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KIIP Naturalization Evaluation: Repealed 3-Attempt Limit

When you search while preparing for naturalization, you often run into the explanation that "you can take the naturalization comprehensive evaluation (종합평가) only up to 3 times, and if you fail all 3, your naturalization is denied." This rule was repealed as of January 1, 2023.

The rule on the number of attempts is not in the Nationality Act or its Enforcement Decree, but in a Ministry of Justice administrative rule (예규), the Nationality Affairs Handling Guidelines (국적업무처리지침). This article organizes the attempt and deadline rules for the comprehensive evaluation and the naturalization interview (면접심사) based on the current provisions.

What changed

Comparing the provisions before and after the amendment looks like this.

Category Provision Content
Before amendment Established Rule No. 1287, Article 9(1) (until Dec 31, 2022) Grants 2 additional attempts → 3 total including the first
After amendment Established Rule No. 1311 (effective Jan 1, 2023) Grants additional attempts without limit within 1 year, but no more than once per day

The number "3 total" comes from the "plus 2 attempts" in the pre-amendment provision. The current Nationality Affairs Handling Guidelines (Ministry of Justice Established Rule No. 1378) still keep the provision granting additional attempts without limit.

The comprehensive evaluation and the interview follow different rules

This is the part most people confuse. The two procedures have different attempt rules, yet many explanations mix them up.

Procedure Additional attempts
Comprehensive evaluation May be granted without limit within 1 year (no more than once per day)
Interview Upon failing, may be granted only one additional time

In other words, the "one-attempt limit" is a rule that now remains only for the interview. Applying it to the comprehensive evaluation makes for an incorrect explanation.

One thing to add: the provisions above all say attempts "may be granted" — they are discretionary. They are not framed as a right the applicant is automatically given, so actual practice may vary case by case.

The attempt limit is gone, but the 1-year deadline remains

The current guidelines provide that a denial is issued for a person who does not take the comprehensive evaluation within 1 year from the date of the naturalization application. That said, a person exempted from the comprehensive evaluation under the Enforcement Rule does not fall under this.

What this provision directly governs is the case of not taking the test even once within 1 year. How a case is handled when the person did take the test within 1 year but did not pass cannot be determined from this provision alone, so check with your local immigration office or the Immigration Contact Center (1345).

Scope of exemption for KIIP completers

Article 4 of the Enforcement Rule of the Nationality Act (국적법 시행규칙) provides for exemption from the comprehensive evaluation and exemption from the interview in different paragraphs. That means the scope is not the same.

Exemption Basis KIIP-related eligible persons
Comprehensive evaluation exemption Article 4(1)5 Those who completed the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP, 사회통합프로그램)
Interview exemption Article 4(3)3 Among those under (1)5, those who scored 60 or more on the comprehensive evaluation

There is one point to note here. Completing KIIP can exempt you from the comprehensive evaluation, but to also be exempt from the interview, you must take the comprehensive evaluation and score 60 or more.

Conversely, if you did not complete KIIP and only passed the naturalization comprehensive evaluation, the evaluation pass is recognized, but the interview is not exempted. This distinction is also covered in the KIIP completion benefits guide.

Key summary

Item Content
Comprehensive evaluation additional attempts Grantable without limit within 1 year (once per day)
Interview additional attempts One, upon failing
Deadline 1 year from the naturalization application date (denial if the test is not taken within 1 year)
Passing score 60 or more out of 100
Comprehensive evaluation exemption KIIP completers and others (Enforcement Rule Article 4(1))
Interview exemption KIIP completers who scored 60 or more on the comprehensive evaluation (Article 4(3)3)
Repealed rule The 3-attempt limit total (repealed Jan 1, 2023)

The eligibility conditions and test structure of the comprehensive evaluation are covered in the Comprehensive Evaluation (Permanent Residency / Naturalization) Guide, and the full path up through Level 5 is covered in the Level Placement Criteria and Program Structure.

If you would like to learn the Korean-society and culture vocabulary that appears on the comprehensive evaluation in advance, try using the KIIP Study app.

Sources checked

This article is a guide meant to aid understanding and is not official information. It does not determine whether any individual application is possible or what its outcome will be, and KIIP Study is a learning and test-prep app, not a visa or naturalization application agency. Regulations may change and their application may differ depending on your personal circumstances, so to find out how they apply to you, check with the Immigration Contact Center (1345) or your local immigration office. (Written as of July 2026)