The integration agreement, the Italian test and citizenship

The foreigner signs on applying for a residence permit of a year or more an accordo di integrazione with the state, and gets 16 points and commits to gather 30 points within two years by activities: knowledge of the Italian language at level A1 at least, knowledge of the basics of civic culture and civic life in Italy, registering children at school, registering with the health service, suitable housing, work, and paying taxes.

• You gain points by attending a civic training session (sessione di formazione civica) and language, education and work certificates.
• Points are deducted for serious offences.
• If you do not gather the points the period is extended a year, then your residence may be reviewed.
• Points are followed via the Portale Immigrazione and asked about at renewal.

The provincial adult education centres (CPIA: Centri Provinciali per l'Istruzione degli Adulti) in every province offer free Italian language courses for foreigners from the illiteracy level and level A1 to A2 and B1, and courses for the middle school certificate (licenza media) and basic adult education, and organise placement tests and the A2 test for EU residence.

• Register with ID and residence permit.
• Classes are in the morning or evening, and regular attendance is a condition for the certificate.
• Associations (ARCI, Caritas, ACLI and CIR), libraries, comuni and mosques offer free courses and language exchange.
• Ask social services about the nearest.
• There are courses for women with childcare and for those who cannot read.
• And choose according to your time.

To request the EU long-term residence permit after five years you must prove level A2 in Italian, through a recognised certificate (CILS, CELI, PLIDA and Cert.IT) or a certificate from a CPIA or an Italian educational certificate, or through a test organised at the prefecture (Prefettura) by an appointment requested through the immigration portal.

• The test includes reading, writing and listening, and is exempted for those with a recognised certificate or who studied in Italy with an Italian certificate or a Blue Card holder.
• The application is submitted at the Questura with the language certificate.
• Sufficient income, housing and a clean record are also required.
• Some categories are exempted from the test for health or age reasons.
• Ask the CPIA or the prefecture.

To apply for Italian citizenship by residence you must prove at least level B1 in Italian by a certificate from an accredited body: CILS from the University for Foreigners of Siena, CELI from the University for Foreigners of Perugia, PLIDA from the Dante Alighieri Society, and Cert.IT from Roma Tre University, or an Italian educational certificate, or another recognised one.

• The exams include reading, listening, writing and speaking.
• They are held in accredited centres in Italy and around the world on set dates, so register early, and fees range around one hundred to three hundred euros depending on level and centre.
• Proof of income, residence duration, knowledge of the basics of the culture and a clean record are also required.
• And applications are submitted electronically via the Portale ALI with SPID.
• And conditions may change, so check.

After obtaining the B1 certificate and the other documents (birth certificates, criminal record, registered residence and income) you submit the citizenship application electronically, and await a decision that may take two years or more, then take the oath of loyalty to the Republic and the constitution at the comune.

• And sometimes renouncing the previous nationality is required under your country's law, so ask your consulate.
• Common mistakes include delaying the tests until residence time runs out, relying on unofficial sources of information, not registering early so that seats fill, relying on lessons alone without practising the language, and neglecting to gather points in the agreement.
• And build a daily learning routine, speak Italian with your neighbours and colleagues, and join a language exchange or volunteering.
• And keep all the certificates.

How many points are granted on signing the integration agreement?