If you live in Korea long-term, sooner or later someone will tell you to "do KIIP". KIIP — the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (사회통합프로그램) — is the Ministry of Justice's official course for immigrants. The classes are free, it counts for citizenship and permanent residency, and since 2026 it also matters for overseas Koreans on the F-4 visa.
Who can join
Foreigners who are legally staying in Korea — marriage migrants, workers, students and others — and people who want to become Korean citizens. More than 90,000 people took part in 2025.
Stages and hours
| Stage | Course | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Basics (Hangul) | 15 |
| 1 | Beginner 1 | 100 |
| 2 | Beginner 2 | 100 |
| 3 | Intermediate 1 | 100 |
| 4 | Intermediate 2 | 100 |
| 5 | Understanding Korean Society | 70 basic + 30 advanced |
Stage 5 is 70 hours for permanent residency and 100 hours for citizenship (basic + advanced). From stage 0 to the end it is 515 hours — but most people skip stages with the placement test.
Step 1: the placement test (사전평가)
The placement test decides your starting stage. It has a written part (50 questions, 60 minutes, 75 points) and a speaking part (5 questions, 10 minutes, 25 points).
| Score | Starting stage |
|---|---|
| 0–2 | 0 |
| 3–20 | 1 |
| 21–40 | 2 |
| 41–60 | 3 |
| 61–80 | 4 |
| 81–100 | 5 |
The result is valid for two years. The fee is 38,000 won — the same for the placement, mid-term and final assessments. There are paper and computer versions; the computer test (CBT) runs regularly in Seoul, Gwangmyeong and Daejeon.
How to apply
- Sign up at socinet.go.kr (the Social Integration Information Network).
- Choose the placement test under "단계배정" (stage assignment).
- Register and pay on kiiptest.org, the assessment site.
- After your result, pick a class at an operating institution near you — daytime, evening or weekend. Classes are free; you buy the textbook.
- Finish each stage and take its assessment.
The final assessment (종합평가)
At the end there are two final assessments — one for permanent residency and one for citizenship. Both have 36 multiple-choice and 4 writing questions (60 minutes) plus 5 speaking questions (10 minutes). 60 out of 100 is a pass.
What KIIP gives you
- - Citizenship: since March 2018 the naturalization written test is the KIIP naturalization assessment. If you complete KIIP and score 60+ on the final assessment, the naturalization interview is waived.
- - Permanent residency (F-5): completing stage 5 or passing the permanent-residency assessment meets the basic knowledge requirement.
- - E-7-4 skilled worker visa: TOPIK level 2, KIIP stage 2, or a placement score that puts you in stage 3 (41+) is required, and higher stages earn more Korean-language points.
- - F-2-R regional visa: KIIP stage 4 or TOPIK level 4.
- - Overseas Koreans (F-4): since 12 February 2026, proving your Korean (KIIP stage 1, TOPIK level 1 and so on) gives up to 3 years of stay, and being enrolled in KIIP gives 2 years.
⚠️ Passing the tests is not the same as completing the course. If you pass an assessment without taking the classes, you don't get completion benefits such as the interview waiver.
KIIP or TOPIK?
KIIP is for your life and status inside Korea. TOPIK is the certificate universities and employers ask for. Many people end up doing both — see TOPIK vs KIIP vs EPS-TOPIK.
Prepare for the placement test
The better your Korean before the placement test, the more stages you skip. TOPIKly has 62,000 questions, including the KIIP textbook units — practice for free.
Sources: Ministry of Justice — KIIP · KIIP assessments (kiiptest.org) · Social Integration Information Network · Ministry of Justice notices (F-2-R, February 2025; F-4, February 2026; E-7-4, June 2026).