KIIP: Korea Immigration and Integration Program (사회통합프로그램)
KIIP (사회통합프로그램, the Social Integration Program) is the Korean Ministry of Justice programme in which foreign residents staying legally in Korea who hold an alien registration card or residence report card, and people who acquired Korean nationality within the last 3 years, study Korean language, culture and society. It has six stages: Stages 0 to 4 teach Korean language and culture and Stage 5 teaches Korean society, 70 hours for permanent residence and 100 for nationality. The pre-test (사전평가) places applicants in a stage: 50 written questions in 60 minutes (75 points) and 5 oral tasks in 10 minutes (25 points); 0-2 points is Stage 0, 3-20 Stage 1, 21-40 Stage 2, 41-60 Stage 3, 61-80 Stage 4 and 81-100 Stage 5 (decimals dropped), and an oral score under 3 means Stage 0 whatever the written score. The midterm evaluation (중간평가) ends Stage 4 and the comprehensive evaluation (종합평가), one version for permanent residence and one for naturalisation, ends Stage 5; each has a written and an oral part, and the pass mark is 60 out of 100. The tests are run by the Korea Immigration and Social Integration Foundation through kiiptest.org, on paper at the booked venue or on computer at permanent centres in Seoul, Gwangmyeong and Daejeon (the permanent-residence comprehensive evaluation is on paper only). Passing the permanent-residence comprehensive evaluation counts as meeting the basic-knowledge requirement for permanent residence.
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Free KIIP score to level calculatorKIIP stages 0 to 5, and the test that places you
KIIP (사회통합프로그램) has six stages. Stages 0 to 4 teach Korean language and culture; Stage 5 teaches Korean society, 70 hours for permanent residence or 100 for naturalisation. Your pre-test (사전평가) score out of 100 decides where you start, and an oral score under 3 means Stage 0 whatever you wrote.
- 0Basic (기초)15 hoursNo test at the endPre-test 0–2, or oral under 3
- 1Beginner 1 (초급1)100 hoursEnds with: Stage 1 testPre-test 3–20
- 2Beginner 2 (초급2)100 hoursEnds with: Stage 2 testPre-test 21–40
- 3Intermediate 1 (중급1)100 hoursEnds with: Stage 3 testPre-test 41–60
- 4Intermediate 2 (중급2)100 hoursEnds with: Midterm evaluation (중간평가)Pre-test 61–80
- 5Understanding Korean society (한국사회이해)70 h basic + 30 h advancedEnds with: Comprehensive evaluation (종합평가)Pre-test 81–100
Score 85 or more on the pre-test and you may sit the permanent-residence comprehensive evaluation within 2 years without the course; a pass then counts only for the basic-knowledge requirement. In 2025, 90,180 people took KIIP courses at 384 operating institutions (Ministry of Justice). Hours: Ministry of Justice notice 2024-478; bands: kiiptest.org.
The four KIIP tests, side by side
Every test has a written part and an oral part. Format as kiiptest.org states it, checked 23 Oct 2026.
| Test | Who sits it | Written | Oral | Pass | Paper / computer | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-test사전평가55 questions, 70 minutes, 100 points | Legal foreign residents with an alien registration card or residence report card, people who acquired Korean nationality within the last 3 years (including by nationality determination or recovery), and C-3-8 visitors whose permitted stay has not expired (they may sit the pre-test and be placed, but cannot join a course until alien registration). Not open to people already studying on a stage it assigned, within 6 months of a suspension, or currently banned after being removed from KIIP. You can skip it and start at Stage 0. | 50 questions in 60 minutes: 48 multiple choice (38 Korean language, 10 Korean culture) and 2 short written answers, 1.5 points each = 75 points | 5 tasks in 10 minutes (reading 1, comprehension 1, conversation 1, listen and speak 2), 5 points each = 25 points. Two examiners assess five candidates together. | No pass mark: your total decides the stage, except that an oral score under 3 means Stage 0 | Paper (PBT) or computer (CBT) | Normally: paper 13 days after the test, computer 2 working days after, both after 16:00. Holidays and the yearly schedule can move the date. |
| Midterm evaluation중간평가35 questions, 60 minutes, 100 points | People who finished the Stage 4 course within the last 2 years, or who were approved for the intermediate link course of another institution. | 30 questions in 50 minutes: 28 multiple choice in 40 minutes (2.5 points each = 70) and a writing task in 10 minutes (2 items set as one, up to 100 characters, handwritten on manuscript paper in the paper test or typed in the computer test, 2.5 points each = 5) | 5 tasks in 10 minutes, 5 points each = 25 points. Two examiners assess two candidates together. | 60 out of 100 (decimals dropped) | Paper (PBT) or computer (CBT) | Normally: paper 13 days after the test, computer 2 working days after, both after 16:00. Holidays and the yearly schedule can move the date. |
