Visa requirements for North Korean citizens

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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.[1]

Visa requirements for North Korean citizens holding ordinary passports
  North Korea
  Visa not required
  Visa on arrival
  eVisa
  Visa available both online or arrival
  Visa required
  Admission refused

Visa requirements

Country Visa requirement Allowed stay Notes (excluding departure fees)
Afghanistan eVisa[2][3] 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.[4]
  • e-Visa : Visitors must arrive at Kabul International (KBL).
Albania eVisa[5][6] 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.[7]
Algeria Visa required[8]
Andorra Visa required[9]
Angola Visa required[10]
Antigua and Barbuda eVisa[11][12]
  • 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.[13]
Argentina Visa required[14]
Armenia eVisa / Visa on arrival[15] 120 days
Australia Online Visa required[16][17]
  • May apply online (Online Visitor e600 visa).
Austria Visa required[18]
Azerbaijan Visa required[19]
Bahamas eVisa[20][21]
Bahrain Visa required[22][23]
Bangladesh Visa on arrival[24] 30 days
Barbados Visa required[25][26]
Belarus Visa required[27]
Belgium Visa required[28]
Belize Visa required[29]
  • 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]
Benin eVisa[31][32] 30 days
  • Must have an international vaccination certificate.
Bhutan eVisa[33][34]
  • 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
Bolivia eVisa[35][36] 30 days
Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa required[37]
  • 30 days visa free for holders of a valid multiple-entry visa issued by US, Ireland or a Schengen Member State.
Botswana eVisa[38][39] 3 months
Brazil Visa required[40]
Brunei Visa required[41]
Bulgaria Visa required[42]
Burkina Faso eVisa[43][44]
Burundi eVisa / Visa on arrival[45][46] 1 month
Cambodia eVisa / Visa on arrival[47][48] 30 days
Cameroon eVisa[49][50]
Canada Visa required[51]
Cape Verde Visa on arrival[53] 45 days
  • Visa on arrival at Sal, Boa Vista, São Vicente or Santiago international airports.
  • Requirement to register online 5 days before arrival[54]
  • Also pay the airport security fee of CVE 3400 either online or on arrival.
Central African Republic Visa required[55]
Chad eVisa[56][57]
Chile Visa required[58]
China Visa required[59]
  • Visa is not required for passports endorsed for public affairs or for official trip.
Colombia Online visa[60][61]
Comoros Visa on arrival[62] 45 days
Republic of the Congo Visa required[63]
Democratic Republic of the Congo eVisa[64][65] 7 days
Costa Rica Visa required[66]
Côte d'Ivoire eVisa[67][68] 3 months
Croatia Visa required[69]
Cuba eVisa / Tourist card required[70][71] 90 days
  • Can be extended up to 90 days with a fee.
Cyprus Visa required[72]
Czech Republic Visa required[73]
Denmark Visa required[74]
Djibouti eVisa[75][76] 90 days
Dominica Visa not required[77] 21 days
Dominican Republic Visa required[78]
Ecuador eVisa[79]
Egypt Visa on arrival[80]
El Salvador Visa required[81]
Equatorial Guinea eVisa[82][83]
Eritrea Visa required[84]
Estonia Visa required[85]
Eswatini Visa required[86]
Ethiopia Visa on arrival[87][88]
  • Credit card payment transactions are not accepted when applying for e-Visa.
Fiji eVisa[89][90]
Finland Visa required[91]
France Visa required[92]
Gabon eVisa[93][94] 90 days
Gambia Visa not required[95] 90 days
Georgia eVisa[96][97] 30 days
Germany Visa required[98]
Ghana Visa required[99]
Greece Visa required[100]
Grenada Visa required[101]
Guatemala Visa required[102]
Guinea eVisa[103][104] 90 days
Guinea-Bissau Visa on arrival[105] 90 days
Guyana Visa not required[106] 90 days
Haiti Visa not required[107] 3 months
Honduras Visa required[108]
Hungary Visa required[109]
Iceland Visa required[110]
