CILS Exam Results: When They Arrive and How to Get Your Certificate

If you took the CILS exam recently, you're probably wondering when you'll find out if you passed and how you actually get your certificate.

Here's the thing nobody tells you: your certificate doesn't come to your house automatically. And one of the arrangements you need to make happens on exam day, not after.

Here's the whole process, step by step.

⏳ When Do CILS Results Come Out?

Results are published roughly 40 business days after your exam. That's business days, not calendar days, so plan on at least 2 months.

And no, nobody emails you. Nothing shows up in your inbox. You have to go check.

💻 How to Check Your CILS Results

Results go up on the Università per Stranieri di Siena online portal. You log in with the matricola number you were given on exam day.

Two things to know before you start refreshing the page:

📅 Results appear as they come in. The more complex the exam, the longer results take. An A2 Integrazione exam may arrive at 35 days, but a B1 Standard exam may take 50 days.

📞 Your exam center doesn't have your results before Siena publishes them. Calling the exam center won't get you an early answer, because they don't have one either.

📄 What You Can Download Right Away

As soon as results are published, you can download a PDF attestato with the University of Siena's blue stamp. You don't have to wait for the paper certificate to have proof in hand.

This matters if you're up against a deadline. A citizenship appointment, a permesso renewal, a university enrollment date. The PDF exists weeks before the physical certificate is created.

⚠️ Will an Office Accept the PDF?

Sometimes. It depends on the office.

Some accept the digitally stamped PDF without blinking. Others want the original certificate in their hands and won't move without it. There's no rule here, and anyone telling you there is hasn't dealt with enough Italian offices.

So download the PDF the day results come out and try it. Just don't build your timeline around it being accepted. If your appointment is close, call the office and ask what they want before you go.

📬 Where Your CILS Certificate Actually Goes

Your certificate gets sent to the exam center where you took the test. Not to your home.

You've got three ways to get it:

🪪 Pick it up in person with a photo ID

✍️ Send someone for you with a signed consent form and their ID

📮 Have the center mail it to you

🚨 Mailing has to be arranged in advance. Many centers want you to sign a form in person on exam day, and some make you pay for shipping. If you traveled to test, sort this out before you go or you're booking a second trip.

Ask them directly: what do I need to sign, and what do I need to pay, to have my certificate mailed to me?

♾️ Your CILS Certificate Never Expires

Once you've got it, you've got it. There's no expiration date.

That's better news than it sounds. A certificate at A2 or higher satisfies the A2 requirement for the long-term residency permit, which means your B1 covers it too. If you passed B1 for citizenship, you've already met the A2 requirement permanently and you'll never sit that exam.

Keep the certificate somewhere safe. Italian offices will ask for the same document again, in a different year, for a different reason.

❌ What If You Didn't Pass?

On the B1 Cittadinanza and the A2 Integrazione, falling short in one section means retaking the whole exam. On the B1 Standard, you can retake just the section you failed.

That's a big difference and it's worth knowing before you register, not after. We broke it down in what happens if you fail part of the CILS exam.

❓ Common Questions

How long do CILS results take?

Roughly 40 business days after your exam date.

How do I check my CILS results?

On the Università per Stranieri di Siena online portal. No email is sent.

Can I download my CILS certificate?

You can download a PDF attestato with Siena's stamp once results are published. The physical certificate comes separately.

Where is my CILS certificate sent?

To the exam center where you took the test, not to your home address.

Can I have my CILS certificate mailed to me?

Yes, but you have to arrange it with the exam center in advance. Some centers require a form signed in person on exam day, and some charge for shipping.

Does the CILS certificate expire?

No. It's valid for life.

💍 Ready to Apply for Citizenship by Marriage

If you passed your B1 Cittadinanza exam and are now ready to apply for citizenship by marriage, we have a guide to walk you through that entire process. Check it out here.

🇮🇹 Haven't Taken Your Exam Yet?

Ready Set Italia builds CILS exam prep for English speakers, taught entirely in English, built around real past exams.

👉 B1 Cittadinanza program for citizenship applicants

👉 A2 Integrazione program for the long-term residency permit

👉 B1 Standard program for university, work, and professional registration

Not sure which exam you need? Take the free two-minute quiz.