In short. An EU long-term residence permit generally requires Italian at A2 level, unless an exemption applies. The Ministry’s test is free and requested online through the competent Prefecture. Recognised certificates, certain educational pathways and specified personal circumstances can remove the need to sit it. A pass is sent electronically to the Questura, the police immigration office, which also checks the other permit requirements.
Here you will find who needs the A2 Italian test for an EU long-term residence permit, how to apply, which exemptions apply and what happens afterwards.
Reviewed 8 November 2026. These are general rules, not personalised advice: online services, Prefecture instructions and certification-body accreditation can change.
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Who needs the A2 Italian test for an EU long-term residence permit?
The test checks whether an applicant can understand frequent phrases and expressions in everyday settings at A2 level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The language requirement for the EU long-term residence permit is in Article 9(2-bis) of Legislative Decree No. 286 of 25 July 1998. Normattiva provides the current version of Article 9.
A2 is a basic language level, not advanced proficiency or a citizenship qualification. Attending a course does not by itself prove that an applicant has passed the test or holds an accepted certificate.
The current reference is the decree of 7 December 2021: Article 7 repeals and replaces the decree of 4 June 2010. Some information pages still cite the older text; check their account of requirements and exemptions against the updated rules.
Does the requirement also cover family members?
As a general rule, an applicant who needs to prove Italian for their own EU long-term residence permit must do so unless an exemption applies. The rules also cover family members for whom the permit is requested. The procedure is set out in the Ministry of the Interior Decree of 7 December 2021, published in the Official Gazette on 12 February 2022. Read the official decree on the Italian language test.
In the ordinary case, Article 9 requires at least five years with a valid residence permit, sufficient income and suitable accommodation where required. Those conditions are covered in EU Long-Term Residence Permit in Italy: Validity, Renewal and Time Abroad; for an overview of other routes, use Italian residence permit types.
Official further reading: Legislative Decree No. 286 of 25 July 1998, Article 9 – Normattiva (Italian text).
Practical checklist before proceeding
- Check whether you need the test or can document an exemption.
- Check the application portal and instructions of the competent prefecture.
- Keep the appointment notice and result: passing the test does not replace the other EU long-term permit requirements.
Which exemptions and certificates replace the test?
Some applicants are excluded from the requirement; others can prove their language level through a qualification instead of sitting the test. Any exemption must match a condition provided by law.
- International protection: Article 9(2-ter) of Legislative Decree No. 286/1998 excludes holders of international protection: recognised refugees and subsidiary protection holders.
- Research: Article 9(2-bis) excludes the test in the case specified for research at universities and supervised institutions referred to in that provision.
- Children under 14: the decree excludes the applicant’s children under 14, including children born outside marriage, and the spouse’s children under 14.
- Serious language-learning limitations: limitations caused by age, illness or disability must be certified by a public health facility.
- Language certificate: an Italian certificate at A2 or above from an accepted certifying body.
- CPIA course: completion of an Italian course at a Provincial Centre for Adult Education (CPIA), with a qualification confirming at least A2.
- Integration Agreement: recognition of Italian at A2 or above among the credits earned under the Integration Agreement.
- Education: a lower- or upper-secondary qualification in the Italian system, including through a CPIA; or attendance at an Italian state or legally recognised non-state university, doctorate or university master’s programme in Italy.
- Specified entry and work categories: Article 27(1)(a), (c), (d) and (q) of the Consolidated Immigration Act. Both entry under the specified provision and the relevant activity are required; describing a job as “highly skilled” is not enough.
The protection and research exclusions come from Article 9; the other cases are in Articles 1 and 4 of the 2021 decree. Older age alone is not an automatic exemption. Serious language-learning limitations must be supported by the required public health certification.
Which bodies can certify A2 Italian?
The rules allow an Italian certificate at A2 or above from a recognised certifying body. Annex A to the 7 December 2021 decree names Roma Tre University, the University for Foreigners of Perugia, the University for Foreigners of Siena, the Dante Alighieri Society and the University for Foreigners “Dante Alighieri” of Reggio Calabria.
As at 8 November 2026, the Ministry of Universities and Research’s notice of 20 October 2026 names those bodies and describes accreditation with transitional arrangements. An open application process does not automatically recognise every new applicant. Check the awarding body, level and acceptance for this permit before choosing an examination.
Not every course attendance record counts: a qualifying CPIA course must lead to the required A2 award. Citizenship instead follows Article 9.1 of Law No. 91/1992, which refers to B1. For that separate procedure, see B1 Italian language certificate for citizenship: exams, bodies and exemptions.
Official further reading: Decree of 7 December 2021 on the Italian language test – Ministry of the Interior, Official Gazette (Italian text).
How do you book, and which documents do you need?
Apply online to the competent Prefecture, the territorial government office responsible for the applicant’s domicile. Use the Ministry’s Services Portal of the Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration. Its page about the Italian language test explains the process.
- Open the official portal and sign in using the Public Digital Identity System (SPID) or Electronic Identity Card (CIE), as shown on its login screen as at 8 November 2026. Find the Italian test procedure.
- Enter the applicant’s personal details, residence-permit details, travel-document details and the address for the appointment notice, as required by the decree.
