The Italian B1 citizenship exam: 10 practical questions

1. Do I need a B1 certificate for Italian citizenship?

You need to prove Italian at level B1 or higher if you apply by marriage or by residence, unless you are exempt⁷. You are exempt if you hold an Italian EU long-term residence permit or signed the integration agreement, or if a public health facility certifies serious limitations in learning a language^7,8. A qualification from an Italian school obtained in Italian is accepted as proof instead of the certificate⁹. The law's requirement does not cover recognition by descent (iure sanguinis). Details and official links: who needs B1 and who is exempt. Always confirm with your prefecture or consulate.

2. Which certificates are accepted?

Certificates from the five certifiers on the Interior Ministry's list: CILS (Università per Stranieri di Siena), CELI (Università per Stranieri di Perugia), CERT.IT (Università Roma Tre), PLIDA (Società Dante Alighieri) and the Università per Stranieri "Dante Alighieri" di Reggio Calabria⁹. The level must be B1 or higher, so B2 or C1 is fine⁷. Certificates from other schools are refused¹⁰. Compare them in which certificate should I choose.

3. How much does the exam cost?

Fees are generally not refundable^11,6,12.

4. When are the exam dates?

CILS B1 Cittadinanza has six sessions a year (February, April, June, July, October, December), CELI 2 i three (February, May, September, Italy only), PLIDA B1 four (February, June, September, November) and CERT.IT B1 three at Roma Tre^13,14,15,16. Many centres close registration earlier than the certifiers and seats can run out, so contact a centre two to three months ahead. The next dates are in each guide.

5. How do I register?

You register with an exam centre, not with the university or the Dante directly (except at their own sites): find a centre on the certifier's official list, check that it runs the exam you want, send the form with a copy of your ID and pay before its deadline^11,17,18,6. For PLIDA you first open a free account on dante.global¹⁹; for CERT.IT at Roma Tre you book on the university portal and need a codice fiscale⁶.

6. What is the pass mark?

• CILS B1 Cittadinanza: pass each of the four skills; Siena does not publish the number (7/12 per skill is the usual estimate)²⁰.
• CELI 2 i: at least 72/120 in the written part and 11/20 in the oral²¹.
• PLIDA B1: at least 18/30 in each skill²².
• CERT.IT B1: at least 60% of the written block and 60% of the oral²³.

7. How hard is the B1 exam, and how long should I prepare?

B1 is an intermediate level: you understand the main points of clear everyday Italian and can write a simple, connected text about familiar topics. The exams use everyday situations (the landlord, the school, the doctor, the Comune)²⁴. If you already get by in Italian, 4 focused weeks can be enough to learn the format; otherwise plan 8 weeks or more. See the study plans.

8. Where can I find a sample test?

The certifiers publish samples on their sites: Siena's B1 Cittadinanza sample paper, Roma Tre's B1 sample with audio, and the Dante's free PLIDA B1 materials^25,23,26. Use them once, timed, near the end of your preparation. For daily practice, our free practice has original reading, listening and grammar questions in the exam's style, with explanations in your language.

9. How long do results take, and does the certificate expire?

Expect about 2–3 months for CILS, PLIDA and CERT.IT and 4–5 months for CELI 2 i^27,12,28,29. CILS and CELI certificates currently have no expiry date^30,31; PLIDA and Roma Tre do not say. We found no time limit for language certificates in the Ministry's guidance we read⁹, but ask your prefecture or consulate if yours is old.

10. What happens if I fail one part?

It depends on the exam. CILS B1 Cittadinanza and CERT.IT B1: you retake the whole exam^1,32. CELI 2 i: a passed written or oral part is kept for one year²⁹. PLIDA B1: passed skills are kept for 18 months²².