How Struggling to Get My Own Italian Citizenship Inspired a Startup Helping Others Do the Same

In recent years, Italy has introduced formal language requirements tied to both long-term residency and citizenship. For many expats, this means passing a standardized exam, even if they’ve lived in Italy for years or are married to an Italian citizen.

I found this out the hard way.

When my husband and I moved our family from the U.S. to Italy, we were looking for more than just a change of scenery. We were chasing stability, a better quality of life, and a place that felt like home. He had the paperwork for Italian citizenship by descent, but I needed to pass the CILS B1 Cittadinanza exam to qualify through marriage.

I didn’t realize how hard it would be. I joined an online prep course, but it assumed I was already fluent. Then I tried an in-person school—15 hours a week, nearly 1,500€, and after two months, I was still told I was A1. I felt stuck.

I thought I was fairly prepared, but navigating Italy’s language requirements and bureaucracy turned out to be incredibly overwhelming. The available resources were scattered, outdated, or made for Italian speakers, not for foreigners like me trying to build a life here.

So I built what I wish had existed. With my background as a certified ESL teacher and a graduate degree in education, I created a system focused on what really mattered: passing the exam, without getting lost in unnecessary grammar.

I launched Ready Set Italia, an online school that helps English speakers prepare for Italy’s A2 integrazione and B1 Cittadinanza language exams, the key to long-term residency and citizenship. We also help with the Italian driver’s license exam, another major hurdle for new arrivals.

What started as a personal challenge has turned into a growing platform helping others overcome the same barriers I faced. We focus on clarity, efficiency, and support, because for most of our students, this exam isn’t just about a certificate. It’s about being able to stay in Italy, legally and confidently.

The laws aren’t changing any time soon, but we’re making it easier to adapt.

According to MIUR, Italy’s Ministry of Education, over 140,000 people took Italian language certification exams in 2023. With citizenship and residency tied to these qualifications, demand is rising, especially among expats and spouses of Italians.

Three Things I Wish I Knew Before Taking the B1 Exam

• The exam focuses more on practical communication than textbook grammar
• The listening sections are fast, and often catch you off guard, so daily audio practice helps
• Knowing Italian isn’t enough, you also need to understand the exam format and how it’s scored

For expats like me, these exams are more than a test. They’re a gateway to staying in the country we’ve chosen to call home.

Today, Ready Set Italia helps other expats who feel overwhelmed, just like I once did, with realistic, English-supported courses that work.

Author : Tiffany De Angelis, Founder, Ready Set Italia