# Visa requirements for North Korean citizens

Visa requirements for North Korean citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of North Korea by the authorities of other states.
As of 2025, North Korean citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 40 countries and territories, ranking the North Korea passport 92nd in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.

## Visa requirements

| Country | Visa requirement | Allowed stay | Notes (excluding departure fees) |
| Afghanistan | Visa required | | |
| Albania | eVisa | | |
| Algeria | Visa required | | |
| Andorra | Visa required | | |
| Angola | Visa required | | |
| Antigua and Barbuda | eVisa | | |
| Argentina | Visa required | | |
| Armenia | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 120 days | |
| Australia | Online Visa required | | May apply online (Online Visitor e600 visa). |
| Austria | Visa required | | |
| Azerbaijan | Visa required | | |
| Bahamas | eVisa | | |
| Bahrain | Visa required | | |
| Bangladesh | Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Barbados | Visa required | | |
| Belarus | Visa required | | |
| Belgium | Visa required | | |
| Belize | Visa required | | Bearers of valid visas issued by a Schengen Member State are visa exempt for a maximum stay of 90 days. |
| Benin | eVisa | 30 days | Must have an international vaccination certificate. |
| Bhutan | eVisa | | |
| Bolivia | eVisa | 30 days | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Visa required | | |
| Botswana | eVisa | 3 months | |
| Brazil | Visa required | | |
| Brunei | Visa required | | |
| Bulgaria | Visa required | | |
| Burkina Faso | eVisa | | |
| Burundi | Visa on arrival | 1 month | |
| Cambodia | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Cameroon | eVisa | | |
| Canada | Visa required | | |
| Cape Verde | Visa on arrival | | |
| Central African Republic | Visa required | | |
| Chad | Visa required | | |
| Chile | Visa required | | |
| China | Visa required | | Visa is not required for passports endorsed for public affairs or for official trip. |
| Colombia | Online visa | | |
| Comoros | Visa on arrival | 45 days | |
| Republic of the Congo | Visa required | | |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | eVisa | 7 days | |
| Costa Rica | Visa required | | |
| Côte d'Ivoire | eVisa | 3 months | e-Visa holders must arrive via Port Bouet Airport. |
| Croatia | Visa required | | |
| Cuba | Tourist card required | 90 days | Can be extended up to 90 days with a fee. |
| Cyprus | Visa required | | |
| Czech Republic | Visa required | | |
| Denmark | Visa required | | |
| Djibouti | eVisa | 90 days | |
| Dominica | Visa not required | 21 days | |
| Dominican Republic | Visa required | | |
| Ecuador | Visa required | | |
| Egypt | Visa required | | |
| El Salvador | Visa required | | |
| Equatorial Guinea | eVisa | | |
| Eritrea | Visa required | | |
| Estonia | Visa required | | |
| Eswatini | Visa required | | |
| Ethiopia | Visa on arrival | | Credit card payment transactions are not accepted when applying for e-Visa. |
| Fiji | Visa required | | |
| Finland | Visa required | | |
| France | Visa required | | |
| Gabon | eVisa | 90 days | e-Visa holders must arrive via Libreville International Airport. |
| Gambia | Visa required | | |
| Georgia | eVisa | 30 days | |
| Germany | Visa required | | |
| Ghana | Visa required | | |
| Greece | Visa required | | |
| Grenada | Visa required | | |
| Guatemala | Visa required | | |
| Guinea | eVisa | 90 days | |
| Guinea-Bissau | Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Guyana | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| Haiti | Visa not required | 3 months | |
| Honduras | Visa required | | |
| Hungary | Visa required | | |
| Iceland | Visa required | | |
| India | Visa required | | |
| Indonesia | Visa required | | |
| Iran | eVisa | 30 days | |
| Iraq | Visa required | | |
| Ireland | Visa required | | |
| Israel | Visa required | | Confirmation from Israeli Foreign Ministry is required before a visa is issued. |
| Italy | Visa required | | |
| Jamaica | Visa required | | |
| Japan | Admission refused | | Japan has banned North Korean citizens from entering as part of sanctions against North Korea imposed by the Government of Japan, since February 2016. |
| Jordan | eVisa / Visa on arrival | | 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 | | |
| Kenya | Electronic Travel Authorisation | 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 | | |
| South Korea | Particular visit regime | | 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. |
