Can I take CILS B1 Cittadinanza with a special residence permit or as an asylum seeker?
Yes, the exam itself is open to everyone: according to CILS any foreign citizen can take it, with no age limit and no school qualification. Whether the certificate will actually help you get citizenship depends on the residence requirements, not on the exam.
The CILS FAQ says all foreign citizens and Italian citizens living abroad can take CILS, with no age limit.
Citizenship by residence needs years of legal residence that vary by case; with a special permit or a pending asylum claim, check with the Prefecture from when your residence counts. This is our assessment.
The certificate does not expire, so you can take it now and use it once you qualify.
Note: there is no complete official rule on this. Anything beyond the sources listed is our own assessment; the exam centre or the competent office decides.
Sources: CILS, FAQ, Ministero dell'Interno, Cittadinanza per residenza (art. 9). Updated 13 November 2026.
Next steps
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