The Italian citizenship language test, explained.

What the law asks

Since December 2018 (law 132/2018), applications for citizenship by marriage or by residence must include a certificate of Italian at CEFR level B1. Only four certifying bodies count:

• CILS (Università per Stranieri di Siena)
• CELI (Università per Stranieri di Perugia)
• PLIDA (Società Dante Alighieri)
• CERT.IT (Università Roma Tre)

CILS also has a B1 Cittadinanza module, made for this procedure.

And A2? A2 is the level asked for the EU long-term residence permit, which is a different procedure. For citizenship an A2 certificate is not enough.

The requirement does not apply to recognition of citizenship by descent, and a few exemptions exist, for example qualifications from recognised Italian schools and universities. Rules change: confirm your case with your consulate or prefettura. More in the complete guide to the B1 exam.

What B1 actually means

B1 means independence in everyday Italian. You should be able to:

• Hold a conversation on familiar topics: family, work, home, health.
• Handle everyday situations: offices, the doctor, shops, transport.
• Tell what happened to you and say briefly what you think.
• Write a simple connected text, such as a letter or an email.
• Understand the main points of clear speech and of short practical texts.

What the exam tests

Whatever the certificate, there are four kinds of task: listening to recorded audio, reading practical texts, writing short texts such as a letter or a description, and speaking with an examiner.

Each section has its own threshold: a strong reading score does not rescue a failed listening. Timings and fees change between sessions, so read the current instructions on the official site when you book.

How to prepare

From A2, most adults need several months of steady work. What works:

• Short daily sessions: 20 to 40 minutes a day beats one long session a week.
• All four skills: listening and writing are the sections that fail people most often.
• Practical vocabulary: family, work, home, health, offices, the news.
• Full mock exams: timed, section by section, before you book.

Booking the exam

• Where: authorised exam centres in Italy and abroad.
• How: on the website of the certifying body you choose.
• Dates and cost: they vary by centre and by session.
• The certificate: you attach it to your citizenship application.

Common questions