Visa requirements for North Korean citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of North Korea by the authorities of other states.
As of 2026, North Korean citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 35 countries and territories, ranking the North Korea passport 96th in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.
Visa requirements map
Visa requirements Country Visa requirement Allowed stay Notes (excluding departure fees) 30 days Visa is not required in case born in Afghanistan or can proof that one of their parents is a national of Afghanistan or born in Afghanistan. e-Visa : Visitors must arrive at Kabul International (KBL). 90 days Visa is not required for Holders of a valid multiple-entry Schengen, UK or US visa has been previously used once or residence permit of Ireland, Schengen, UK, US or UAE 10 years. North Koreans with a visa or residency issued by Canada, USA, United Kingdom or a Schengen Member State can obtain a visa upon arrival that costs USD100 for a maximum of 30 days. 120 days May apply online (Online Visitor e600 visa). 30 days Bearers of valid visas issued by a Schengen Member State are visa exempt for a maximum stay of 90 days. Visa is not required for holders of a valid multiple-entry visa or permanent residence of Canada, Schengen or US. 30 days Must have an international vaccination certificate. Visa fee is USD 40 per person and visa application may be processed within 5 business days with duration of stay of 90 days. e-Visa applicant is also subject to pay Sustainable Development Fee 30 days visa free for holders of a valid multiple-entry visa issued by US, Ireland or a Schengen Member State. 3 months 1 month 30 days US permanent resident card (Green card) holders can enter visa free 45 days Visa on arrival at Sal, Boa Vista, São Vicente or Santiago international airports. Requirement to register online 5 days before arrival Also pay the airport security fee of CVE 3400 either online or on arrival. Visa is not required for passports endorsed for public affairs or for official trip. 45 days 7 days 3 months e-Visa holders must arrive via Port Bouet Airport. 90 days Can be extended up to 90 days with a fee. 90 days 21 days Credit card payment transactions are not accepted when applying for e-Visa. 90 days e-Visa holders must arrive via Libreville International Airport. 30 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 3 months North Korean citizens are subject to the calling visa category, a designation applied to nationals considered to have specific vulnerabilities or risks related to ideology, politics, economy, society, culture, security, or immigration. Prior approval from the Directorate General of Immigration in Jakarta is required before applying for a visa. In addition to holding a visa, travelers must obtain a reference letter from the Directorate General of Immigration and present the invitation letter submitted with their visa application before traveling to Indonesia. 30 days Arriving at Kish (KIH) or Qeshm (GSM) do not need a visa for a maximum of 14 days. Can obtain a visa on arrival at Mashhad International Airport (MHD), Tehran International Airport (IKA), Tabriz International Airport (TBZ), Esfahan International Airport (IFN) and Bandar Abbas International Airport (BND) for a maximum of 30 days. Passengers who have already made an application, at least two days before arrival, at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affair's e-Visa website and present the submission notification at the airport's visa desk may obtain a visa on arrival. 30 days May apply online Kurdistan region. Confirmation from Israeli Foreign Ministry is required before a visa is issued. North Koreans with a cruise reservation confirmation are visa exempted for a maximum stay of 72 hours. Japan has banned North Korean citizens from entering as part of sanctions against North Korea imposed by the Government of Japan, since February 2016. Visa can be obtained upon arrival, it will cost a total of 40 JOD, obtainable at most international ports of entry and land border crossings. (except King Hussein/Allenby Bridge) 90 days Nationals of either Koreas seeking to visit the other must submit the North/South Korea visitation verification certificate and the Departure card to the Immigration Officer at the immigration port and go through immigration inspection. Also, nationals of North Korea must seek governmental authorization before departure. Unlimited 30 days In addition to a visa, an approval should be obtained from the Immigration department of the General Directorate of General Security (Sûreté Générale). If there is a Liberian embassy in the country, you are required to apply for your visa directly at the embassy and not through the portal. 60 days 90 days 30 days 30 days Available at Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport. 30 days Citizens holding a residence permit or a valid visa issued by one of the member states of the European Union or one of the parties to the Schengen Agreement can apply for an electronic visa. Mongolian government will hand over North Korean defectors to the South Korean embassy in Mongolia for "repatriation" to South Korea on the grounds of illegal entry. May apply for an e-Visa if holding a valid visa or a residency document issued by one of the following countries: Schengen Area, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States a residency document issued by Cyprus, Japan, United Arab Emirates. 30 days 28 days e-Visa holders must arrive via Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw or Mandalay airports or via land border crossings with Thailand — Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung or India — Rih Khaw Dar and Tamu. e-Visa available for both tourism (allowed stay is 28 days) or business (allowed stay is 70 days) purposes. 90 days Holders of an Australian Permanent Resident Visa or Resident Return Visa may be granted a New Zealand Resident Visa on arrival permitting indefinite stay (pursuant to the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement), subject to meeting character requirements and obtaining an Electronic Travel Authority prior to departure. 90 days 90 days Holders of a GCC state resident permit can get a 28 days visa on arrival that costs 5 Omani Riyals. 3 months Online Visa eligible. 30 days 60 days Residents of the United Arab Emirates may obtain an eVisa through the official Philippine eVisa website. A valid Emirati residence visa must be shown upon an eVisa application. Visitors may apply for a visa on the Hayya website. 30 days 30 days 3 months 90 days 3 months 3 months Pre-arranged visa can be picked up on arrival. 30 days Obtainable online. Printed visa authorization must be presented at the time of travel. 90 days 90 days 60 days North Korean defectors can enter Thailand without identification and they can travel to South Korea from there. 30 days 15 days Visa can be obtained on arrival by holders of a valid physical visa or residence permit from Schengen or OECD countries. 1 month 3 months May apply using 'Smart service'. 30 days Introduction of Electronic Visa System for Tourist and Business Travelers. e-Visa is valid for 90 days and multiple entry.
Territories Visa requirements for citizens for visits to various territories, disputed areas and restricted zones:
Visitor to Visa requirement Notes (excluding departure fees) Europe Visa not required for holders of a valid biometric residence permit issued by one of the Schengen member states or a valid multi-entry Schengen Visa, a holder of a valid Laissez-Passer issued by United Nations Organizations, NATO, OSCE, Council of Europe or European Union a holder of a valid travel documents issued by EU Member and Schengen States, United States of America, Canada, Australia and Japan based on the 1951 Convention on Refugee Status or the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons, as well as holders of valid travel documents for foreigners (max. 15 days stay)
Foreign travel statistics These are the numbers of visits by North Korean citizens to various countries: Country 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 555,028 250,654 229,467 209,521 188,337 184,400 206,617 https://msmt.info/view/save/2026/09/16/1c62aba4-000e-4079-90fb-971b7fd7ad2e-The_DPRK_Use_of_Overseas_Labour_to_Violate_and_Evade_UN_Sanctions.pdf 12,494 4975 11,286 12,075 20,893 23,902 23,604 22,071 18,901 21,167 0 809 69 0 4 366 40 0 14 132 48 45 55 100 89 59 56 87 111 53 239 133 148 130 251 185 120 186 234 132 55 91 74 49 70 51 22 94 13 161 117 52 93 89 180 249 239 301 287 358 21 6 3 3 5 6 3 6 10 13 2 6 240 108 502 220 299 102 49
See also
Visa policy of North Korea North Korean passport Citizenship in North Korea Nationality Law of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea List of citizenships refused entry to foreign states
References
Notes