Tomb of King Tongmyong, Pyongyang, North Korea

© Creative Commons / yeowatzup

North Korea: visa and passport requirements

Passport required Return ticket required Visa required
Australian Yes Yes Yes
British Yes Yes Yes
Canadian Yes Yes Yes
Other EU Yes Yes Yes
USA Yes Yes Yes
Passports: 

To enter North Korea, a passport for six months is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Passport note: 

Tourism in Korea (Democratic People's Republic) is currently only permitted through officially recognised travel companies.

Visas must be issued by the Korea International Travel Company (KITC) and arranged by an authorised tourism partner.

The only other permitted entry is on the basis of a government invitation; embassies will not issue a visa without this.

Visas: 

Visas are required by the nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visa note: 

Nationals entering North Korea through China require a double-entry visa or flight ticket showing that when the person returns from Pyongyang, he will be in transit in Beijing airport for less than 24 hours.

It is not possible to enter North Korea from South Korea.

Types and cost: 

Depending on time of application and nationality of the applicant, visa fees range from free to US$300.

Application to: 

Consular section of the General Delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or of the nearest North Korean Embassy.

Applications should be made by an officially recognised tour operator.

Working days: 

Visa applications for North Korea take approximately 20 working days.