Since July 1, 2019, the moment your TOPIK score reaches its 2-year mark, the TOPIK system blocks both the score lookup and the certificate. You cannot retrieve the score, and you cannot print a new certificate. The only path to a fresh, system-issued certificate is retaking TOPIK.
This is not a courtesy expiry where some offices might still accept an old result. The certificate stops existing in any retrievable form once the window closes.
Save a PDF copy the day your results are announced. It costs nothing, takes a few minutes, and it is the only way to protect yourself from the hard cutoff.
How to Get Your Certificate
The score certificate (성적증명서) is printed or saved as a PDF directly from topik.go.kr. Under the TOPIK Basic Operating Regulation (한국어능력시험 기본운영 규정) Article 12, the certificate is issued through the website and is not sent by post, fax, or email. The regulation carries one exception: for overseas testing, the local administering institution can ask for one copy per candidate to be sent in bulk and handed out locally.
To get your certificate:
- Go to topik.go.kr.
- To check a result, open the score check (성적확인) page and enter the exam type, your exam number, the test round, and your date of birth.
- To get the certificate itself, open the certificate menu: [성적증명서 발급] then [성적증명서 신청].
- Print the certificate or save it as a PDF.
The process is on-demand and available at any time during your 2-year validity window.
Lost Certificates
There is no lost-certificate application, no fee, and no waiting period on the TOPIK side.
Because there is no physical original, a lost certificate simply means returning to topik.go.kr and printing again. This works as long as you are still inside your 2-year validity window.
The 2-Year Validity Window
Under the TOPIK Basic Operating Regulation (한국어능력시험 기본운영 규정) Article 11(3), a TOPIK score is valid for 2 years from the score-announcement date (성적발표일).
The clock starts on the date NIIED published your results, not the date you took the test.
Reprints inside the window: The government notice announcing the 2019 change confirms that reprinting is free and has no limit on the number of copies during the validity period. Print as many times as you need.
A note on older information: Before July 1, 2019, certificates could reportedly still be issued after the 2-year period. The July 1, 2019 policy change ended that. Some older forum posts and guides reflect the old system; they are no longer accurate.
What Happens When the Certificate Expires?
Once the 2-year window closes, the TOPIK system blocks both score lookup and certificate issuance for that result. This applies to all results since the July 1, 2019 policy change.
You cannot:
- Look up the score on topik.go.kr
- Print or save a certificate for that result
- Obtain a system-issued certificate for that result
A TOPIK Level 5 you earned five years ago is still a real credential; you did earn it. What expires is your ability to produce a system-issued certificate proving it. If a receiving office asks for a certificate, you cannot supply one after the window closes.
The only option is to retake TOPIK.
Practical steps when the clock is running short
Save a PDF copy of your certificate immediately when your results are announced. Do not wait until you need it for an application.
If you are already mid-application and the 2-year window is approaching, consider:
- Submitting your application well before the expiry date, so the review can complete inside the window.
- Planning a TOPIK retake in advance, so a fresh certificate is available if the receiving office requests one.
- Asking the receiving office directly whether it treats the certificate requirement as satisfied once it receives and records your document, or whether it re-checks validity at a later stage.
There is no universal official answer on that last point. Policies differ by office and by visa or admission category. Ask the specific office.
Two Layers of Validity: TOPIK and the Receiving Office
TOPIK's 2-year window governs one thing only: whether a certificate can exist at all, meaning whether the score can be looked up and the certificate printed. It does not tell you what any particular office will accept on the day you file.
That second question belongs to the receiving office, and its answer lives in that office's own current document checklist, not in the TOPIK regulation. Because reprinting is free and unlimited, this is straightforward to handle: check the checklist before submitting, and print a fresh copy right before you go.
Submitting to Immigration or a University
Immigration (HiKorea)
TOPIK certificates are accepted as proof of Korean language ability for certain visa routes. For the Overseas Korean (F-4) visa, TOPIK Level 1 or above is one of the accepted Korean-language proof documents, and applicants who submit that proof receive a multiple-entry visa with a 2-year residence period rather than one year or less. For how TOPIK feeds the F-2-7 points system and the F-5 rules, see TOPIK for F-2 and F-5 Visa Points.
When submitting to immigration, print a fresh copy of your certificate from topik.go.kr. Check the specific visa category's document checklist on HiKorea before submitting.
Universities
Universities receive the PDF you download from topik.go.kr. There is no direct transfer between topik.go.kr and a university, so submission runs through whatever process the individual school sets.
One example from a Korean university's international student office describes the practical flow as: download the certificate as a PDF from topik.go.kr, rename it according to the portal's file-naming convention, and upload it through the university's system. Each institution sets its own naming and upload rules, so check the specific school's guidelines.
