If you apply for Italian citizenship by marriage or by residence, you must prove you know Italian at level B1 or higher, usually with a certificate from a recognised certifier, unless you are exempt1. These guides take you from "do I need it?" to exam day.
Five steps
- Check whether you need it. Some people are exempt: for example holders of an Italian EU long-term residence permit. Read who needs B1 and who is exempt.
- Choose a certificate. Four are widely available and all are accepted2. Compare sessions, fees and retake rules in which certificate should I choose.
- Find a centre and a date. You register with an exam centre. Many centres close registration before the official deadlines, so start two to three months ahead.
- Prepare in the exam's format. Follow a 4-, 8- or 12-week study plan and practise with timed tasks.
- Get the certificate and file your application. Results take two to five months depending on the exam; you need the certificate when you apply1.
The four exams
| Exam | Certifier | In short |
|---|---|---|
| CILS B1 Cittadinanza | Università per Stranieri di Siena | Six sessions a year, one 80–120 word email, no partial pass |
| CELI 2 i Cittadinanza | Università per Stranieri di Perugia | Italy only, three short writing tasks, civics in the oral, written or oral kept 1 year |
| PLIDA B1 | Società Dante Alighieri | Longest writing, passed skills kept 18 months |
| CERT.IT B1 | Università Roma Tre | One flat €80 fee, two short texts, few centres abroad |
Each guide covers the format part by part, the pass rule, fees, dates, registration, exam day, results and retakes, with a link to the official page for every fact.
Quick answers
- Which B1 certificate is valid for citizenship, and who needs one?
- How much does the B1 citizenship exam cost?
- How long do the results take, and how do I get the certificate?
- The exam format, part by part, for all four exams
Questions people ask
The 10 most common questions (cost, dates, pass marks, results, retakes) are answered on one page.
How we write these guides
- Every fact links to its source (the certifier, the law, a consulate or an accredited exam centre), and each page shows the date we last checked it.
- We are not a law firm: for your own case, your prefecture or consulate decides.
- Our practice tasks are original. We never copy official exam papers.