Notizie.it editorial team Amidst the forms, tax stamps, and police station appointments, there's one requirement that more than any other determines the length of the process, a requirement that too many discover at the last minute: certified knowledge of the Italian language. It's not enough to simply speak it every day at work or with neighbors: you need a certificate with a specific level, issued by the right institutions. Let's take a look at what the law really requires, which certifications are valid, and how to prepare when your days are already full.
What the law requires: B1 for citizenship, A2 for long-term residence
For Italian citizenship—whether by marriage or residency—the threshold is level B1 of the Common European Framework. This was established by Legislative Decree 113/2018, converted into Law 132/2018 and published in the Official Journal , which amended the historic Law 91 of 1992. Those who already hold an Italian qualification—a middle school diploma, a diploma, or a degree—or who have signed and complied with the Integration Agreement are exempt from the test. For an EU long-term residence permit, however, the threshold is lower: level A2, which can be demonstrated with a free test at the prefecture or with a recognized certification. The difference between the two levels is not a matter of bureaucracy: A2 requires the ability to navigate everyday situations, while B1 requires the ability to narrate, explain, and sustain a complex conversation. It's the leap that requires real preparation.
Certifications that are truly worthwhile
Not all certificates are equal at the police station. The recognized certifications are those from four official bodies: the CILS from the University for Foreigners of Siena, the CELI from the University for Foreigners of Perugia, the PLIDA from the Dante Alighieri Society, and the certification from the University of Roma Tre. Several institutions offer a version of the exam specifically designed for citizens, more streamlined than the academic one, focusing on listening, reading, and interaction. The exam takes place in periodic sessions at affiliated centers in Italy and abroad, with a cost that generally ranges between 80 and 150 euros, and registration closes weeks before the date: those with an application deadline are well advised to book the session before they even feel ready, and use the wait to prepare.
The real problem: getting ready while working
And this is where theory meets reality. Free courses at CPIA, public adult education centers, are a valuable resource, but they have fixed schedules and waiting lists that are difficult to accommodate shifts, construction sites, and families; in-person private schools often cost as much as ten exam sessions. The third option, chosen by a growing number of candidates, is online preparation: you study in the evenings or in your spare time, re-listening to the same lecture until it's clear, and then approach the exam with the format you've already seen. It's a phenomenon captured clearly by the numbers: on Italian platforms like Accademia Domani, the A1-A2 Italian for foreigners course has become the most popular in the entire catalog, with over 240 registrations since the beginning of the year, so much so that the offering has recently expanded to include a B1 program specifically tailored to the format of the citizenship exams. The advantage of online learning, for those starting with "street" Italian, is to systematize what they already know: the grammar that brings order, the vocabulary of formal situations, the habit of listening to voices different from those of everyday life.
Five tips before the exam
First: choose your institution and location right away, because there aren't endless sessions and applications have deadlines. Second: practice the format, not just the language—listening tests have timing and mechanics that need to be understood beforehand, not discovered at the exam table. Third: immerse yourself in "official" Italian every day, even if it's just a TV news or radio broadcast during your commute, because work-related Italian isn't always enough for exam Italian. Fourth: don't leave it to the last month—from daily level to B1, on average, several months of consistent study are needed, not a rush. Fifth: check the validity of your documents when submitting your application, because a perfect certification attached to a flawed application won't save anyone.
Language, after all, is the only citizenship requirement that can't be bought or waited for: it's built. And those who build it well discover they've obtained much more than a stamp—a bridge to work, their children's schooling, and life in the country they've chosen. The exam, at that point, is merely the formality that certifies it.