India Visa required[111]
Indonesia Visa required[112][113][114]
  • North Korean citizens are subjected 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.
Iran eVisa[115][116] 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.[117]
Iraq eVisa[118][119] 30 days
Ireland Visa required[121]
Israel Visa required[122]
  • Confirmation from Israeli Foreign Ministry is required before a visa is issued.[123]
Italy Visa required[124]
Jamaica Visa required[125]
  • North Koreans with a cruise reservation confirmation are visa exempted for a maximum stay of 72 hours.
Japan Admission refused[126]
  • Japan has banned North Korean citizens from entering as part of sanctions against North Korea imposed by the Government of Japan, since February 2016.[127]
Jordan eVisa / Visa on arrival[128][129]
  • 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)
Kazakhstan eVisa[130][131]
Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation[132][133] 90 days
  • Applications can be submitted up to 90 days prior to travel and must be submitted at least 3 days in advance.
  • eTA fee is USD 32.50.
  • Proof of reservation at the hotel where visitors plan to stay is required (if staying with friends, an invitation letter is also acceptable).
  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from endemic countries.
Kiribati Visa required[134]
South Korea Particular visit regime[135]
  • 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.[136]
Kuwait Visa required[137]
Kyrgyzstan Visa not required[138] Unlimited
Laos eVisa / Visa on arrival[139] 30 days
Latvia Visa required[141]
Lebanon Visa required[142]
Lesotho eVisa[143][144]
Liberia e-VOA[145][146]
  • 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.
Libya eVisa[147][148]
Liechtenstein Visa required[149]
Lithuania Visa required[150]
Luxembourg Visa required[151]
Madagascar eVisa / Visa on arrival[152][153] 60 days
Malawi eVisa / Visa on arrival[154][155] 90 days
Malaysia Visa required[156]
Maldives Free visa on arrival[157] 30 days
Mali Visa required[158]
Malta Visa required[159]
Marshall Islands Visa required[160]
Mauritania eVisa[161][162] 30 days
Mauritius Visa required[163]
Mexico Visa required[164]
Micronesia Visa not required[165] 30 days
Moldova Visa required[166]
  • 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.[167]
Monaco Visa required[168]
Mongolia Visa required[169]
  • 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.
Montenegro Visa required[170]
Morocco Visa required[171]
Mozambique eVisa / Visa on arrival[173][174] 30 days
Myanmar eVisa[175][176] 28 days
Namibia Visa required[177]
Nauru Visa required[178]
  Nepal Online Visa / Visa on arrival[179][180] 90 days
Netherlands Visa required[181]
New Zealand Visa required[182]
  • 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.[183]
Nicaragua Visa on arrival[184] 90 days
Niger Visa required[185]
Nigeria eVisa[186][187] 90 days
North Macedonia Visa required[188]
Norway Visa required[189]
Oman eVisa[190][191]
  • Holders of a GCC state resident permit can get a 28 days visa on arrival that costs 5 Omani Riyals.[192]
Pakistan Online Visa[193][194] 3 months
  • Online Visa eligible.[195]
Palau Free visa on arrival[196] 30 days
Panama Visa required[197]
Papua New Guinea eVisa[198][199] 60 days
  • Visitors may apply for a visa online under the "Tourist - Own Itinerary" category.
Paraguay Visa required[200]
Peru Visa required[201]
Philippines Visa required[202]
  • 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.[203][204]
Poland Visa required[205]
Portugal Visa required[206]
Qatar eVisa[207][208]
  • Visitors may apply for a visa on the Hayya website.
Romania Visa required[209]
Russia eVisa[210][211] 30 days
Rwanda eVisa / Visa on arrival[212][213] 30 days
Saint Kitts and Nevis eVisa[214][215]
Saint Lucia Visa required[216]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Visa not required[217] 3 month
Samoa Visa not required[218] 90 days
San Marino Visa required[219]
São Tomé and Príncipe eVisa[220][221]
Saudi Arabia Visa required[222]
Senegal Visa required[223]
Serbia Visa required[224]
Seychelles Electronic Border System[225][226] 3 months
  • Application can be submitted up to 30 days before travel.
  • Visitors must upload a reservation confirmation(s) for each visitor's location of stay in Seychelles.
  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if coming from endemic countries.
  • Payment of the fee (EUR 10) by credit or debit card.
  • Valid for one journey only and it expires once exit the country.
Sierra Leone eVisa[227][228] 3 months
Singapore Visa required[229][230]
Slovakia Visa required[231]
Slovenia Visa required[232]
Solomon Islands Visa required[233]
  • Pre-arranged visa can be picked up on arrival.
Somalia eVisa[234][235] 30 days
South Africa Visa required[236]
South Sudan eVisa[237][238]
  • Obtainable online.
  • Printed visa authorization must be presented at the time of travel.
Spain Visa required[239]
Sri Lanka Admission restricted[240]
  • Below are the documents required:
    • Police Clearance report
    • If the applicant is coming from another country after staying for more than 6 months, are required to provide Police clearance from that country and copy of the Visa
    • Certificate from a Sri Lankan guarantor & a photocopy of the guarantors NIC
    • Affidavit from a Sri Lankan JP (Justice of Peace) or a Lawyer
    • Accommodation information (Place of stay)
Sudan Visa required[241]
Suriname Visa not required[242][243] 90 days
  • An entrance fee of USD 50 or EUR 50 must be paid online prior to arrival.[244]
  • Multiple entry e-Visa is also available.[245]
Sweden Visa required[246]
 Switzerland Visa required[247]
Syria eVisa[248][249]
Tajikistan Visa required[250]
Tanzania eVisa / Visa on arrival[251][252] 90 days
Thailand eVisa[253][254] 60 days
  • North Korean defectors can enter Thailand without identification and they can travel to South Korea from there.
Timor-Leste Visa on arrival[255] 30 days
Togo eVisa[256][257] 15 days
Tonga Visa required[258]
Trinidad and Tobago Visa required[259]
Tunisia Visa required[260]
Turkey Visa required[261]
  • Visa can be obtained on arrival by holders of a valid physical visa or residence permit from Schengen or OECD countries.
Turkmenistan Visa required[262]
Tuvalu Visa on arrival[263] 1 month
Uganda eVisa[264][265] 3 months
Ukraine Visa required[266]
United Arab Emirates eVisa[267]
  • May apply using 'Smart service'.[268]
United Kingdom Visa required[269]
United States Visa required[270]
Uruguay Visa required[271]
Uzbekistan eVisa[272][273] 30 days
Vanuatu eVisa[274][275]
Vatican City Visa required[276]
Venezuela eVisa[277][278]
  • Introduction of Electronic Visa System for Tourist and Business Travelers.[279][280]
Vietnam eVisa[281][282]
  • e-Visa is valid for 90 days and multiple entry.
Yemen Visa required[283]
Zambia eVisa[284][285]
Zimbabwe eVisa[286][287]

Territories

Visa requirements for citizens for visits to various territories, disputed areas and restricted zones:

Visitor to Visa requirement Notes (excluding departure fees)
Europe
Kosovo Visa required
  • 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)[288]

Foreign travel statistics

These are the numbers of visits by North Korean citizens to various countries:

DestinationNumber of visitorsYearRef.
United States 16 2023 [289]
China 555,018 2019 [290]
Czech Republic 21 2019 [291]
Germany 117 2019 [292]
Poland 46 2019 [293]
Sweden 258 2019 [294]
South Korea 809 2018 [295]
Ukraine 18 2020 [296]
Russia 9240 2024 [297]

See also

References

Notes

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