| Comprehensive evaluation, permanent residence영주용 종합평가45 questions, 70 minutes, 100 points | People who finished the Stage 5 basic course (70 hours), or who scored 85 or more on the pre-test within the last 2 years. | 40 questions in 60 minutes: 36 multiple choice in 50 minutes (14 x 1.5 + 22 x 2 = 65 points; the split may change) and a writing task in 10 minutes (4 items set as one, up to 200 characters, handwritten on manuscript paper, 2.5 points each = 10) | 5 tasks in 10 minutes, 5 points each = 25 points. Two examiners assess two candidates together. | 60 out of 100 (decimals dropped) | Paper only (PBT) | Normally 6 days after the test (the Friday of the following week), after 16:00. Holidays can move the date. |
| Comprehensive evaluation, naturalisation귀화용 종합평가45 questions, 70 minutes, 100 points | People who finished all of Stage 5 (basic + advanced; people who completed by repeating the course before 17 Jul 2016 may sit without the advanced course), or who applied for naturalisation on or after 1 Mar 2018 (within 1 year of applying). | 40 questions in 60 minutes: 36 multiple choice in 50 minutes (7 x 1 + 29 x 2 = 65 points; the split may change) and a writing task in 10 minutes (4 items set as one, up to 200 characters, 2.5 points each = 10) | 5 tasks in about 10 minutes, 5 points each = 25 points. Two examiners assess two candidates together. | 60 out of 100 (decimals dropped) | Paper (PBT) or computer (CBT) | Normally: paper 6 days after (the Friday of the following week), computer 2 working days after, both after 16:00. Holidays can move the date. |
For the midterm and both comprehensive evaluations, applying and not turning up counts as a fail, and each test you book costs ₩38,000. The whole session can take 3 to 4 hours with waiting.
The multiple-choice point split of both comprehensive evaluations is marked on kiiptest.org as liable to change. We found no official sample paper on the pages listed below. Sources: kiiptest.org, kiiptest.org, kiiptest.org.
Fee, booking and test day
- Fee
- ₩38,000 per test, VAT included, paper or computer. Applications are online only, on kiiptest.org.
- How to apply
- Log in to kiiptest.org, choose the test, choose the region and venue, pay, then check the booking under My page.
- ID
- The original alien registration card, resident registration card, passport, Korean driving licence or a photo-attached residence-permit confirmation (체류허가확인서; the ID rule calls it 체류허가신청확인서). No copies, photos or mobile IDs.
- Arrival
- Paper test: entry from 12:00, doors close at 12:30. Computer test: be in the test room 20 minutes before the start. No toilet breaks during the test.
- Cheating
- Keeping a phone, smartwatch or recorder with you during the test, storing personal items somewhere other than the invigilator’s designated place, or sharing oral questions: zero for that test, your KIIP course record cancelled, a 1-year ban from KIIP, and possible legal penalties.
- Retaking the pre-test
- Allowed for some people already placed; your earlier course record is cancelled and the new stage applies even if it is lower.
Refunds if you cancel
| When you cancel | Paper test (PBT) | Computer test (CBT) |
|---|---|---|
| Within the application period | Full refund | Full refund |
| 50% refund | From the close of applications to 7 days after it | From the close of applications to 9 days before your test |
| 40% refund | From 7 days after the close to 2 days before the test | From 7 days to 2 days before your test |
| No refund | The day before and the day of the test | The day before and the day of the test |
CBT refunds count back from your own test date. Full refunds also apply in listed cases, such as the death of your or your spouse's grandparent, parent, sibling or child, or your own inpatient surgery on the test day; for these two, send proof to the Foundation within 7 days of the test. Sources: kiiptest.org, kiiptest.org.
The three computer-test (CBT) centres
Computer tests run all year: you choose the date and time. The midterm has been offered on computer since July 2025. Source: Ministry of Justice.
Paper test dates left in 2026
The Ministry of Justice set 20 paper sittings for 2026: 8 pre-tests, 4 midterms and 8 comprehensive evaluations. Dates may change or be added.
| Sitting | Apply | Test | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-test, 8th sitting | 3–7 Nov 2026 | Sat 21 Nov 2026 | Fri 4 Dec 2026 |
| Comprehensive, 8th sitting | 17–21 Nov 2026 | Sat 5 Dec 2026 | Fri 11 Dec 2026 |
| Midterm, 4th sitting | 7–9 Dec 2026 | Sat 19 Dec 2026 | Mon 28 Dec 2026 |
Source: Ministry of Justice. Check the notices on kiiptest.org before you plan.
