In December of 2018 the Italian government updated the law regarding the requirements for spouses applying for Italian citizenship through marriage. If you are the spouse of an Italian citizen and are applying for Italian citizenship through residency or marriage, you are now required to obtain a B1 level Italian language certificate or above. Your B1 level certificate must be certified by an educational institution approved by the Italian Ministry of Education (“MIUR”) or Ministry of Foreign affairs (“MAECI”) in order for it to be approved and meet the requirements.
There are many questions regarding the B1 certification requirement and exactly who is required to get it prior to obtaining Italian citizenship. If you are uncertain of what a B1 certificate is and how to get it, you are not alone. Our recent post about the Law Changes Affecting Italian Citizenship by Marriage explains the updated naturalization requirements for obtaining Italian citizenship.
We’ve assembled this information to provide you with some answers to the most common questions regarding the B1 certification:
The Italian B1 level language certification is an ‘intermediate’ level and means you are proficient enough in the Italian language for everyday interaction to live, study, and work in the community. It is one of the six levels (ranging A1 for basic to C2 for advanced) of a Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) test that is designed to show fluency in the Italian language. This certification serves as proof of intermediate competency in the language to the Italian government. This document could be useful for applying to scholastic programs, although some institutions require additional or higher levels of certification. It is recommended to check with your desired education program to see which level is appropriate.
The ability to work and earn income in the European Union is just one of the benefits of having Italian citizenship. If you are taking advantage of this benefit and seeking work in Italy or another European community in which Italian fluency would be required, you could be asked to provide proof of B1 (or higher) level certification as part of the application process. As an Italian citizen, you are granted the right to live and work legally in Italy without restrictions, granting additional possibilities for education and employment throughout the European Union.
The B1 level certification demonstrates an intermediate ability to communicate in the Italian language. Intermediate ability does not mean perfect pronunciation and comprehension, it typically means you have the ability to communicate and understand the essence of topics usually experienced in work, school, travel, and recreational scenarios. You should be able to communicate simple concepts about yourself and your interests, and you can provide descriptions of events and experiences.
Given the diverse and multilingual landscape present in the Europe Union, the need for a standardized framework emerged. The Swiss government hosted a symposium entitled “Transparency and Coherence in Language Learning in Europe: Objectives, Evaluation, Certification” in 1991 where they demonstrated this need and designed a project to identify and design a system of language certifications. Due to the importance of communication in business, trade, and intergovernmental and cultural exchange, this standardized certificate program was necessary to assist governments, schools, and employers in expanding international opportunities. CLICK HERE to read more about the Council of Europe’s research and resources.
Assessment start time and duration depends on where you register for the exam. A list of schools can be found in the next section. There is minimal variation between certification assessments, but the core concepts are the same. Once you choose a testing site, you should contact your institution for the exact requirements and they may offer preparation and study materials. Typically, the test takes several hours, depending on the institution and your familiarity with the material. Depending on your knowledge and propensity for language acquisition, preparation times will vary. Either at home, online, in the classroom setting, or with a private instructor, approximately 25 hours per level are required to advance through A1.1, A1.2, A2.1, A2.2, B1.1, B1.2, B1.3, and B1.4, totaling roughly 200 study hours. As stated, these times can vary greatly depending on your language aptitude and comprehension.
Embassy of Italy in Washington
Casa Italiana Language School
595 3rd Street, NW Washington DC 20001
Tel: (202) 638-1348
Email: info@casaitalianaschool.org
Website: https://www.casaitalianaschool.org
The Italian Cultural Society of Washington D.C.
4833 Rugby Ave., Suite #201, Bethesda, MD 20814
Tel: 301-215-7885
Email: language@italianculturalsociety.org
Website: http://www.italianculturalsociety.org
Italian Consulate General in Boston
Dante Alighieri Society of Massachusetts
41 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA 02139-1547
Tel: (617) 301-8354
E-mail: school@dantemass.org
Website: http://www.dantemass.org/html/plida.html
Italian Consulate General in Chicago
Italian Cultural Institute in Chicago
500 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1450, Chicago, Illinois 60611
Tel: 312-822-9545
Fax: 312-822-9622
E-mail: iicchicago@esteri.it
Italian Consulate in Detroit
Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan
4050 W. Maple Road Suite 250, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301
Tel: 248-250-8928
E-mail: info@dantemichigan.org
Website: www.dantemichigan.org
Italian Consulate General in Philadelphia
University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with America Italy Society of Philadelphia
Center for Italian Studies
549 Williams Hall, 255 South 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305
Tel: 215-898-6040
E-mail: italians@sas.upenn.edu
Websites: https://www.sas.upenn.edu/italians/resources/cils
https://www.aisphila.org/cliq-placement-test.html
Italian General Consulate in Miami
Dante Alighieri Society in Miami
300 Aragon Avenue #250, Coral gables, FL 33134
Tel: 305-529-6633/305-915-5797
E-mail: wanderson@dantemiami.org
Website: dantemiami.org
Italian General Consulate in Los Angeles
Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles
1023 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: 310-443-3250
E-mail: leonilde.callocchia@esteri.it
desk.iicla@esteri.it
iic.losangeles@cert.esteri.it
Website: https://iiclosangeles.esteri.it
Italian General Consulate in San Francisco
Italian Cultural Institute in San Francisco
601 Van Ness Avenue, Suite F, San Francisco CA 94102
Tel: 415-788-7142
E-mail: franca.cavallaro@esteri.it
Website: https://iicsanfrancisco.esteri.it/iic_sanfrancisco/en/pagine-header-footer/pagine_header_footer/certificazione-linguistica.html
Italian General Consulate in New York (4 Locations)
1. Italian Cultural Institute in New York
Italian American Committee on Education (IACE) and Italian Cultural Institute (IIC) organize Italian language courses
Schedule: https://iacelanguage.org/italian-classes-winter
686 Park Avenue, New York, 10021
Tel: 212-879-4242
E-mail : iicnewyork@esteri.it
Website: www.iicnewyork.esteri.it
2. Collina Italian – Italian Language and Cultural Center City
1556 Third Avenue, Suite 603, NY
Tel: (212) 427-7770
E-mail: info@collinaitaliana.com
Website: http://www.collinaitaliana.com
3. Learn Italy USA, LLC
226 W 37Th Street, New York, 10018
Tel: (917) 903-3093
E-mail : INFO@LEARNITALY.US; progetti@learnitaly.us
Website: www.learnitalygroup.com
4. The Language Institute
Certification: CILS (all levels)
175 Fairfield Ave #2C, New Jersey, 07006
Tel: (973) 228-1843
E-mail: information@thelanguageinstitute.com
Website: http://www.thelanguageinstitute.com
If you found this information and these resources helpful, please comment and share this article on social media! If you have any questions about applying for Italian citizenship contact (IDC) Italian Dual Citizenship for additional resources and good luck on your exam!
This page was last updated by Jason LoPresti
Additional Resources: