Visitors to North Korea must obtain a visa from one of the North Korean diplomatic missions.
All visitors holding ordinary passports (except South Korea) must obtain a visa prior to entering North Korea. For tourism purposes require prior authorization from a travel agency registered with the State General Bureau of Tourist Guidance.
Visa policy map
Visa exemption Since 2014, citizens of China holding ordinary passports visiting only the Tongrim County in a tour group can stay there for up to 2 days. They may also visit Sinuiju for a day trip without a visa.
Date of visa changes Kyrgyzstan: Under the agreement between USSR and North Korea on 22 January 1986 9 March 2009: Malaysia December 2013: Singapore
Cancelled:
1 October 2016: Singapore 6 March 2017: Malaysia
Non-ordinary passports
Holders of non-ordinary passports issued to citizens of the following countries can enter North Korea without a visa, for a stay up to the duration listed below:
Indefinite stay D S
90 days D O D S D OD S D O
30 days D O D S D O D D S D SD S D O D S D O D O
14 days D S
D - Diplomatic passports O - Official passports S - Service passports
Visa requirement North Korean tourist visas are issued in the form of a tourist card for tourists, or on a separate paper for other types of visas. No stamps are stamped inside one's actual passport.
South Korea Citizens of South Korea seeking to visit North Korea cannot use South Korean passports to travel to North Korea. They must instead submit a North/South Korea visitation verification certificate or special authorization as well as a departure card to the North Korean immigration officer at the port of entry and go through immigration inspection in North Korea. No South Korean citizens have legally travelled to North Korea since 2021.
Visitor statistics Most visitors arriving in North Korea were from the following countries of nationality: Country 2025 2024 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 9,985 6,469 89 437 3,134 2,995 4,359 4,220 4,231 3,819 6,313 6,636 8,314 4,625 0 0 0 297 5,069 9,509 52 14,787 132,097 129,028 76,503 120,360 116,047 130,119
See also
Citizenship in North Korea North Korean passport Nationality Law of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Visa requirements for North Korean citizens Tourism in North Korea Visa policy of South Korea
References
External links