In short
- Italian citizenship by marriage (art. 5) or by residence (art. 9) requires Italian at no lower than B1 level (Law 91/1992, art. 9.1).[1]
- Certificates from 4 bodies count: Società Dante Alighieri (PLIDA), Università per Stranieri di Siena (CILS), Università per Stranieri di Perugia (CELI) and Università Roma Tre (CERT.IT).[2]
- The PLIDA B1 has 4 tests: Ascoltare (about 40 minutes, 20 items), Leggere (40 minutes, 18 items), Scrivere (60 minutes, 2 texts) and Parlare (about 15 minutes).[3]
- You pass with at least 18/30 in each of the 4 tests; tests you pass stay valid for 18 months.[5],[3]
- Each centre sets its fee: the full B1 costs €120.78 at Politecnico di Torino and US$210 at the Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis.[7],[8]
- In 2026 the PLIDA B1 takes place on 11 February, 10 June, 9 September and 18 November.[6]
Who needs B1
Article 9.1 of Law 91/1992 makes citizenship by marriage (art. 5) and by residence (art. 9) conditional on knowledge of Italian at no lower than B1 of the Common European Framework. The article was added by Decree-Law 113/2018, converted by Law 132/2018.[1]
Applicants prove it with a school qualification from a recognised public or equivalent institution, or with a certificate from a recognised certifying body.[1]
Holders of an EU long-term residence permit and people who signed the integration agreement do not have to submit the language proof. In judgment no. 25 of 2025 the Constitutional Court extended the exemption to people with serious limits on language learning due to age, illness or disability, certified by a public health facility.[1]
The level is a minimum: a higher certificate (B2, C1) also meets the requirement.
Which certificates count for citizenship
The Prefettura note on the B1 requirement lists the 4 recognised certifying bodies; the certificate can also be obtained at the provincial adult-education centres (CPIA).[2]
| Certificate | Body | Tests | Fee | Passed tests kept? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLIDA B1 | Società Dante Alighieri | 4 skills (Ascoltare, Leggere, Scrivere, Parlare); 18/30 in each | Set by each centre: €120.78 at Politecnico di Torino, US$210 in Minneapolis | Yes: passed skills count for 18 months[5],[7],[8] |
| CILS B1 Cittadinanza | Università per Stranieri di Siena | Exam designed for citizenship | €100 in Italy and abroad | No: “capitalisation” is not allowed at this level[9] |
| CELI 2 i cittadinanza (B1) | Università per Stranieri di Perugia (CVCL) | Written part (reading, writing, listening) and oral part | Not stated on the official page: ask the centre | Not stated on the official page[10] |
| CERT.IT B1 | Università degli Studi Roma Tre | 4 skills; in Rome, B1 and B2 are taken on a computer | Set by each centre | Not verified[11] |
The CELI and CERT.IT fees are not stated on the official pages we checked: ask the exam centre. Before you register, confirm with your Prefettura or consulate.
PLIDA B1 format
| Test | Time | Parts | Items or texts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascoltare | about 40 minutes | 4 | 20 items |
| Leggere | 40 minutes | 4 | 18 items |
| Scrivere | 60 minutes | 2 | 2 texts: 110–150 and 70–100 words |
| Parlare | about 15 minutes | 2 | introduction (not marked), interaction and monologue |
Ascoltare: the 4 parts
- Part 1: 5 short dialogues telling a story; for each question you choose from 3 drawings (5 items).
- Part 2: 4 dialogues with instructions for doing something; 3 drawings per question (4 items).
- Part 3: 6 people talk about the same topic; you match each one to one of 8 statements (6 items).
- Part 4: 5 dialogues with practical information; 3 written answers per question (5 items).
Leggere: the 4 parts
- Part 1: 6 short texts; you complete a sentence choosing from 4 options (6 items).
- Part 2: 4 people and 6 descriptions of courses, services or jobs; you match each person to the right description (4 items).
- Part 3: 3 texts with a missing passage, chosen from 5 (3 items).
- Part 4: 5 newspaper articles to match with the right headline out of 8 (5 items).
