Do I need to pass an Italian language test for the long-term EU residence permit, and who is exempt?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Key facts

What the law says

Article 9(2-bis) of the Consolidated Immigration Act makes issue of the long-term EU residence permit conditional on passing an Italian language test, with the procedure set by decree of the Minister of the Interior. It doesn’t apply to permits issued for research at universities and bodies supervised by the education ministry, and article 9(2-ter) excludes holders of international protection.

How the test works

The Ministry of the Interior’s guidance says the test is governed by the ministerial decree of 4 June 2010. You send the request to the prefecture of the province where you live through the online service at portaleservizi.dlci.interno.it. The office checks the request and calls you online within 60 days with the date and place. If you pass, the prefecture tells the Questura electronically, and the Questura issues the permit once the other legal requirements are checked. If you fail, you can ask to retake the test through the same system, but only 90 days after the previous one. You can check your result on the same site.

Who doesn’t need to take it

The Ministry of the Interior lists these exemptions:

• a certificate of Italian at A2 level or higher from Università per Stranieri di Siena, Università per Stranieri di Perugia, Università degli Studi Roma Tre or Società Dante Alighieri;
• an A2 or higher result from an Italian course at a Centro provinciale per l’istruzione degli adulti (CPIA);
• A2 or higher recognised under the integration agreement (accordo di integrazione, art. 4-bis of the Act);
• an Italian lower or upper secondary school diploma, or current study at an Italian university, or a doctorate or university master’s in Italy;
• entry to Italy as a manager or highly qualified worker of a company with a seat or branch in Italy, a university professor or researcher, a translator or interpreter, or an officially accredited foreign journalist;
• people with serious language-learning limitations certified by a public health facility.

The Polizia di Stato’s guidance adds that children under 14, including the spouse’s children and children born outside marriage, are excluded from the test.

This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.