Does the spouse of an Italian citizen need B1 for citizenship?
Yes. Law 132/2018 also requires knowledge of Italian for citizenship by marriage (Art. 5), and the application asks for a certificate of at least B1, unless you are excluded (integration agreement or EU long-term residence permit).
The foreign or stateless spouse of an Italian citizen can apply after 2 years of legal residence in Italy after the marriage, or 3 years after the marriage if living abroad; the periods are halved if there are children.
The marriage must not be dissolved and the spouses must not be separated when the decree is issued.
For applications from 20 December 2020 the procedure takes at most 24 months, extendable to 36.
Sources: Ministero dell'Interno, Cittadinanza per matrimonio (art. 5), Ministero dell'Interno, Invia la tua domanda. Updated 13 November 2026.
Next steps
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