Can I get A2 Portuguese certified for free in Portugal?

Possibly, through a subsidised PLA course. Government-subsidised courses can be free or very low cost for eligible residents, and they are the only realistic route to a free A2 certificate. The CIPLE exam always carries a fee, typically 90 to 120 euros, with no free option.

Updated September 2026 · 2 min read

Where the free route exists

The CIPLE has a fee and always will. There is no waiver, and a retake costs the full fee again.

The subsidised end of the PLA system is different. Publicly funded Portuguese courses for immigrants exist precisely because integration is the policy goal, and for eligible residents these can be free or close to it.

What to investigate

Eligibility. This is the whole question, and it depends on your residence status and circumstances. It is worth asking directly rather than assuming you do not qualify.

Where to ask. Start with your local municipality and with the organisations that support immigrants in your area. Provision is local, and the people running it know what is currently available far better than any general guide.

DGERT certification. This does not become less important because the course is free. The provider's DGERT certification is what makes the resulting certificate valid for a citizenship application. Verify the number before you enrol.

The real cost of the free route

Time. An A2 PLA course is 150 to 200 hours with a minimum attendance requirement, typically 80% to 90%. For someone working full time, possibly with children, that is the binding constraint, not the fee.

Be honest with yourself about whether you can attend. A subsidised course you cannot complete is more expensive than a paid route you can, because it costs months and produces nothing.

What is genuinely free either way

Practising. Our homepage has three real exam-style reading questions with instant grading and no account needed, and you get your score whether or not you ever subscribe. Our guides are free to read as well.

That will not certify you. It will tell you roughly where you stand before you commit time or money to either route.

Is the CIPLE exam the only way to prove A2 Portuguese?

No. The PLA pathway, Português Língua de Acolhimento, is a government-recognised alternative. You complete an A2-level course with a DGERT-certified provider and receive a certificate accepted for citizenship. It replaces one high-stakes exam day with ongoing assessment across a course.

What is DGERT certification and why does it matter?

DGERT is the Portuguese government body that certifies training organisations. For the PLA route, the provider's DGERT certification is what makes the certificate valid. A course from an uncertified provider may be excellent teaching and still produce a certificate a Conservatória will not accept as A2 proof.

What is a PLA course and how does it work?

PLA stands for Português Língua de Acolhimento. It is a system in which certified training providers deliver Portuguese courses at set levels. An A2 PLA course typically runs 150 to 200 hours of instruction, with a minimum attendance requirement, and ends in a certificate documenting the level reached.