If you're planning to become an Italian citizen, by marriage or after years of living in Italy, you'll need to prove you speak Italian at B1 when you apply. If you're earlier on the path and want the EU long-term residence permit, there's a simpler A2 test first.
The two levels connect in a way that can save you an exam. Here's what each one asks for, what counts as proof, and who is exempt.
What level of Italian do you need for citizenship?
Since 4 December 2018, article 9.1 of Law 91/1992 has required at least B1 Italian, the third of the six CEFR levels, for citizenship by marriage and by residence. You have to prove it when you submit your application, so the certificate comes first. According to the Interior Ministry's guidance for prefectures, as summarised by the Prefettura of Reggio Emilia, these count:
- a school diploma or university degree from a public or recognised Italian institution, from lower secondary school up, taken in Italian;
- a B1 certificate from one of the five recognised bodies: CILS (Università per Stranieri di Siena), CELI (Università per Stranieri di Perugia), CERT.IT (Roma Tre), PLIDA (Società Dante Alighieri) or the Università per Stranieri "Dante Alighieri" of Reggio Calabria;
- a certificate from a CPIA, Italy's public adult-education centres.
Certificates from regional vocational courses don't count, and neither does simply being enrolled at an Italian university. Our guide to the Italian B1 citizenship exams compares the main certificates, with their formats, prices and 2027 dates.
Who is exempt from the B1 requirement?
The same Interior Ministry guidance lists three groups who don't need to prove B1:
- holders of a valid EU long-term residence permit (permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo), including the older "CE" version issued from 9 December 2010;
- people who signed the integration agreement (accordo di integrazione), usually on arrival through family reunification;
- people with serious limits on their ability to learn the language because of age, illness or disability, certified by a public health facility. A note from your family doctor isn't enough.
Two groups are often surprised to find they're not exempt: EU citizens, and spouses or family members of Italian or EU citizens who hold a family residence card. They need a B1 certificate or a diploma like everyone else.
The first exemption may not last. A bill before the Chamber of Deputies, A.C. 2124-A, would remove it, along with the integration-agreement exemption. In November 2026 it's still being debated and hasn't become law. If you hold a long-term permit and are years away from applying, getting a B1 certificate anyway protects you if the rule changes.
How long do you have to live in Italy first?
The B1 rule is the same whichever route you take. The residence needed before applying varies, according to the Prefettura of Potenza and Bari:
| Your situation | Legal residence needed |
|---|---|
| Non-EU national | 10 years |
| EU citizen | 4 years |
| Recognised refugee or stateless person | 5 years |
| Born in Italy | 3 years |
| Parent or grandparent Italian by birth | 2 years |
| Married to an Italian citizen | 2 years in Italy after the wedding, or 3 years if you live abroad; halved if you have children together |
The A2 test for the EU long-term residence permit
After five years of legal residence, you can apply for the EU long-term residence permit, which has no end date, unlike ordinary permits. It comes with its own language step: A2, a level below what citizenship asks for. According to the Interior Ministry and the decree of 4 June 2010 that sets the rules, it works like this:
- you request the test online from the prefecture where you live, and it calls you within 60 days;
- the test is on a computer and checks that you understand short texts and can interact in simple Italian;
- you need 80% to pass, and if you fail you can request a new test after 90 days;
- you get no certificate: the prefecture sends your result straight to the police headquarters (Questura) handling your permit.
You skip the test if you already hold an A2 certificate or higher from Siena, Perugia, Roma Tre or the Dante Alighieri, an A2 certificate from a CPIA, an Italian middle or high school diploma, or if you're studying at an Italian university. Children under 14 and some professional categories, such as highly qualified workers, university researchers and accredited journalists, are also exempt.
Here's where the two levels connect. Under today's rules, once you hold the long-term permit you no longer need a B1 certificate for citizenship. So for many people, the A2 test at five years can be the only language exam on the way to an Italian passport.
How to get your Italian to B1
Every B1 exam tests listening and speaking as well as reading and writing, and the speaking part is a real conversation with an examiner about your life in Italy. B1 means you can manage everyday situations without switching to English: explaining what you need at an office, describing what happened, giving a simple opinion.
Our app, Copycat Cafe, is built around exactly those situations. In one of our B1 Italian lessons, you're at the immigration office to renew your permit:
«Buongiorno, vorrei rinnovare il permesso di soggiorno.»
"Good morning, I'd like to renew my residence permit."
«Vediamo. La domanda risulta completa, però manca la fototessera.»
"Let's see. The application appears complete, but the passport photo is missing."
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. The Italian course has 50 lessons at each level from A1 to B2, so you can work up through A2 for the long-term permit and on to B1 for citizenship. 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
Do I need B1 Italian for citizenship by marriage?
Yes. B1 applies to citizenship by marriage and by residence, unless you hold an EU long-term residence permit, signed the integration agreement or have a certified serious learning limitation.
Which B1 certificates are accepted for Italian citizenship?
Certificates from CILS (Siena), CELI (Perugia), CERT.IT (Roma Tre), PLIDA (Dante Alighieri) and the Università per Stranieri of Reggio Calabria, plus CPIA certificates and Italian school diplomas or degrees.
Do EU citizens need B1 Italian for citizenship?
Yes. EU citizens aren't exempt, even though they can apply after four years instead of ten.
How does the A2 test for the long-term permit work?
You request it online from your prefecture, which calls you to a computer-based test within 60 days. You need 80% to pass, and you can try again after 90 days.
Does the long-term residence permit exempt me from the B1 certificate?
Yes, under the current rules. A bill before Parliament would remove that exemption, but it isn't law as of November 2026.