Portugal requires all foreigners and expats to pass A2 portuguese language test, a pre-condition for permanent residency or citizenship. It is an important legal requirement. There are two pathways to prove proficiency in portuguese language..
Two Paths
- PLA (Português Language Assessment) Course – A government-recognized free language course for foreign residents (150+ hours)
- CIPLE (Certificado Inicial de Português Língua Estrangeira) Exam – A language proficiency test administered by CAPLE (2h exam costs 75 euro fee).
Both are accepted by AIMA immigration office. The important difference here is CIPLE is for those who already studied A2 level courses and ready to take exam, while PLA is for beginners.
PLA
PLA (Portuguese Language Assessment) courses certify levels A1 + A2 (Elementary User) and B1 + B2 (Independent User), according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The Course A (A1 + A2) has a maximum duration of 150 hours. The duration of each course depends on the organisation of each promoting entity, depending on the number of training hours taught per week.
Certification at level A2 or higher proves knowledge of the Portuguese language for the purposes of applying for nationality or for permanent residence permit.
If you obtain a certificate of level A2 – Elementary User or higher, you are exempt from taking the Portuguese Nationality Language Test.
How to Register
To register for, recipients must hold a residence permit, in accordance with national legislation applicable to foreign citizens, or must present one of the following documents:
- Proof that the procedure for extending the stay in national territory or for granting or renewing a residence permit has been initiated
- Proof of submission of the application for international protection or temporary protection
- Proof of the allocation of the Social Security Identification Number (NISS).
Citizens holding a short-term visa for seasonal work, temporary stay or residence are also eligible for PLA courses.
Proving Knowledge of Portuguese Language
According to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 25 of Decree-Law no. 237-A/2006, of December 14 (diploma approving the Regulation of Portuguese Nationality), as amended by Decree-Law no. 26/2022, of March 18, the knowledge of the Portuguese language can be proven in one of the following ways:
a) Qualification certificate or certificate issued by a public, private or cooperative educational establishment recognized under legal terms, provided that its holder has successfully attended the Portuguese or Portuguese as a Non-Native Language curricular unit/subject for at least two academic years;
b) Certificate of passing a Portuguese language test taken in public educational establishments, when carried out in national territory, or in locations accredited by Camões – Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua, IP, when carried out abroad, with the regulation of this test, as well as its control, being set out in an executive order issued by the members of the Government responsible for the areas of foreign affairs, internal administration, justice and education; [please consult the website of the Instituto de Avaliação Educativa, IP iave.pt on the PaN – Test of Knowledge of the Portuguese Language for Acquisition of Nationality]
c) Certificate in Portuguese as a foreign language, issued after taking a test at a Portuguese as a foreign language assessment centre, recognised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, by means of a protocol; [please consult the website of the Portuguese as a Foreign Language Assessment Centre (CAPLE) caple.letras.ulisboa.pt , in the area dedicated to Portuguese as a Foreign Language Exams (PLE)]
d) Certificate attesting to completion of level A2 or higher of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, issued by a public education establishment, employment and training centres and protocol centres of the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training, IP (IEFP, IP), under Order No. 1262/2009, of 15 October, in its current wording;
e) Certificate of the Portuguese as a Reception Language course attesting to completion of level A2 or higher of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, issued by public educational establishments, by establishments that are part of the network of direct and participatory management centers of the IEFP, IP, and by Qualifica Centers, under Order No. 183/2020, of August 5 (amended by Order No. 184/2022, of July 21);
f) Certificate of qualifications attesting to the completion of competence units/training units in Portuguese that form part of the school training component of a qualification from the National Qualifications Catalogue, obtained through dual certification training methods of the National Qualifications System, in accordance with article 9 of Decree-Law no. 396/2007 of 31 December, in its current wording, and totalling a minimum of 100 hours.
