To become an Italian citizen through marriage or long-term residency, you must submit a B1-level Italian language certificate with your application. The B1 Italian language requirement for citizenship was introduced when Decree-Law 113/2018 was converted into Law 132/2018, and it sets an intermediate proficiency standard: you can handle everyday conversations, read common written material, and express yourself in writing. The certificate goes in at filing, not later. Without it, the Ministry of the Interior will not process the application.
Who Has to Meet the B1 Requirement
The rule applies to the two naturalization paths under Law 91/1992: citizenship by marriage (Article 5) and citizenship by residency (Article 9).
Citizenship by Marriage
Under Article 5, the foreign or stateless spouse of an Italian citizen can apply after two years of legal residency in Italy following the marriage, or after three years from the date of marriage if the couple lives abroad. Those timelines are halved when the spouses have children together: one year of residency in Italy, or 18 months of marriage while living abroad.1Global Citizenship Observatory. Italy Code 91 1992 – Citizenship Law The marriage must still be intact when the decree is issued, with no divorce, annulment, or legal separation.
Citizenship by Residency
Article 9 sets different residency thresholds depending on your background:
- Ten years for most non-EU foreign nationals
- Four years for citizens of an EU member state
- Five years for stateless persons
- Five years after adoption for foreign nationals adopted as adults by an Italian citizen
- Three years for foreign nationals born in Italy, or whose parent or grandparent was an Italian citizen by birth
Every one of these categories must include a B1 certificate with the application.2Legislationline. Italy Act No 91 of 5 February 1992 – Citizenship Law
One boundary is worth stating up front. If you are claiming citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis), the language requirement does not apply. Descent-based citizenship is treated as recognition of an existing status rather than a grant of new citizenship, so no exam is needed.
Who Is Exempt
Beyond descent-based applicants, three groups skip the certificate. Applicants who have completed Italy’s Integration Agreement during their stay have already demonstrated language ability through that process. Holders of a long-term EU residence permit (the former Carta di Soggiorno) are recognized as having met integration standards. And anyone who earned a diploma or degree from an Italian educational institution, including recognized Italian schools operating outside Italy, satisfies the requirement through their academic record.
In early 2025, Italy’s Constitutional Court added another exemption. Ruling No. 25/2025 declared that Article 9 of Law 91/1992 was unconstitutional for failing to account for applicants with severe disabilities, age-related impairments, or medical conditions that make language acquisition impossible. The court held that requiring these individuals to pass the same test as everyone else violated the constitutional principle of equality. Applicants whose impairments are certified by a public health authority should be exempt, though legislative implementation of the decision may still be evolving.
Which Certificates Count
Your B1 certificate must come from one of four institutions authorized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education. Together they form the CLIQ consortium (Certificazione Lingua Italiana di Qualità), which standardizes testing worldwide:
- CILS, issued by the Università per Stranieri di Siena, including a specific “CILS B1 Cittadinanza” version designed for citizenship applicants
- CELI, issued by the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, which offers a “CELI Immigrati” variant
- PLIDA, issued by the Società Dante Alighieri
- CERT.IT, issued by the Università degli Studi Roma Tre
All four are equally valid for citizenship purposes, and you can sit the exam at authorized test centers around the world.3Istituto Italiano di Cultura di New York. Certifications You don’t need to travel to Italy.
Cittadinanza Version or Standard B1
Most certification bodies offer two versions of the B1 exam. The Cittadinanza version is tailored to citizenship applications; the standard version is broader.
The standard B1 exam typically has five sections: listening, reading, grammar analysis, writing, and speaking, each with multiple parts. If you fail one or two sections, you keep credit for the ones you passed and retake only the failed sections within 18 months. The Cittadinanza version has four sections: listening comprehension, reading and grammar combined, written production, and oral production. Each section has fewer parts, but there is no banking. Fail one section and you retake the whole exam at full price.
For the CILS B1 Cittadinanza, the exam totals 48 points across the four sections, and you need at least 7 points in each section to pass. The all-or-nothing structure is where most test-takers get tripped up. If you are confident across all four skills, the Cittadinanza version is faster and more focused. If one skill is weaker, particularly writing or speaking, the standard B1 is often the safer choice because you can retake individual sections without losing credit for what you already passed.
One more thing to weigh. A standard B1 certificate works for citizenship applications too, and it also counts for university enrollment and employment. The Cittadinanza version is only valid for citizenship. If there is any chance you’ll need the certificate for something beyond citizenship, take the standard exam.
Exam Cost and Where to Sit It
The exam itself typically runs around €100 at test centers in Italy. Overseas prices vary. The Italian Cultural Institute in New York, for example, charges $150 for the CILS B1 exam.3Istituto Italiano di Cultura di New York. Certifications Registration fees are generally non-refundable unless the session is canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
The citizenship application itself carries separate government fees. The standard contributo is €250, and applications filed at a Prefettura in Italy also require a €16 marca da bollo (revenue stamp).4Ambasciata d’Italia Tel Aviv. Citizenship Fee Refund (€250) Consular fee schedules abroad may differ. Check with your specific consulate before filing.
Submitting the Certificate Through the ALI Portal
Citizenship applications are filed through the Portale Servizi, commonly called the ALI portal, operated by the Ministry of the Interior.5Prefettura – Ufficio Territoriale del Governo di Reggio Emilia. Citizenship Office – Information As of mid-2025, the portal accepts authentication through both SPID (Italy’s Public Digital Identity System) and CIE (the electronic identity card) for applicants residing in Italy. If you live outside Italy, expect to arrange SPID in advance through an accredited Identity Provider, using a recognition method that works internationally.6SPID Public Digital Identity System. SPID for Italian Citizens Abroad
Before you start the online submission, pull the following details from your physical certificate:
- The serial number printed on the certificate, which lets the Ministry verify it electronically
- The exam date
- The issuing body (CILS, CELI, PLIDA, or CERT.IT)
- The name and location of the test center where you sat the exam
You’ll also upload a high-quality scan of the original certificate. The portal accepts PDF and JPG files; keep the file size reasonable to avoid upload errors. After you enter the details and transmit the application, the Ministry verifies the certificate against official records, and you can track progress through the portal using the same credentials you used to file.