KIIP (Korea Immigration and Integration Program): cost per level, hours, how to register and what it does for PR and naturalisation
Numbers checked against the official source on 2026-10-19
The Korea Immigration & Integration Program (KIIP, 사회통합프로그램) is a Ministry of Justice course that teaches Korean language, Korean society, economy and law in six levels, from Level 0 (15 hours) to Level 5. It is not free from Level 1 up. Since 2025-01-01 a participant pays KRW 100,000 for each of Levels 1 to 4 (100 hours each), KRW 70,000 for the Level 5 basic course (70 hours) and KRW 30,000 for the Level 5 advanced course (30 hours); Level 0 and people in exempt groups pay nothing, and those with a reduction pay half. Finishing the program helps with permanent residence (F-5) and naturalisation. Registration is online only on Socinet (socinet.go.kr).
Read on 2026-10-19 from the Ministry of Justice's Socinet site. The fee notice is dated 2026-08-13; the course pages carry no date and quote 2018 rules, so confirm current details with your immigration office (the Socinet footer lists 1345). Not legal advice.
Levels and hours
| Level | Course | Hours | Assessment at the end | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Basic (Korean) | 15 | None | Free |
| 1 | Beginner 1 (Korean) | 100 | Level 1 assessment | KRW 100,000 |
| 2 | Beginner 2 (Korean) | 100 | Level 2 assessment | KRW 100,000 |
| 3 | Intermediate 1 (Korean) | 100 | Level 3 assessment | KRW 100,000 |
| 4 | Intermediate 2 (Korean) | 100 | Mid-term assessment (KIIP-KLCT, run by the Ministry) | KRW 100,000 |
| 5 basic | Korean society (permanent residence track) | 70 | Permanent-residence comprehensive assessment (KIPRAT) | KRW 70,000 |
| 5 advanced | Korean society (naturalisation track) | 30 | Naturalisation comprehensive assessment (KINAT) | KRW 30,000 |
The advanced course can be taken only after finishing the basic course (or passing the permanent-residence comprehensive assessment). Pass mark for the level, mid-term and comprehensive assessments: 60 out of 100.
Cost and how to pay
- Who pays. Participants in Levels 1 to 5, under Article 48(5) of the Immigration Control Act Enforcement Decree and the ministry's fee notice (Notice No. 2024-434, 2024-09-30). In force from 2025-01-01.
- Free or reduced. Level 0 (15 hours) and exempt groups pay nothing; a reduction group pays 50% of the fee. The reduction applies to people with 100% attendance at that level and well-behaved learners recommended by the instructor. The exempt groups are listed in the notice itself, which we did not read.
- When and how. Online on Socinet after each level ends and before applying for the assessment. A participant who has not paid before the assessment application closes cannot sit the assessment. Socinet's payment guide: MyPage, then the payment button in the status menu, then credit card or bank transfer.
- Everything at the full rate: Levels 1 to 4 = 4 x KRW 100,000 = KRW 400,000, plus KRW 70,000 and KRW 30,000 for Level 5, total KRW 500,000. To reach permanent residence without the advanced course: KRW 470,000. Use the calculator below to change the starting level.
Fee calculator
Choose your starting level (decided by your pre-assessment), your goal and whether you qualify for the 50% reduction. It adds the fees from the table above and the hours; it does not know your exemption status.
Not covered: exempt groups, the reduction rules, assessment dates, textbooks or travel, and any change to the fee notice.
How to register
- Open a Socinet account (socinet.go.kr, member sign-up) and apply to the program. Application is online only, open to any immigrant or citizen who wants to take part.
- Get a level. Take the pre-assessment at the place your immigration office sets (55 questions: 50 written in 60 minutes and 5 oral in 10 minutes). Exempt from it: people who want to start at Level 0, valid TOPIK holders, people who passed the mid-term assessment through a linked course, and some marriage migrants who proved Korean ability for their visa. After you are placed, you must start the level's classes within 2 years.
- Apply for a class at a designated operating institution in your area of residence through MyPage. Another area needs permission from the immigration office.
- Attend and pass. A pause application is needed within 15 days if you cannot attend for 30 days or more (for birth, treatment or housework). Absence without cause for 30 days or more removes you from the program and cancels the credit for that level.
How KIIP helps with visas and nationality
- Naturalisation. Since 2018-03-01 the written test for naturalisation was replaced by the naturalisation comprehensive assessment (KINAT). Socinet says completing the whole Level 5 course and passing the assessment lets you skip the naturalisation interview, and shortens the nationality-review waiting period. Naturalisation applicants who did not complete the course can sit the assessment up to 3 times within 1 year of applying; passing counts as passing the test but does not exempt the interview.
- Permanent residence (F-5). From 2018-09-21 an applicant must complete the program or pass the comprehensive assessment (Immigration Control Act Enforcement Rules Article 18-3). Some groups are exempt or eased under the Ministry of Justice notice of 2018-09-28 (not read). Completion also exempts proof of Korean ability and the field investigation. A person who scores 85 or more in the pre-assessment can take the permanent-residence assessment without class, but this does not count as completion.
- Other residence statuses and visas. Socinet lists "bonus points" and an exemption from proving Korean ability for other residence statuses, and an exemption from proving Korean ability for visa applications. It does not name F-2 or the F-2 points system, so check the points rules with the immigration office.
Where the pages differ
| Item | Page A | Page B | What we show |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of the Level 5 basic course | Course table and 2026 fee notice: 70 hours | Permanent-residence notice page: "5단계 기본과정(50시간)" | 70 hours: two pages agree, one is older. |
| Cost | Course pages: no fee mentioned | Fee notice dated 2026-08-13, in force since 2025-01-01: KRW 100,000 etc. | The dated notice is the headline. |
Related: Alien registration card, TOPIK fees and immigration fees. This is a summary, not legal advice.
Checked 2026-10-19.
Official sources
- Socinet (Ministry of Justice) — Notice: participant education fees — fee per level, free Level 0, 50% reduction, payment timing; dated 2026-08-13; in force 2025-01-01 (checked 2026-10-19)
- Socinet — Notice: how to pay the education fee — MyPage, credit card or bank transfer (checked 2026-10-19)
- Socinet — Courses and hours — Levels 0 to 5 and hours; undated (checked 2026-10-19)
- Socinet — Introduction and completion benefits — KIIP defined; benefits for naturalisation, permanent residence, other statuses and visas; undated (checked 2026-10-19)
- Socinet — How to apply — online only; apply to the institution in your residence area; pause and absence rules; undated (checked 2026-10-19)
- Socinet — Assessments — pre-assessment, level assessments, mid-term, comprehensive assessments; pass mark 60; undated (checked 2026-10-19)
- Socinet — Permanent residence and naturalisation guide — rules from 2018-09-21 for permanent residence and from 2018-03-01 for naturalisation; undated (checked 2026-10-19)
Prices change. If an official page shows a different number from this page, the official page wins — and please tell us so we can fix it.