What level of Italian do I need for Italian citizenship, and who doesn't need a certificate?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Italian citizenship by marriage or by residence requires Italian at B1 level of the CEFR or higher. You prove it with a qualification from a recognised Italian school or a certificate from a recognised certifying body. Holders of the long-term EU residence permit and people who signed the integration agreement don't have to attach that proof.

Key facts

What	The law says	Source
Who it applies to	Citizenship by marriage (art. 5) and by residence (art. 9)	L. 91/1992, art. 9.1
Level	Not below B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)	L. 91/1992, art. 9.1
How to prove it	A qualification from a public or recognised private school, or a certificate from a recognised certifying body	L. 91/1992, art. 9.1
When	Attached when you file the application	L. 91/1992, art. 9.1
No proof needed	Signatories of the integration agreement; holders of the long-term EU residence permit	L. 91/1992, art. 9.1; Ministry, “invia la tua domanda”
Exempt for health reasons	Serious limits on language learning from age, illness or disability, certified by a public health facility	Constitutional Court no. 25/2025, noted under art. 9.1

The level

The law says granting citizenship by marriage or by residence depends on an adequate knowledge of Italian, not below B1 of the CEFR.

How you prove it

Applicants who must prove it attach, when they apply, either a qualification issued by a public or officially recognised private school recognised by the Italian education and foreign ministries, or a certificate from a certifying body recognised by those ministries (art. 9.1).

Who is exempt from the proof

The law exempts from attaching the proof two groups: people who signed the integration agreement under art. 4-bis of the Consolidated Immigration Act (D.Lgs. 286/1998), and holders of the long-term EU residence permit (permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo).

In 2025 the Constitutional Court (ruling no. 25, published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale on 12 March 2025) held the rule unconstitutional to the extent it did not exempt applicants with serious limits on language learning caused by age, illness or disability, certified by a public health facility. The ministry’s application page lists this group as exempt.

How many years of residence you need: 10 for most non-EU nationals (L. 91/1992, art. 9(1)(f)).
Applying online: the ministry’s page lists the language certificate among the attachments.

Sources

Change history

2026-10-25: Page created

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