- Submit the request to the Prefecture responsible for the applicant’s domicile and keep the receipt or application reference.
- Check the portal for the appointment and result. The notice gives the date, time and venue.
The decree requires the Prefecture to issue the appointment notice within 60 days of the request. The Ministry says it is sent online. Read your notice and local Prefecture instructions before attending.
What should you bring to the appointment?
Bring the appointment notice for identification, as the decree requires. The Prefecture of Udine also asks for valid identification and the residence permit. Follow the instructions for your own venue; details entered in the online application do not replace the documents required on the day.
Official further reading: Italian language test – Ministry of the Interior (Italian text).
How much does the test cost, and what does it involve?
The Ministry’s test is free, as stated explicitly by the Prefecture of Sondrio. That does not mean a course, a separate language certificate or an assistance service is also free. Any such charges are different from the cost of the Ministry’s test.
Article 3 of the 2021 decree describes understanding short texts and the ability to interact. As a practical illustration, the Prefecture of Lecco’s guide sets out these components:
- listening comprehension: 25 minutes;
- reading comprehension: 25 minutes;
- written interaction: 10 minutes.
That guide describes 60 minutes in total; follow your venue’s instructions. Written interaction means a short text, not an oral conversation. The decree requires at least 80% of the overall marks to pass.
The decree provides for computer-based testing and, on request, a non-computer written version with the same content, marking criteria and time limit. The Prefecture selects venues within the province, including educational institutions. Attend the venue specified on your notice.
What happens after the test, or if you do not pass?
If the applicant passes, the Prefecture records the result in the Ministry information system and sends it electronically to the competent Questura. Under Article 5 of the 2021 decree, the Questura checks the result alongside the other application requirements. A separate paper pass certificate is not normally issued; the result can be checked through the Ministry portal and is sent directly to the authorities.
For equivalent qualifications, Article 4(2) specifies certified copies of qualifications or attendance certificates. For the Integration Agreement and specified work categories, it requires a declaration of the exemption. Serious learning limitations require public health certification. Check with the Questura how these documentary requirements apply to your application before submitting it.
A pass does not by itself secure the permit. This is a language check for the immigration procedure, distinct from a certificate awarded by a certifying body. Keep your application reference and check that your personal details match those used in the residence-permit application.
Can you retake an unsuccessful test?
Yes. As at 8 November 2026, the Ministry of the Interior says you can request another test through the same procedure only after 90 days from the previous test. You need a fresh request; simply attending a later sitting is not enough.
For an unjustified absence, the Prefecture of Lecco gives the same 90-day interval from the scheduled test date. Health-related absence must be justified following the venue’s instructions. Read the notice and notify the competent office; do not assume that a missed test automatically leads to another appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Is the A2 test the same as the B1 citizenship exam?
No. The A2 test concerns the EU long-term residence permit and is governed by the Ministry of the Interior Decree of 7 December 2021. Citizenship by residence has a separate language requirement, which uses B1. Applicants should check the rules and exemptions for the specific procedure they are applying under.
How long do I have to wait for an appointment notice?
The decree says that the Prefecture must arrange an appointment within 60 days of the request and state the date, time and place. This is a deadline for the appointment notice, not a promise about when a residence permit will be issued. Check the portal and Prefecture communications for your application.
Will I receive a certificate if I pass?
The successful result is normally recorded in the Ministry of the Interior’s information system and sent electronically to the Questura. The Prefecture of Udine says it does not issue a separate certificate for passing this test. Applicants can check their result through the Ministry’s portal.
Do I have to pay for the Ministry’s A2 test?
The Ministry’s A2 test is free, according to the Prefecture of Sondrio’s published information. It is different from an examination run by a certifying body or a preparation course. Before agreeing to a payment, establish what service is being offered: the Ministry’s test and paid assistance are separate things.
Official sources
- Legislative Decree No. 286 of 25 July 1998, Article 9 – Normattiva (Italian text)
- Decree of 7 December 2021 on the Italian language test – Ministry of the Interior, Official Gazette (Italian text)
- Italian language test – Ministry of the Interior (Italian text)
- A2 Italian language test – Prefecture of Udine (Italian text)
- Immigration information, free Italian test – Prefecture of Sondrio (Italian text)
- Italian language examination – Prefecture of Lecco (Italian text)
- Notice on accreditation of Italian L2 certifying bodies, 20 October 2026 – Ministry of Universities and Research (Italian text)
- Law No. 91 of 5 February 1992, Article 9.1 – Normattiva (Italian text)
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
SH Immigration Specialists offers administrative help to check possible exemptions, organise language documents and prepare an application for an EU long-term residence permit. Legal advice, appeals and representation are handled by the lawyers of SH Immigration Specialists. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. For an assessment, contact us.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
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Which other guides may help you?
- Italian residence permit types
- EU Long-Term Residence Permit in Italy: Validity, Renewal and Time Abroad
- B1 Italian language certificate for citizenship: exams, bodies and exemptions
- Integration agreement in Italy: points-based permit, credits and checks
- Housing suitability certificate in Italy (idoneità alloggiativa)
- Residence permit costs in Italy in 2026: postal kit and fees
- Hire a foreign national in Italy: permit checks and steps
