How to Take the CELPE-Bras Exam in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
A complete step-by-step guide to registering for and taking the CELPE-Bras exam in 2026, including dates, fees, postos aplicadores, and what to expect on exam day.
The 2026/1 registration window has already closed. For anyone who missed it, the realistic target is 2026/2, with registration likely in early August, the exam in late October, and results in mid-December.
1. Watch for the edital. INEP publishes the official edital in the Diario Oficial da Uniao about eight weeks before the exam.
2. Choose a posto aplicador. The exam is administered at roughly 133 postos in Brazil and abroad. Popular postos like Lisbon, Miami, and Tokyo fill first.
3. Register on the INEP system at celpebras.inep.gov.br. You need a passport number, date of birth, email, phone, and your chosen posto.
4. Pay the inscricao fee. Fees vary by posto: R$230-R$260 at Brazilian universities, higher at consulates abroad. Missing the payment deadline voids the registration.
5. Send proof of payment to the posto. This is separate from INEP registration and is one of the most common points of failure.
6. Request accommodations if needed during registration.
7. Prepare for both parts: Parte Escrita (3 hours, 4 task-based writing assignments) and Parte Oral (20 minutes, discussion of visual prompts with two examiners).
8. Arrive at least 30 minutes early with the original ID used at registration.
9. Check results on celpebras.inep.gov.br. Certification is electronic only.
10. Four levels: Intermediario, Intermediario Superior, Avancado, Avancado Superior. You must pass both written and oral sections. The certificate never expires.