Italian language Knowledge Test for the issue of long term EU permit of stay (Test di conoscenza della lingua italiana per il rilascio del permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo)

It has become mandatory to pass the test on Italian from December 2010 to be eligible to apply for the long term EU permit of stay.

Who should pass the test
Non EU citizens in possession of a valid permit of stay for at least 5 years, issued in Italy and adequate income requirement, intending to apply for the long term EU permit of stay.

The test must also be done by family members for which a EU permit of stay may be requested.

Who is not required to take the test
Not required to take the test of knowledge of the Italian language:

- persons affected by severe limitations on linguistic capacity to comprehend resulting from age, illness or disabilities;

- minors under 14 years, also born out of wedlock- of the applicant and spouse;

- persons in possession of a certification of proficiency in Italian that certifies a level of knowledge not below level A2 of the European municipality table of reference for the proficiency of languages approved by the Council of Europe, issued by certifying bodies recognized by the the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Universities and Researchers.

- persons who have attended a course of Italian language at the – Centri territoriali permanenti (CTP) and have at the end of the course, obtained a qualification that certifies the attainment of a level of understanding of the Italian language not below level A2 of the European municipality table of reference for the proficiency of languages

- persons who have attended a course of the Italian language at the CTP and have at the end obtained a qualification that attests to the attainment of a level of proficiency of the Italian language not below level A2.

- persons who have acquired credit for integration agreement, the recognition of a level of proficiency in the Italian language not below level A2 of the European municipality table of reference for the proficiency in languages.

- persons who have obtained a secondary school diploma of first or second grade from an Italian educational Institute or from provisional centers for education or have attended a course of study at a legally recognized Italian state or non state university, or in Italy pursuing a master or doctoral studies in the university;
- persons who entered Italy for work in “particular cases” outside the quota to undertake activities as:

• managers or highly specialized personnel of companies with headquarters or branches in Italy or offices of representatives of foreign companies who have main headquarters of operations in the territory of a member state of the Organization for world commerce, or directors of companies with main headquarters in Italy for Italian companies or of companies of European Union member States.

• university professors intending to undertake an academic appointment in Italy;

• translators and interpreters;

• journalists, correspondents officially accredited in Italy and regularly paid employees of
  organs of the press, newspapers or journals, or foreign radio or television broadcasters,

- bearers of refugee status or subsidiary protection.

What should the test certify
The test must certify a proficiency in the Italian language at level A2 of the European municipal table of reference for the proficiency in languages approved by the Council of Europe.

Self evaluation linguistic framework

What level of proficiency in Italian is equivalent to level A2
If Italian is grasped to level A2, the following abilities would have been acquired:

Listening: I can understand expressions and words of much use relating to that which concerns me directly; (for example basic information about me and my family, purchases, my surroundings and work). I can comprehend the essentials of messages and simple brief and clear announcements.

Reading: I can read very short and simple texts and look for specific information presumably in the material of daily use, which are adverts, programs, menu and timetables. I can comprehend simple and short personal letters.

Interaction: I can communicate and engage in simple assignments and routines which require only simple exchanges and direct information on topics of normal activities. I can participate in brief conversations, even though I usually don't understand enough to sustain the conversation.

Oral production: I can use a series of expressions and sentences with simple words to describe my family and other persons, my condition of life, educational career and my actual or most current job.

Written production: I can take simple notes and write brief messages on matters relating to immediate needs. I can write a very simple personal letter, for example to thank someone.

Participation application for the test of Italian
To apply to take part in the test of Italian for the long term EU permit of stay, the applicant must link up to the Ministry of the interior site: https//testitaliano.interno.it

Instructions
1. Click on “begin registration” (“Effettua registrazione”) or enter e-mail or password if already in possession, on the left side of the opening page. Click on “enter”
2. After entering e-mail-user and password, and haven clicked on “enter (“Invia”) view the following page and click on “applicant's form”(“Richiesta moduli”)
3. Scroll down the page “applicant's form” ( “Richiesta moduli”) (see image below) to search for the form on the test of Italian
4. Click on “application for admission to the test of the knowledge of Italian language for the long term EU permit of stay”, ( Richiesta di ammissione al test di conoscenza della lingua italiana ai fini del rilascio del permesso di soggiorno EU per soggiornanti di lungo periodo”).
5. Fill the form online using the “forward” (“Avanti”) button
6. Save the filled form and send by clicking the buttons “save”, (“Salva”) and “enter” (“Invia”)
7. After the electronic dispatch of the application, the applicant would be invited to the exam through a registered letter.

Where to do the test
If the application is in order, the applicant would be invited by the Prefecture within 60 days of the application for the test indicating the test day, time and place.

What happens in case of absence on the date of convocation of the test
In case of unjustified absence at the session of the test, the applicant concerned can forward a new request for application only after 90 days, starting from the day he ought to have taken the test; the electronic system prevents the sending of a new request for application before 90 days; the only justification for absence would be reasons of health, certified by a general practitioner or a medical doctor of the ASL. The certificate must be presented to the Commission at the CTP on the day set for the test, indicated on the convocation letter; before the date set for the taking of the test, the applicant could ask the Prefecture for a change of session in case of an impediment.

How is the test done
The non EU citizen shows his convocation paper at the test and is identified by personnel of the Prefecture.
The test is structured on the comprehension of a short text on the capacity of interaction and is carried out by way of computer-aided procedure.
On the request of the applicant concerned, the test can be done in a written modality, without using a computer-aided procedure, with identical contents, assessment criteria, and time limit set.
The result of the test is communicated to the foreign citizen and is handled and entered into the information system of the Department for civil liberties and immigration of the Ministry of the Interior by the personnel of the Prefecture. In case of a negative out come the test may be repeated by resubmitting an application.
 

What are the areas of competence provided by the test

1. competence of listening (about 25 minutes)

2. competence of reading and comprehension (about 25 minutes)

3. competence of writing (about 10 minutes)

1) listening (test of oral comprehension) of a recording (for example with a conversation between two persons)

• presentation of a list of questions to the candidate

• listening again to the conversation

• responding to questions with: multiple choice, matching, true / false

2) reading ( competence of written comprehension )

• a short piece is given to the candidate

• reading in silence

• answering to questions through multiple choice, matching, true / false, or a completing of sentences

3) writing ( competence of written production )

• a topic is indicated

• the candidate must write a short text ( for example a greeting card to send to a friend explaining where he is, what he is doing etc., an answer by e-mail, or the filling of forms)

The test is considered a pass if the candidate obtains a positive result in at least 80% of the total points in the examination.

View the text of competence on the test on the knowledge of Italian language [ file PDF] that was carried out 19 January 2011 in Florence.

Checking of italian test result
To check the outcome of the test of Italian for the long term EU permit of stay link up to the Ministry of the Interior site:

https://testitaliano.interno.it

Instructions

1. Enter the identification details of the user on the opening part of the page:

• e-mail utilized as user identification in the the electronic system of the Ministry of Interior for for the participation of the test.

• Password utilized to gain access to the electronic system of the Ministry of the Interior for the request to take part in the test and click on “enter” (“Invio”)

2.Click on “application” (“Domande”) on the left on the opening page “services available” (“Servizi disponibili”), which opens upon the entering of e-mail and password
3. Click on the “magnifying glass” (“lente d'ingrandimento”) on the middle table corresponding to the user name in “action” (“Azioni”).
4. Consult the outcome of the test of Italian on the table that would be displayed