Embarking on the journey of obtaining Italian citizenship through marriage is a venture of love, not just for your spouse, but for the rich tapestry of Italian culture. It’s a path that leads to the heart of Italy, but one that requires a key – the B1 language certificate. This article is updated to 6 March 2025.
The Essence of the B1 Language Requirement
Italian citizenship by marriage hinges on demonstrating adequate knowledge of the Italian language. It’s not merely a bureaucratic tick box but a gateway to becoming an integral part of the Italian and of the European community.
As of December 2018, the Italian government has stipulated that non-Italian spouses need to prove their Italian language proficiency by obtaining one of four recognized certifications: CILS, CELI, IT, or PLIDA, with the CILS being the most globally recognized.
Your Timeline for Application
The timing of your application is as follows:
- Two years of marriage/civil union if residing in Italy, halved if you share children or have legally adopted children.
- Three years post marriage/civil union from abroad, also halved under the same parental circumstances.
The Two Flavors of B1
The B1 level strikes a balance, demonstrating that you have moved beyond basic Italian but have room to grow. For citizenship purposes, the specialized B1 citizenship exam is the requirement, but a regular B1 certification won’t suffice unless you’re looking to use it for work or academic reasons.
Preparing for the B1 Certification
Preparation for this certification doesn’t chain you to a specific course or method; what matters is your comprehensive readiness in both written and verbal Italian. The exam tests your ability to navigate through everyday situations, express personal interests, and engage in conversations about work and leisure.
How to Obtain Your B1 Certification
This crucial step can be taken at official Italian certifying bodies or their international partners, often found via Italian Consulates or the Istituti Italiani di Cultura.
Exceptions to the Rule
There are exceptions to the B1 requirement:
- Spouses living in Italy who’ve signed an integration agreement.
- Holders of a qualification from an Italian educational institution.
- Those with recognized language proficiency certification
IMPORTANT UPDATE!
As of 7 March 2025, another very important exemption applies for those who have significant limitations to taking the language proficiency test.
The Italian highest court – the Constitutional Court – ruled that the regulation on the Italian language proficiency doesn’t apply to those “affected by serious limitations in the ability to learn the language resulting from age, pathologies or disabilities, attested by a certification issued by the public health facility“.
This very important ruling descends from the essential Equality principle of the Italian Constitution, at Article 3:
“All citizens possess an equal social status and are equal before the law, without distinction as to sex, race, language, religion, political opinions, and personal or social conditions.“
In practice, if a person can show by official documents that they can’t possibly learn the language due to a specific impairment beyond their powers, such a s old age, a serious disease or disability, they will still obtain the Italian citizenship even without any Italian language proficiency certificate.
A Change on the Horizon
A legislative proposal suggests extending the B1 requirement to citizenship by lineage applicants. It’s a shift that future applicants should keep a watchful eye on.
Still, even if such language certificate requirement will be extended to the applications for Italian citizenship by lineage, all exemptions will apply, including that for applicants who are affected by serious limitations due to age, disease or diabilities.
Conclusion: The Language of Belonging
The B1 certification is more than a formality; it’s a testament to your dedication to embracing Italian life in full. Whether you’re just starting or on the brink of application, this guide aims to empower you on this journey, making the process clearer, less daunting, and a milestone worth celebrating in your Italian love story.
Let’s embark on this journey together. The essence of Italy awaits 😃🇮🇹☀️
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My father was born in Sicily. I was born in Argentina but live in the USA since 1985. Became a US citizen in 1992. I was told that I needed to file a “reacquisto” and live in Italy for a year. I got information about a law in the works that will allow me to apply for citizenship without these restrictions. Thank you..
That’s right, Claudia! The Italian Parliament is discussing new Bills which could open the possibility to re-acquire Italian citizenship for those who lost it automatically upon naturalizing abroad. You’re welcome to read more about this discussion in my recent article: Italian Citizenship Law: Follow Ancestry Bill Updates
You may consider that there are 2 different ways, under the law currently in force, to obtain Italian citizenship. One involves moving to Italy for one whole year. The other, instead, is a procedure that starts with making a formal statement in the Consulate that you want to obtain Italian citizenship and move to Italy within one year. You can stay a shorter time in Italy under the second procedure. So you could actually move to Italy for less than one year and get Italian citizenship. You can read about these different option in the Italian Nationality Law – Article 13 (Section 1 c and d) – that I translated into English at this page.
Thanks for your question, Claudia. I will soon publish a post on my blog about this procedure.
My parents were born in sicily and looking for dual citizenship