🇮🇹 Italian Citizenship in 2025: What the B1 Italian Language Exam Requirement Still Means for You

📌 Updated May 31, 2025: This post now reflects guidance from the Ministry of the Interior’s May 2025 circular, which clarifies how the B1 requirement may apply to certain applicants by descent.

This is the official publication of the new citizenship law passed in 2025. It outlines updated requirements for all citizenship paths, including stricter rules for applicants by descent.

This official document outlines the implementation guidelines for the new citizenship law, clarifying requirements for applicants by descent, including the necessity of B1-level Italian proficiency and residency in certain cases.

🇮🇹 What Is the B1 Italian Language Exam?

The B1 exam is a standardized test to prove your ability to:

• Speak and understand everyday Italian

• Read and comprehend simple texts

• Write structured, functional paragraphs

• Follow spoken Italian in real-world situations

✅ Who Needs the B1 Italian Language Exam

💍 Applicants by Marriage

If you're married to an Italian citizen and applying under Article 5 of Law 91/1992, you must demonstrate B1-level Italian. This requirement has been in place since 2018 and remains unchanged.

🏡 Applicants by Naturalization (Residency)

If you’re applying under Article 9 — typically after 10+ years of legal residence — you must pass a B1 Italian language exam or present a diploma from an Italian secondary school.

❌ Who Is Exempt from the B1 Requirement

The following applicants do not need to take the B1 exam:

• Those applying through an Italian parent or grandparent (true jure sanguinis)

• Those who signed the Integration Agreement (Art. 4-bis, Immigration Law), which requires A2-level Italian

• Holders of an EU long-term residence permit

• Applicants with certified disabilities that prevent language learning (requires ASL documentation)

• Elderly applicants for whom learning Italian is deemed unfeasible (requires ASL documentation)

🧬 What Changed for Citizenship by Descent in 2025

Under the previous law, many people could apply for citizenship by descent through a great-grandparent or even further back.

Now, jure sanguinis is clearly limited to:

• Children and grandchildren of Italian citizens

• Where the Italian ancestor was born in Italy and held only Italian citizenship

If your case doesn’t meet these criteria — for example, if your ancestor held another citizenship or was not your grandparent — you’re now subject to the Article 9 process, not automatic recognition.

⚠️ Spouses Living Abroad — Act Now

Parliament debated requiring marriage-based applicants to live in Italy — a rule already in place in many other EU countries. Although this did not make it into the 2025 law, the direction is clear.

🇪🇺 Countries that already require residence for citizenship by marriage:

• Austria

• Belgium

• Bulgaria

• Croatia

• Cyprus

• Czech Republic

• Denmark

• Estonia

• Finland

• Germany

• Greece

• Hungary

• Ireland

• Latvia

• Lithuania

• Netherlands

• Poland

• Romania

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

• Spain

• Sweden

If you're married to an Italian and live abroad, your window of opportunity could close soon. Don’t delay.

📅 The Next B1 Exam Is in July — Registration Opens Soon

Most exam centers will open registration within the next week. If you're applying by marriage and haven't passed the B1 yet, this is your chance.

With our B1 Citizenship Preparation Program, you’ll be ready to:

• Study efficiently

• Practice for each section

• Register at your nearest exam site

• Pass with confidence