KIIP

Overview

KIIP is the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (사회통합프로그램), run by the Ministry of Justice. It is a staged programme that teaches immigrants Korean language, Korean society and basic knowledge of economy and law, and it includes assessments at several points. Completing it gives practical benefits for residence status, permanent residence and naturalisation. Everything is managed through the Ministry's Social Integration Information Network, Soci-Net.

Who can apply

Immigrants and Korean citizens can join on a voluntary basis. Applications are made only online on Soci-Net, and you apply to a participating operating institution in the area where you live. Moving to another area first requires you to report the move and apply again to an institution in the new area.

Levels or stages

The advanced course can be taken only after finishing the basic course, or after passing the permanent residence comprehensive test.

Exam pattern

Pre-assessment. This sets the stage you start at. It has 55 questions, made up of a written part of 50 questions (48 multiple choice and 2 short answer) and an oral part of 5 questions. People who want to begin at stage 0 do not need to take it. Holders of a valid TOPIK grade, people who passed the mid-term test through a linked course, and some marriage migrants are also exempt.

Stage tests (stages 1 to 3). Run by the operating institution after each course. They have 25 questions (20 written and 5 oral). The pass mark is 60 out of 100.

Mid-term test. Run by the Ministry for people who finish stage 4. It has 35 questions (30 written, of which 2 are writing items, and 5 oral). The pass mark is 60 out of 100.

Comprehensive test. Run by the Ministry in two forms, one for permanent residence (KIPRAT) and one for naturalisation (KINAT). It checks Korean ability and understanding of Korean society together, with a written part and a five-question oral part. The pass mark is 60 out of 100.

Marking and results

Results are shown only in your own Soci-Net account, with no individual notice sent. Someone who fails a stage test repeats that stage to move on. Someone who fails the mid-term test can retake it or repeat stage 4.

Important dates

For 2026, the Soci-Net main page listed the 7th pre-assessment on 31 October 2026 (applications 13 to 17 October), the 4th mid-term test on 19 December 2026 (applications 7 to 9 December), and the 7th permanent residence and naturalisation comprehensive tests on 17 October 2026 (applications 29 September to 3 October). Check the assessment schedule on Soci-Net for later rounds.

How to apply

Create a Soci-Net account, apply for the programme, take the pre-assessment to be placed at a stage, then enrol in a course at an operating institution and apply separately for each assessment during its window. Participants pay an education fee, and Soci-Net publishes notices on the fee and how to pay it.

After the exam

The benefits depend on how much you complete.

• Naturalisation: the written naturalisation test is replaced by the KIIP naturalisation comprehensive test. People who finish the full stage 5 course and pass the test are exempt from the naturalisation interview. Someone who applies for naturalisation without finishing the course takes the test as an applicant, with up to three attempts within a year of applying. Passing that way is recorded as a pass but not as completion, and the interview is not waived.

• Permanent residence: since September 2018 an applicant must either finish the programme or pass the comprehensive test, with some groups exempt or eased. Finishing also waives the Korean ability proof and the residence survey. The Soci-Net guide says a pre-assessment score of 85 or more allows you to go straight to the permanent residence comprehensive test, although that route is recorded as a pass but not as programme completion.

• Other visas and residence status: Korean ability proof can be waived, and extra points can be awarded in some applications.

Preparation tips

• Take the pre-assessment seriously, since your score decides the stage you start at and the number of hours you must complete.

• Do not miss classes. Soci-Net states that more than 30 days of unexcused absence leads to removal and cancels the credits earned in that stage.

• Keep your account details safe, as results and applications are all handled in your Soci-Net account.