If you need a B1 certificate for your Italian citizenship application, you'll quickly find there isn't one "Italian B1 test" but several, run by different universities and the Società Dante Alighieri. All of them count. They differ in when you can sit them, what happens if you fail one part, and what they cost.
Picking the right one can save you months. Here's how they compare and which suits which situation.
Which B1 exams count for Italian citizenship?
Italy accepts a B1 certificate from five recognised bodies, according to the Interior Ministry's guidance as published by the Prefettura of Trieste: CILS from the Università per Stranieri di Siena, CELI from the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, CERT.IT from Roma Tre, PLIDA from the Società Dante Alighieri, and the Università per Stranieri "Dante Alighieri" of Reggio Calabria. CILS and CELI also offer versions built specifically for citizenship applicants.
Not sure you need a certificate at all? Some people are exempt, including holders of the EU long-term residence permit. Our guide to the Italian citizenship language requirement explains who needs B1 and what else counts as proof.
How the B1 exams compare
| Exam | Parts and timing | If you fail a part | Fee | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CILS B1 Cittadinanza (Siena) | Listening 30 min, reading 40 min, writing 40 min, speaking about 10 min | Retake the whole exam | €100 in Italy and abroad | Six a year, in Italy and abroad |
| CELI 2 i cittadinanza (Perugia) | Reading, writing, listening and speaking | Written and oral parts must both reach the minimum | €65 certifier fee, plus centre costs | Three a year, in Italy |
| PLIDA B1 (Dante Alighieri) | Listening about 40 min, reading 40 min, writing 60 min, speaking about 15 min | Keep the skills you passed; retake the rest within 18 months | Set by each centre | Four a year, in Italy and abroad |
CILS B1 Cittadinanza
The CILS B1 Cittadinanza was designed for citizenship applicants. Its syllabus sets out four parts: listening (about 30 minutes), reading and grammar (40 minutes), writing an 80- to 120-word text (40 minutes), and a speaking test of about 10 minutes, a short personal introduction followed by a conversation with the examiner.
The fee is €100 in Italy and abroad. The catch is that there's no partial credit: if you fail one skill, you retake the whole exam at a later session. In return, it runs often. The 2027 sessions are 18 February, 8 April, 10 June, 22 July, 21 October and 2 December, and centres such as Sapienza in Rome say B1 Cittadinanza results arrive within 40 to 45 days. Popular centres fill up, so register as soon as registration opens.
CELI 2 i cittadinanza
Perugia's CELI exams for immigrants include a B1 citizenship level, CELI 2 i cittadinanza, which tests reading, writing, listening and speaking. According to Perugia's official calendar, it runs on 17 February, 20 May and 15 September 2027, with registration closing about a month before, and centres can set earlier deadlines. The standard CELI 2 (B1) also counts and has its own sessions.
The certifier's fee is €65, and centres add their own costs: at the University of Milan, for example, the total is €90. Results take about three months. With only three sessions a year in Italy, it suits people who plan well ahead.
PLIDA B1
PLIDA, run by the Società Dante Alighieri, has the most forgiving rules. According to its official specifications, the exam has four parts: listening (about 40 minutes, 20 questions), reading (40 minutes, 18 questions), writing (60 minutes, two texts) and speaking (about 15 minutes). You need 18 out of 30 in each skill. If you fail up to three skills, you keep the ones you passed and can retake the others at any PLIDA session in the next 18 months, at any PLIDA centre.
PLIDA has centres in Italy and around the world, and each sets its own fee. In 2026 the adult B1 sessions are 11 February, 10 June, 9 September and 18 November, so expect about four a year.
Roma Tre's CERT.IT B1 counts too and is offered at partner centres in Italy and abroad. Ask your nearest centre for its dates and fee.
Which B1 exam should you choose?
- If you want your certificate soon, CILS B1 Cittadinanza has the most dates and results in about six weeks.
- If you're worried about one weak skill, such as writing, PLIDA lets you keep your other passes and retake only that part.
- If you live outside Italy, CILS, PLIDA and CERT.IT all have centres abroad, while CELI's immigrant exams run only in Italy.
Whichever you pick, register early, because the certificate has to be in your application, and results take one to three months.
How to prepare for the speaking and listening parts
The CILS and PLIDA speaking tests start with a short introduction about you and move into conversation about everyday life: your work, your family, your plans, a problem you solved. Learners who mostly read and write Italian often find these parts the hardest, because they need to understand Italian at natural speed and answer without long pauses.
Our app, Copycat Cafe, trains exactly that. Each lesson is a short scene of everyday life in Italy, like this A2 conversation about a visit to the doctor:
«Meglio, grazie. Ieri sono andata dal medico.»
"Better, thank you. Yesterday I went to the doctor."
«Ho avuto mal di gola e un po' di febbre.»
"I had a sore throat and a slight fever."
You hear each conversation at normal or slow speed and rebuild every line by ear, say the lines aloud and get a 0–100 pronunciation score on every word, then use the same Italian with Copy, your AI conversation partner, which is a good way to rehearse the examiner's questions. The Italian course has 50 lessons at each level from A1 to B2, so you can work through A2 and B1 before your exam. Copycat Cafe costs $174 a year ($14.50 a month) or $29 a month in the US, with a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee on your first payment.
Frequently asked questions
Which Italian B1 exam is easiest for citizenship?
All accepted exams test B1 in the same four skills. PLIDA is the most forgiving if you fail a part, because you keep the skills you passed for 18 months. CILS B1 Cittadinanza has the most sessions.
How much does the CILS B1 Cittadinanza cost?
€100, in Italy and abroad.
Can I take the Italian B1 exam outside Italy?
Yes. CILS, PLIDA and CERT.IT have exam centres abroad. CELI's exams for immigrants run only in Italy.
How long do B1 results take?
About 40 to 45 days for CILS B1 Cittadinanza at centres such as Sapienza in Rome, and about three months for CELI.
Does a standard B1 certificate count, or only the citizenship version?
A B1 certificate from any of the five recognised bodies counts, so standard B1 exams such as CELI 2 and PLIDA B1 are accepted too.