What KIIP gives you, by goal
Passing gives the recognition or exemptions described above, subject to the stated course-completion conditions. Sources: kiiptest.org, Ministry of Justice notice 2024-478.
Questions people ask
What is KIIP?
KIIP (사회통합프로그램, the Social Integration Program) is the Korean Ministry of Justice course in Korean language, culture and society for foreign residents. It has six stages, 0 to 5. A pre-test places you in a stage, and national tests close Stage 4 (the midterm) and Stage 5 (the comprehensive evaluation, one version for permanent residence and one for naturalisation).
Who can join KIIP?
Foreign residents staying legally with an alien registration card or a residence report card, and people who acquired Korean nationality within the last 3 years (including by nationality determination or recovery). People who entered on a C-3-8 visa and whose permitted stay has not expired may take the pre-test but cannot join a course until alien registration. You apply on Socinet (socinet.go.kr). You can take the pre-test or choose to start at Stage 0 without it; kiiptest.org also lists TOPIK, marriage-immigration-visa and intermediate Korean-course linkage routes for eligible applicants.
What score do I need on the KIIP pre-test?
There is no pass mark: your total out of 100 decides the stage. 0–2 is Stage 0, 3–20 Stage 1, 21–40 Stage 2, 41–60 Stage 3, 61–80 Stage 4 and 81–100 Stage 5, with decimals dropped. An oral score under 3 places you in Stage 0 whatever your written score.
What is the pass mark for the KIIP midterm and comprehensive evaluations?
60 out of 100 for the midterm and for both comprehensive evaluations, with decimals dropped. Applying and not turning up counts as a fail.
How much does a KIIP test cost?
₩38,000 per test, VAT included, whether on paper or on computer. You pay when you apply on kiiptest.org; there is no walk-in or postal application.
Can I take the KIIP test on a computer?
Yes for the pre-test, the midterm and the naturalisation comprehensive evaluation: computer tests run at permanent centres in Seoul, Gwangmyeong and Daejeon, on a date and time you choose. kiiptest.org lists the permanent-residence comprehensive evaluation as a paper test only. Candidates who need special arrangements must take the paper test.
What ID do I need on test day?
The original of your alien registration card, resident registration card, passport, Korean driving licence, or a photo-attached residence-permit confirmation (체류허가확인서; the ID rule calls it 체류허가신청확인서). Copies, photos of an ID and mobile IDs are refused, and without valid ID you cannot sit the test or get the fee back.
Does passing the comprehensive evaluation give me permanent residence or citizenship?
No, it meets a requirement. Passing the permanent-residence evaluation counts as meeting the basic-knowledge requirement when you apply for permanent residence. For naturalisation, completing the naturalisation course and passing its evaluation also waives the naturalisation interview.
Is KIIP becoming mandatory?
On 12 July 2026 the Ministry of Justice published a reform direction that includes making KIIP education mandatory for long-term residents, alongside courses tailored to type of stay and pre-departure education. It was presented to operating institutions for comment; that release gives no start date.
Sources
- kiiptest.org: Pre-evaluation (사전평가)
- kiiptest.org: Mid-evaluation (중간평가)
- kiiptest.org: Comprehensive evaluation (종합평가)
- kiiptest.org: Registration, fee and refunds (접수 안내)
- kiiptest.org: Test-day rules (응시 안내)
- Ministry of Justice: 2026 KIIP test schedule (PDF, Dec 2025)
- Ministry of Justice: Social Integration Program (사회통합프로그램)
- Ministry of Justice notice 2024-478: course hours and benefits (PDF)
- Ministry of Justice: KIIP participants by year
- Ministry of Justice press release, 12 Jul 2026: KIIP reform direction
- Socinet (사회통합정보망): apply for KIIP and stage placement
Not found on any official page we could read, so not stated here: a cap on naturalisation comprehensive retakes, the visa points each KIIP stage gives (the Ministry refers to Annex 1 of its operating guideline on Socinet for the detail), and how many CBT seats open each week.
Format last checked: 23 Oct 2026, read in Korean on the official pages, by Prabhakar Jha, ProSyllabus. Not affiliated with the Ministry of Justice or the Korea Immigration and Social Integration Foundation. kiiptest.org is the authority.
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