The same office notes that certificates with expired validity periods cannot be submitted. This follows directly from TOPIK's rule: if the 2-year window has closed, no certificate can be printed in the first place.
Using a Certificate Outside Korea
Korea participates in the Hague Apostille Convention. For countries that are also Hague members, a Korean-issued public document can be authenticated with an apostille (아포스티유), which those countries accept without additional consular steps.
For countries that are not Hague members, the authentication route is consular legalization (영사확인) instead. Inside Korea, apostille and consular legalization services for Korean public documents are provided at the Overseas Koreans Agency (재외동포청) integrated service center (통합민원실) in Seoul.
Whether a TOPIK score certificate qualifies for apostille processing is not confirmed by a primary source found at the time of writing. Before starting an apostille or legalization request for your TOPIK certificate, confirm the current process and eligibility directly with the Overseas Koreans Agency (재외동포청) integrated service center (통합민원실) or the relevant Korean embassy or consulate.
One fact applies regardless of authentication route: the certificate must be printed while the score is still inside its 2-year validity window. After that window closes, no fresh certificate can be generated for authentication.
Certificate Authenticity Verification
TOPIK provides a certificate authenticity verification page (성적증명서 진위확인) at topik.go.kr. A receiving institution enters the document confirmation number (문서확인번호) printed on your certificate, plus its own institution name, contact person, and phone number. The page notes that the document confirmation number appears only on certificates printed online.
If a receiving office asks how to check your certificate, point them to this page.
KIIP as an Alternative
KIIP (Korea Immigration and Integration Program, 사회통합프로그램) is the other route to proving Korean ability for immigration purposes, and it runs on a different set of rules from TOPIK's 2-year certificate window. For anyone who repeatedly needs proof of Korean language ability across multiple visa applications or renewals, it is worth comparing the two before committing to either.
For details on when KIIP counts for visa points and how it compares to TOPIK, see TOPIK for F-2 and F-5 Visa Points. For a side-by-side comparison of TOPIK, KIIP, and EPS-TOPIK, see Korean Language Exams Compared.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my TOPIK score certificate?
On topik.go.kr, the score check (성적확인) page looks up your result: choose the exam type, then enter your exam number, the test round, and your date of birth. The certificate itself is issued through the site's certificate menu, [성적증명서 발급] then [성적증명서 신청], and you print it or save it as a PDF. There is no separate paper application; the process is self-service.
What happens if I lose my TOPIK certificate?
A lost certificate is not a problem if you are still inside the 2-year validity window. Go back to topik.go.kr and print a new copy. There is no lost-certificate fee or waiting period.
How long is a TOPIK certificate valid?
The validity period (유효기간) is 2 years from the score-announcement date (성적발표일), under the TOPIK Basic Operating Regulation (한국어능력시험 기본운영 규정) Article 11(3). The clock starts on the date NIIED published your results, not the date you took the test.
What happens after my TOPIK certificate expires?
Since July 1, 2019, the system blocks both score lookup and certificate reissuance once the 2-year window closes. You cannot print a certificate for an expired score, and the score itself cannot be retrieved from topik.go.kr. The only path to a new, system-issued certificate is retaking TOPIK.
Can I get my TOPIK certificate by mail?
No. The TOPIK Basic Operating Regulation Article 12 states the certificate is issued through the website and is not sent by post, fax, or email. The one exception written into the regulation is that an overseas administering institution can request one copy per candidate to hand out locally. Otherwise you print or download it yourself from topik.go.kr.
My visa application may take longer than 2 years. What should I do?
Print and save a PDF copy of your certificate as soon as your results are announced. If your application timeline may reach the 2-year mark, plan a TOPIK retake so a fresh certificate is available if the receiving office requests one. Ask the specific immigration office directly whether it treats the certificate requirement as satisfied once it has received and recorded your document.
Does a receiving office have its own rules about how recently the certificate was printed?
TOPIK's 2-year window governs whether a certificate can be printed at all. It does not tell you what a particular office will accept on the day you file. Check the specific office's current document checklist before submitting, and since reprinting is free and unlimited, print a fresh copy right before you submit.
How does an immigration officer or university verify my certificate is genuine?
TOPIK provides a certificate authenticity verification page (성적증명서 진위확인) at topik.go.kr. The receiving institution enters the document confirmation number (문서확인번호) printed on your certificate, along with its own institution name, contact person, and phone number. The page notes that the document confirmation number appears only on certificates printed online.
Is KIIP a better choice if my TOPIK score keeps expiring?
KIIP runs on a different set of rules from TOPIK's 2-year certificate window, so it is worth comparing the two if you keep needing to prove Korean ability across multiple applications. For details on when KIIP counts for visa points instead of TOPIK, see TOPIK for F-2 and F-5 Visa Points.