The three certificates are officially equivalent and recognised by the Italian state: what differs is the awarding body and the format, not the value. CILS (University for Foreigners of Siena) is the most widespread worldwide, CELI (University for Foreigners of Perugia) is the most used inside Italian universities, and PLIDA (Società Dante Alighieri) has the widest network of centres abroad.
What they have in common
All three are recognised by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and certify the Common European Framework levels, A1 to C2. None expires — though in practice an institution may ask for a recent certificate.
All three test four skills — listening, reading, writing and speaking — and passing requires a minimum in each, not just a sufficient average. That's where most people fail: they arrive strong in three and neglect the fourth.
Which to choose, concretely
To enrol at an Italian university: B2 is the usual requirement. Always check the university's own page, since some name a preferred certificate and some courses ask for C1.
For Italian citizenship (by residence or by marriage): the law requires at least B1 (art. 9.1 of Law 91/1992). You prove it with an Italian school qualification or with a certificate from a body recognised by the Italian state: CILS, CELI, CERT.IT (Roma Tre University) and PLIDA all are. You don't need to submit one if you already hold the EU long-term residence permit or have signed the integration agreement.
For the EU long-term residence permit (only for citizens of non-EU countries): A2 is enough. You either pass a test at the Prefettura or submit a certificate at A2 or above from a recognised body (art. 9 of Legislative Decree 286/1998 and the Interior Ministry decree of 7 December 2021).
For work: the level matters more than the body. A B2 is a B2 on any letterhead.
For practicality: pick whichever has an exam centre near you. Honestly, that's the criterion that decides it in most cases.
Preparing without wasting time
First establish the level you actually need: preparing for C1 when the institution asks for B1 is a year of study spent for nothing.
Then work on the format, not just the language. The papers have tight timings and fixed task types: someone who knows Italian but doesn't know the exam loses marks on things that have nothing to do with the language.
And practise speaking out loud, with someone. It's the paper where most marks are lost, and the only one you can't prepare in silence.
Related questions
Which certificate do I need for Italian citizenship?
At least level B1, certified by a body recognised by the Italian state: CILS, CELI, CERT.IT and PLIDA all are. Here the awarding body does matter: a certificate from a body that isn't on the official list is not accepted, so check the current list before you book the exam. For the EU long-term residence permit, A2 is enough.
Do Italian language certificates expire?
They have no formal expiry date. Some institutions still prefer a recently obtained certificate, since language level drops without practice.
Updated 2026-10-13