KIIP Comprehensive Evaluation Guide: Permanent Residency vs. Naturalization Eligibility and the Interview Exemption
The final gateway of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP, 사회통합프로그램) is the comprehensive evaluation (종합평가). You take it after finishing the Level 5 Understanding Korean Society course, and depending on which course you have completed, you can meet the requirements needed to apply for permanent residency or naturalization.
The comprehensive evaluation comes in two types depending on your purpose: the permanent-residency comprehensive evaluation for permanent residency status (F-5), and the naturalization comprehensive evaluation for naturalization. The names are similar, but the eligibility requirements, the way the test is run, and the benefits you receive after passing are all different.
What is different between the permanent-residency and naturalization versions
Both evaluations share the requirement that you must finish the Level 5 course to take them, but they differ in the detailed requirements.
| Item | Permanent-residency comprehensive evaluation | Naturalization comprehensive evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Basic knowledge requirement for permanent residency (F-5) | Naturalization requirement |
| Eligibility | Completion of the Level 5 basic course (70 hours) | Completion of the full Level 5 course (basic + advanced) |
| Test format | PBT (paper-based) only | CBT available any time |
| Passing criteria | 60 points or more out of 100 | 60 points or more out of 100 |
| Upon passing | Recognized as meeting the permanent-residency basic knowledge requirement | Meets the naturalization requirement (interview exempted depending on conditions) |
Both evaluations combine a written and an oral part for a total of 45 questions, 70 minutes, and a maximum of 100 points. The test fee is KRW 38,000 per evaluation session.
Permanent-residency comprehensive evaluation
This is the evaluation for those preparing for permanent residency status (F-5).
Eligibility
You can take it if you meet one of the following.
- Those who completed the Level 5 basic course (Understanding Korean Society Basic, 70 hours)
- Those who scored 85 points or more on the pre-evaluation (however, you must take the test within 2 years from the date you scored it)
Sitting the test directly on a pre-evaluation score of 85 or more is a route that takes you straight to the comprehensive evaluation without going through the Level 5 course. But once you pass this time limit, the direct-entry eligibility is gone, so watch the timing carefully.
Test structure
You solve a total of 45 questions over 70 minutes.
- Written 40 questions / 60 min: composed of multiple choice and essay
- Oral 5 questions / 10 min
The detailed point allocation may be marked differently for each evaluation, so check the exact allocation in the kiiptest.org Comprehensive Evaluation Guide.
Passing and benefits
You pass with 60 points or more out of 100 (rounded down at decimals). If you complete the Level 5 basic course and pass, you are recognized as meeting the permanent-residency basic knowledge requirement. In this case, when applying for permanent residency you do not have to separately prove your Korean-language ability through something like the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK).
The permanent-residency comprehensive evaluation is offered only as a PBT (paper-based) test. Unlike the pre-evaluation or the naturalization comprehensive evaluation, you cannot take it any time by CBT, so you have to apply in line with the regular test schedule.
Naturalization comprehensive evaluation
This is the evaluation for those preparing for naturalization.
Eligibility
You can take it if you meet one of the following.
- Those who completed the full Level 5 course (basic 70 hours + advanced 30 hours)
- Those who applied for naturalization approval on or after March 1, 2018 (unless exempt, you must take the test within 1 year from the naturalization application date)
If you plan to meet the requirements with this evaluation after applying for naturalization approval, keep in mind that you have a 1-year window to take the test.
Test structure and passing
The test structure is the same as the permanent-residency version: 45 questions in total, 70 minutes, and a maximum of 100 points, with a pass at 60 points or more. The naturalization version can be taken any time by CBT, so you do not have to wait for the regular schedule.
Who gets the naturalization interview exemption
One point many people find confusing is the naturalization interview exemption. It is easy to assume that simply passing the comprehensive evaluation exempts you from the interview, but whether you are exempt depends on whether you completed the KIIP course.
| Situation | Written test (naturalization aptitude test) | Interview |
|---|---|---|
| Completed the full Level 5 course + passed the naturalization comprehensive evaluation | Exempt | Exempt |
| Passed only the naturalization comprehensive evaluation without completing KIIP | Exempt | Must take separately |
In other words, to be exempt even from the interview, you must formally complete the full Level 5 course and then pass. If you pass only the evaluation without attending regular classes, the basic knowledge requirement and the written-test substitution are recognized, but you must take the interview separately.
Result announcement and test fee
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Test fee | KRW 38,000 per evaluation session |
| PBT result announcement | 6 days after the test date |
| CBT result announcement | 2 business days after |
What to study
The comprehensive evaluation has three officially designated question areas: understanding of the Korean language, Korean culture, and Korean society. Within understanding of Korean society, the topics mainly covered include society, culture, politics, economy, law, history, and geography. Think of it as a test that broadly checks the basic knowledge you need for life in Korea.
Key summary
- The comprehensive evaluation comes in two types, permanent-residency and naturalization, and you take it after finishing the Level 5 course.
- The permanent-residency version is taken by completing the basic course (70 hours) or with a pre-evaluation score of 85 points (within 2 years), and is run only as PBT.
- The naturalization version is for those who completed the full Level 5 course or for naturalization applicants (taking the test within 1 year), and CBT is available any time.
- Both evaluations pass with 60 points or more.
- The naturalization interview exemption applies only to those who completed the full Level 5 course and passed.
The benefits and costs you can receive from completing KIIP are covered in detail in the KIIP Completion Benefits and Costs Guide, and the mid-level evaluation — the gateway before entering Level 5 — is covered in detail in the Mid-level Evaluation (KIIP-KLCT) Guide.
If you would like to learn the vocabulary and expressions that frequently appear on the test just 5 minutes a day, try using the KIIP Study app.
This article is a guide meant to aid understanding and is not official information. Regulations may change, so check the latest details on the Social Integration Information Network (socinet.go.kr) and the evaluation website (kiiptest.org). (Written as of July 2026)