Scrivere and Parlare
Scrivere lasts 60 minutes: an informative, narrative or descriptive text of 110–150 words and a narrative text of 70–100 words, both guided by an outline. If a part has fewer words than the minimum or is left out, the paper is annulled.[3]
Parlare lasts about 15 minutes: a short introduction that is not marked, an interaction (3–4 minutes plus 3 to prepare) and a monologue (3–4 minutes plus 3 to prepare).[3]
Scoring: how to pass
Each test is worth 30 points and you pass it with at least 18/30. To get the certificate you must pass all 4 tests.[3],[5]
In Ascoltare and Leggere answers are worth different points depending on how hard the question is; a wrong, blank or double answer scores 0. In the official sample paper each correct answer is worth 1.3 points in the first 3 parts of Ascoltare and 2.1 in the fourth; in Leggere, 2.2 points in part one and 1.4 in the others.[3],[4]
If you pass 1, 2 or 3 tests you keep them: within 18 months you retake only the ones you failed, as many times as needed and even at another PLIDA centre.[5],[3]
Results reach the exam centre within 60 working days.[5]
How much the PLIDA B1 costs
Each centre sets its own fee. Two published examples:
| Centre | Full exam | Single tests |
|---|---|---|
| Politecnico di Torino (sessions for its own students)[7] | €120.78 | 1 test €54.90 · 2 tests €79.30 · 3 tests €103.70 |
| Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul (USA), session of 10 September 2025[8] | US$210 | US$50–60 per test |
For comparison, the CILS B1 Cittadinanza costs €100 in Italy and abroad. Under the PLIDA Regulation the registration fee is not refundable; if you withdraw at least 15 days before, through your centre, you get a credit for the next 18 months.[9],[5]
2026 dates and centres
The 2026 PLIDA B1 sessions for all centres are:[6]
- February 11, 2026
- June 10, 2026
- September 9, 2026
- November 18, 2026
You can only sit the exam at certifying centres authorised by the Società Dante Alighieri, in Italy and abroad. To register, contact a centre: the list is on the official PLIDA website.[5] Official PLIDA website
How to prepare
- Practise the format: the 4 parts of Ascoltare and Leggere have fixed task types, and knowing them saves time.
- Take the tests against the clock: 40 minutes for Ascoltare and 40 for Leggere.
- In Scrivere, count your words: below the minimum the paper is annulled.
PLIDA or another certificate?
The PLIDA suits you if you worry about failing one of the 4 tests: you keep the ones you pass for 18 months and retake only the rest. The CILS B1 Cittadinanza does not allow this “capitalisation”.[5],[9]
The CILS B1 Cittadinanza costs €100 in Italy and abroad, less than both PLIDA B1 fees quoted on this page.[9],[7],[8]
In practice many people choose by the nearest centre and the first available date: all 4 certificates meet the B1 requirement.
FAQ
Does the PLIDA B1 count for Italian citizenship?
Yes. The Società Dante Alighieri, which issues the PLIDA, is one of the 4 recognised certifying bodies, together with the Università per Stranieri of Siena (CILS) and Perugia (CELI) and Università Roma Tre (CERT.IT).
What is the pass mark for the PLIDA B1?
At least 18 out of 30 in each of the 4 tests: Ascoltare, Leggere, Scrivere and Parlare.
If I fail one test, do I have to retake the whole exam?
No. Tests you pass stay valid for 18 months: during that time you retake only the ones you failed, as often as needed and even at another centre.
How much does the PLIDA B1 cost?
It depends on the centre. At Politecnico di Torino the full B1 exam costs €120.78; at the Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis it cost US$210 for the September 2025 session.
When is the PLIDA B1 held in 2026?
On 11 February, 10 June, 9 September and 18 November 2026, according to the official calendar.
How long do results take?
Under the PLIDA Regulation, results are sent to the centres within 60 working days.
Sources
- Legge 5 febbraio 1992, n. 91, art. 9.1 (Normattiva)
- Prefettura, «Conseguimento della certificazione di conoscenza della lingua italiana al livello B1»
- Società Dante Alighieri, «PLIDA B1 – Quaderno delle specifiche», 2ª edizione (2021)
- Società Dante Alighieri, PLIDA B1 – prova d’esempio (Ascoltare e Leggere)
- Regolamento PLIDA, versione 1.1
- Calendario esami PLIDA 2026
- Politecnico di Torino, «Esame PLIDA al Poli – Devo pagare?»
- The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul, PLIDA B1 (sessione del 10 settembre 2025)
- Università per Stranieri di Siena, CILS B1 Cittadinanza
- CVCL – Università per Stranieri di Perugia, esami CELI immigrati
- Università degli Studi Roma Tre, CERT.IT
- PLIDA, sito ufficiale
PLIDA Prep is independent and is not a product of the Società Dante Alighieri. This page summarises official sources; if in doubt, what the certifying body and the Prefettura publish prevails.