Under law changes introduced in December 2018, people applying for Italian citizenship by residency or marriage must prove proficiency in the Italian language at B1 level or higher.
Some citizenship applicants, however, are exempted from the requirement to take the exam. You can find more details HERE.
There's also no language requirement when applying for citizenship via the ancestry route (cittadinanza iure sanguinis).
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A B1 level certification is a lower intermediate level and means you are proficient enough in the language to manage everyday interactions, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL).
This level of proficiency allows you to “communicate in most situations that arise while travelling” and understand topics “regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.”
So there’s no need to write with perfect grammar or have an extensive vocabulary, but you should be able to make yourself understood in most everyday situations and follow most conversations and TV shows, as well as get the gist of what’s in Italian newspapers.
What does the B1 language test involve?
The exact structure of the B1 exam varies slightly depending on the institution administering it (see more below), as well as on whether you’re taking the B1 cittadinanza exam or a regular B1-level language certification.
Both tests involve answering similar questions, but the B1 cittadinanza is essentially a shorter version which costs less to take. The downside is that this certificate can only be used for your citizenship application and not for other purposes (university or job applications, for instance).
Also, if you fail on one section, you will have to retake the entire test (as opposed to just retaking that section under the standard B1 level tests listed above).
In any case, the test will involve at least four sections: a written test, reading and grammar test, listening test and an oral test where you have a conversation with an examiner. You can read more about each section HERE.
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If you're already living and working in Italy, it's likely that you'll speak the language at B1 level already and the test will be nothing to worry about. If you do need to study for the test however, many language schools offer preparation courses for the B1 certification, including online courses.
Where can I take the test?
For your citizenship application, your B1 level certificate must necessarily come from one of four educational institutions approved by the Italian Education Ministry (MIUR) or Foreign Ministry (MAECI).
These are: The University of Siena for Foreigners (CILS); The University of Perugia for Foreigners (CELI); The Dante Alighieri Association (PLIDA); and The University of Rome 3 (CERT).
The above institutions have exam centres all over the world, meaning you can take the test in Italy or abroad.
How do I find the nearest exam centre and book my test?
Whether you live in Italy or abroad, finding the nearest accredited centre where you can take the test is fairly straightforward.
All of the four above-mentioned institutions provide a list of accredited schools both in Italy and overseas on their online pages. You can find all of the relevant links below.
The University of Siena for Foreigners (CILS)
The University of Perugia for Foreigners (CELI)
The Dante Alighieri Association (PLIDA)
The University of Rome 3 (CERT)
Once you’ve found your nearest exam centre, it is advisable to directly enquire with them about test dates, fees and required documentation.
The cost of a B1 test varies by institution but it’s generally around €100.
There's no standard procedure for booking a test, as this is up to individual exam centres. In many cases, you should be able to book your test online, but in-person registration may still be in place for some centres.
In most cases, you’ll have to book your test at least one month ahead of the scheduled exam date.
Please note that the smaller exam centres may only hold tests two or three times a year, meaning you may have to wait up to six months before you can take yours.
When can I expect my results?
Waiting times vary by institution, but you’ll generally get your results two to three months after taking the test.
If you’ve passed, you’ll get a certificate attesting to your B1 language proficiency.
The B1 test certificate doesn’t have an expiry date, which is why applicants are often advised to take the exam as the first step in their citizenship application.
Other documents, such as copies of your marriage certificate in the case of citizenship by marriage applications, will only be valid for six months from the date of issuance.
The B1 certificate and all the other required supporting documents must be uploaded to the Italian Interior Ministry's web portal when submitting your citizenship application.
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