Mitra KoreaE-7-4 Korean 50 points, grace period until December 31, 2026: Two ways to start now for your 2027 application (TOPIK Level 2 ยท KIIP Level 2) and a month-by-month plan
For E-7-4, you need at least 50 points in the Korean language item. Until the end of 2026 there is a temporary grace period, but there is no announcement that it will continue in 2027. If you start TOPIK Level 2 or the Korea Immigration and Integration Program Level 2 now, you can be ready for the 2027 application.
Quick summary
- In the E-7-4 points table, you need at least 50 points in Korean (you also need at least 50 points in average income). Even if your total is over 200 points, you cannot have 0 points in Korean.
- Until December 31, 2026, there is a temporary grace period. If you had 150 points or more without Korean, you could apply on the condition: "meet the requirement by your first extension."
- There is no announcement that the grace period will continue in 2027. The 2027 selection plan usually comes out in February or March. If there is no grace period then, people with no Korean score cannot apply at all.
- There are two ways to get 50 points. โ TOPIK I Level 2 โก Complete Level 2 of the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (์ฌํํตํฉํ๋ก๊ทธ๋จ, KIIP). For both, if you start now, you can finish within the first half of 2027.
- Missing the application date is a bigger risk than the studying itself. Look at the calendar below in this guide and choose one thing to do today.
Who is this for?
- You have worked on E-9 for almost 4 years and plan to apply for E-7-4 in 2027
- The 2026 quota was full so you could not apply, and you are preparing for 2027 (If the quota is full)
- You have 0 points in Korean and planned to apply with the grace period
- You can get your employer's recommendation, and only Korean is left
Comparing the two ways
| TOPIK I Level 2 | Completing KIIP Level 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| What | One test (listening 30 questions ยท reading 40 questions, 100 minutes) | Take classes and pass the level test (Level 0: 15 hours ยท Level 1: 100 hours ยท Level 2: 100 hours; you can skip levels with the pre-assessment test) |
| Pass score | 140 or more out of 200 | Pass the level test (60 points or more) |
| Cost | Test fee about 40,000 ์ (check each year) | Free (textbook costs extra) |
| Time | 2โ3 months of focused study before the test date | 1โ2 terms after the pre-assessment test (weekend ยท evening classes) |
| Good points | Fast, clear dates | Free, has classes so it suits people who cannot study alone, also gives extra points for E-7-4 |
| Bad points | Few test dates, hard to register (many people apply) | Wait for class placement, need 80% attendance |
| Best for | You can study alone, reading is OK | You can speak but are weak at tests, there is a program center near your company |
You can do both. If you take the pre-assessment test first, you will know your level. Many people take KIIP classes and take TOPIK at the same time. For a detailed comparison, see Korean test guide โ EPS-TOPIK and TOPIK and Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP).
Steps: Calendar until the 2027 application
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Now (November) | โ On socinet.go.kr, apply for the KIIP pre-assessment test (check the session) โก On topik.go.kr, check the 2027 TOPIK schedule (the yearly schedule is usually announced in January) โข Send your employer a text to check: "Can you recommend me for E-7-4 next year?" |
| December | Take the pre-assessment test โ get your level. If you are placed at Level 2 or below, register for Level 1โ2 classes. Buy one TOPIK textbook |
| January | TOPIK yearly schedule is announced โ register for the earliest test (many people apply on the morning registration opens, so set an alarm). Wait for the 2027 E-7-4 selection plan (ํ์ด์ฝ๋ฆฌ์ (HiKorea, the immigration website) notices) |
| FebruaryโMarch | Check the 2027 selection plan: is there a grace period, any changes to the points table, the quota. If the Korean requirement stays the same, getting your TOPIK/KIIP result is the top priority |
| MarchโMay | Take TOPIK (results come out about one month after the test) or take the KIIP Level 2 test |
| As soon as you get your result | Apply with your employer's recommendation letter and income documents (before the quota runs out) |
What you need
- ์ธ๊ตญ์ธ๋ฑ๋ก์ฆ (Alien Registration Card), passport
- KIIP: socinet sign-up (registration number), pre-assessment test fee (free or small fee, check the notice)
- TOPIK: registration account, test fee, photo
- Your work schedule (so it does not clash with class and test dates; tell your employer in advance)
Be careful
- Do not wait because of the grace period. The 2026 grace period meant "meet the requirement by your first extension." It did not mean you were free from it. Even after changing visas, you still had to meet the Korean requirement. In 2027, there may be no grace period.
- TOPIK I Level 2 is 140 points. Level 1 (80 points) is not enough. Study for Level 2.
- Being placed at Level 2 by your KIIP pre-assessment score is not "completing" it. You complete it only after you take Level 2 classes and pass the level test. If the pre-assessment test places you at Level 3 or higher, Level 2 counts as completed.
- The points table can change every year. When the 2027 selection plan comes out, check the Korean point ranges (points for each TOPIK level) again. The numbers in this guide are based on 2026.
- This is separate from the quota. Even if you meet the Korean requirement, you cannot apply if the quota is full. Apply as soon as applications open.
Frequently asked questions
Q. I speak Korean well, but I cannot read well. Which way is right for me? A. KIIP. The pre-assessment test has a speaking test, and you learn reading in class. TOPIK I has only listening and reading, so if you cannot read well, 140 points is hard.
Q. There is no KIIP program center near my company. A. If you search on socinet based on where you live, you will see centers with weekend classes or online classes. If there are none, choose TOPIK. Also see Finding free Korean classes.
Q. If I have a Korean score, do I also get extra points for E-7-4? A. In the 2026 points table, Korean is a basic item (minimum 50 points), and the higher your level, the more points you get. With TOPIK Level 3 or higher, you get more than 50 points. Check the selection plan points table for the exact ranges.
Q. I need a day off for the test, but my employer says no. A. You can use ์ฐ์ฐจ (paid annual leave). As a rule, the worker chooses the date of annual leave. See How many days of annual leave do I get?. Ask by text one month before.
Where to get help
| Organization | Contact | What they help with |
|---|---|---|
| ์ฌํํตํฉ์ ๋ณด๋ง (Socinet, the social integration information website) | socinet.go.kr / 1345 | KIIP pre-assessment test ยท program centers ยท level information |
| TOPIK | topik.go.kr | Test schedule ยท registration ยท results |
| ํ์ด์ฝ๋ฆฌ์ | hikorea.go.kr / 1345 | 2027 E-7-4 selection plan notices |
| E-7-4 points calculator | /ne/tools/e74 | Check your points |