certificate from a private school or a certificate-only course outside the PLA network, without an AIMA or IEFP protocol, does not appear in AIMA's list. It is not clearly covered, so ask AIMA before paying for one.
  • We found no official source on how long AIMA accepts a certificate.

What about the rest of the permanent residence application?

The application is made in person, by appointment at an AIMA store. You must have held temporary residence for at least 5 years, and you bring the language proof with your other documents (AIMA). AIMA's March 2026 FAQ says to request the appointment by email to [email protected] (AIMA FAQ, 03/2026).

Nationality is a separate procedure, and its rules may differ from the residence pages above. Read how to prove Portuguese for a citizenship application and check the official source. For the residence route, our guide to A2 Portuguese and permanent residence covers the steps.

Common questions

Is CIPLE the only exam AIMA accepts? AIMA's page speaks of a test at a CAPLE centre and does not name the CIPLE. CIPLE is the CAPLE exam at A2 (CAPLE). Check the live AIMA page.

Do I need a preparation course for CIPLE? No. CAPLE says candidates can prepare in any way they choose (CAPLE FAQ).

Can I use a certificate from a private course? It is not clearly covered by AIMA's list. PLA certificates count only from the public network or from entities with an AIMA or IEFP protocol (AIMA).

Can I register for CIPLE at any time? You can register all year, up to 21 days before the first exam date of the session (CAPLE FAQ).

How OneGrade can help

If a free PLA seat is available to you, that route may be the better one. If you choose the CIPLE, OneGrade is an online course of European Portuguese built around the CIPLE format. It has 5 modules and 10 CIPLE-format writing and speaking tasks checked by a teacher. Access lasts 6 months, and there are three plans (Basic, Premium and Exclusive); see the plans. It does not guarantee a pass, and the exam fee is paid separately to CAPLE. You can try the free level test first.

This article explains official rules in plain English and is not legal advice; check the official AIMA page before you apply.

Official sources

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