Get your B1 Italian for citizenship

The B1 requirement

Italian citizenship law (Law 91/1992, article 9.1, added in 2018) requires applicants for citizenship by marriage to an Italian citizen or by residence in Italy to show they know Italian at least at B1 on the CEFR scale (QCER in Italian). You prove it with a recognized language certificate or an Italian school or university qualification.

B1 means you can handle most everyday situations, follow the main points of clear speech on familiar topics, and describe experiences, plans and opinions in simple connected Italian.

Which certificates are accepted

The certificate must come from a body in the CLIQ association (Certificazione Lingua Italiana di Qualità):

• CILS, from the Università per Stranieri di Siena. Also offered as a specific B1 citizenship exam (CILS B1 Cittadinanza).
• CELI, from the Università per Stranieri di Perugia. CELI 2 corresponds to B1, and there is a citizenship version.
• PLIDA, from the Società Dante Alighieri, with exam centres in many countries. Also offered as PLIDA B1 Cittadinanza.
• CERT.IT, from the Università Roma Tre.

Exams run on fixed dates at authorized centres in Italy and abroad, including many Italian Cultural Institutes. Check with your consulate or prefecture which certificates they currently accept before you book.

Who doesn't need the B1 certificate

• Holders of the EU long-term residence permit (permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo), and people who have completed the integration agreement (accordo di integrazione). Both already require an A2 Italian test.
• People with an Italian school or university qualification.
• Since the Constitutional Court's ruling no. 25 of 2025, applicants whose ability to learn a language is seriously limited by age, illness or disability, certified by a public health facility.
• Applications by descent (iure sanguinis) follow different rules and don't use this B1 requirement. The descent rules themselves changed in 2025, so check your case with a consulate or lawyer.

This is practice, not the official exam

ImChatty doesn't run the CILS, CELI, PLIDA or CERT.IT exams and can't issue a certificate for your application. We offer a free level check, Italian conversation practice and paid lessons with independent Italian tutors who can prepare you for the real test.

What the B1 exam tests

All four exams test listening, reading, writing and speaking. The citizenship versions focus on everyday life and on topics like work, family, public services and life in Italy. For most adult learners the hardest parts are the oral exam, where you speak with an examiner, and writing a short structured text. That's where practice with a tutor helps most.

Where ImChatty fits

1. Check your level for free. The CEFR level check estimates your level in under 15 minutes, so you know whether you're already at B1 or how far you have to go.
2. Practice conversation. Speaking regularly is the fastest way to get comfortable for the oral part.
3. Book an Italian tutor. Work on the oral and written tasks with a tutor who can plan your preparation around your exam date.

Who this is for

• Spouses of Italian citizens applying for citizenship by marriage
• Long-term residents of Italy applying by residence
• Anyone deciding between CILS, CELI, PLIDA and CERT.IT
• Learners who speak everyday Italian but need to pass a formal exam

Common questions

Which exam should I choose? All four are accepted for citizenship. Most people pick the one with the next exam date at a centre near them. CILS, CELI and PLIDA all offer citizenship-specific B1 exams.

Do I need B1 in all four skills? You need to pass the B1 exam as a whole. Check the scoring rules of the exam you choose, because they differ between bodies.

Is the CEFR level check on ImChatty an official result? No. It's a free self-assessment on the same A1–C2 scale, useful to see where you stand, but it can't be used in your citizenship application.

I'm applying by descent. Do I need this? Applications by descent don't use the B1 requirement, but the rules for descent changed in 2025. Check with your consulate.