Learning Italian for Expats: Courses, Apps, and Certificates

Italian is the key to making life in Italy easier—when dealing with government agencies, at work, and in everyday life. And in some cases, it’s even mandatory: to obtain permanent residency or citizenship, you must demonstrate a certain level of language proficiency. Here, you’ll find out what level you need, where you can learn for free, which apps and schools are worth checking out, and which certificates are officially recognized.

Why Learning Italian Is Really Worth It

In everyday life, when dealing with government agencies, and at work, knowing Italian will take you much further—many government employees don’t speak English. Learning the language also opens the door to the culture—for example, the many Holidays and Traditions. There is also the legal aspect: Proof of language proficiency is required for certain residence permits and for naturalization.

What Level You Need

• A2: generally for the Residence Permit Long-term residence permit (permanent residence).
• B1: for the Italian citizenship (through naturalization), to be verified by a recognized certificate.
• A2–B1: a good level of everyday language that will allow you to communicate effectively.

Free Courses: CPIA and the Community

The most affordable option is the government-run CPIA (Provincial Centers for Adult Education): Free Italian language courses for adults, often leading to a certificate of completion—which can also be useful for obtaining permanent residency. In addition, many municipalities, organizations, and libraries offer low-cost or free language classes.

Language Schools and University Language Centers

There are private language schools in every major city—ideal for structured learning and rapid progress. Other well-known options include the University for Foreigners in Siena and Perugia, as well as the language centers (CLA) at many universities. They offer courses and also serve as official test centers.

Apps and Self-Study

Apps such as the following are great for getting started and practicing every day: Duolingo, Babbel, and Busuu, language tandems (e.g.,. Tandem) as well as podcasts and YouTube channels. You'll learn the fastest if you combine this with actual speaking—don't be afraid to speak Italian right from the start.

➤ Tip – Learn Italian with us every day: Expand your vocabulary on the fly with our daily features: the Word of the day, the Italian Phrase of the Day and inspiring Italian quotes.

The Certificates: CILS, CELI, PLIDA, and AIL

For official documentation (residence, citizenship, studies, employment), you need a recognized certificate:

• CILS – University for Foreigners of Siena (very common)
• CELI – University for Foreigners of Perugia
• PLIDA – Dante Alighieri Society
• AIL – Italian Language Academy

The exams are held several times a year at test centers around the world (CILS, for example, in June and December). A CILS B1 costs about 100 €. A B1 certificate from a recognized provider is sufficient for citizenship. See the guide for more details. Italian Language Certificates. The reason why the language sounds so different from region to region is explained by Dialects in Italy. Newspapers are a particularly effective learning tool—you can find out how to use them under Italian Newspapers for Language Learning.

What You Need to Do Next

Start early—preferably even before you move. Once you're there, a CPIA course or language school class, combined with real-life daily experiences, will greatly accelerate your progress. At the same time, take care of the paperwork, such as the Residenza. Anyone seeking citizenship should plan to obtain the B1 certificate well in advance.