| Kuwait | Visa required | | |
| Kyrgyzstan | Visa not required | Unlimited | |
| Laos | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 30 days | 17 of the 31 border crossings are only open to visa holders. e-Visa may be used to enter Laos through Luang Prabang, Pakse and Vientiane international airports, 3 Thai-Lao Friendship Bridges and in Boten (road and railroad). Visa on arrival is available at Luang Prabang, Pakse and Vientiane international airports, the 4 Thai-Lao Friendship Bridges and 6 border crossings. Visa on arrival is extendable for an additional 60 days at the Department of Immigration in Vientiane. |
| Latvia | Visa required | | |
| Lebanon | Visa required | | In addition to a visa, an approval should be obtained from the Immigration department of the General Directorate of General Security (Sûreté Générale). |
| Lesotho | eVisa | | |
| Liberia | Visa required | | |
| Libya | eVisa | | |
| Liechtenstein | Visa required | | |
| Lithuania | Visa required | | |
| Luxembourg | Visa required | | |
| Madagascar | Visa on arrival | 60 days | |
| Malawi | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Malaysia | Visa required | | |
| Maldives | Free visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Mali | Visa required | | |
| Malta | Visa required | | |
| Marshall Islands | Visa required | | |
| Mauritania | Visa on arrival | | Available at Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport. |
| Mauritius | Visa required | | |
| Mexico | Visa required | | |
| Micronesia | Visa not required | 30 days | |
| Moldova | Visa required | | 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. |
| Monaco | Visa required | | |
| Mongolia | Visa required | | 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 | | |
| Morocco | Visa required | | |
| Mozambique | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Myanmar | eVisa | 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. |
| Namibia | Visa required | | Processing time for a visa to Namibia upon 7 working days is mandatory. |
| Nauru | Visa required | | |
| Nepal | Online Visa / Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Netherlands | Visa required | | |
| New Zealand | Visa required | | 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. |
| Nicaragua | Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Niger | Visa required | | |
| Nigeria | eVisa | 90 days | |
| North Macedonia | Visa required | | |
| Norway | Visa required | | |
| Oman | Visa required | | |
| Pakistan | Online Visa | 3 months | Online Visa eligible. |
| Palau | Free visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Panama | Visa required | | |
| Papua New Guinea | eVisa | 60 days | Visitors may apply for a visa online under the "Tourist - Own Itinerary" category. |
| Paraguay | Visa required | | |
| Peru | Visa required | | |
| Philippines | Visa required | | |
| Poland | Visa required | | |
| Portugal | Visa required | | |
| Qatar | eVisa | | Visitors may apply for a visa on the Hayya website. |
| Romania | Visa required | | |
| Russia | eVisa | 16 days | |
| Rwanda | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Visa required | | |
| Saint Lucia | Visa required | | |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Visa not required | 3 month | |
| Samoa | Visa not required | 90 days | |
| San Marino | Visa required | | |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | eVisa | | |
| Saudi Arabia | Visa required | | |
| Senegal | Visa required | | |
| Serbia | Visa required | | |
| Seychelles | Electronic Border System | 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 | 3 months | |
| Singapore | Visa required | | |
| Slovakia | Visa required | | |
| Slovenia | Visa required | | |
| Solomon Islands | Visa required | | Pre-arranged visa can be picked up on arrival. |
| Somalia | Visa on arrival | 30 days | Available at Bosaso Airport, Galcaio Airport and Mogadishu Airport. |
| South Africa | Visa required | | |
| South Sudan | eVisa | | Obtainable online. Printed visa authorization must be presented at the time of travel. |
| Spain | Visa required | | |
| Sri Lanka | Visa required | | 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 | | |
| Suriname | Visa not required | 90 days | An entrance fee of USD 25 or EUR 25 must be paid online prior to arrival. Multiple entry e-Visa is also available. |
| Sweden | Visa required | | |
| Switzerland | Visa required | | |
| Syria | Visa required | | |
| Tajikistan | Visa required | | |
| Tanzania | eVisa / Visa on arrival | 90 days | |
| Thailand | eVisa | 60 days | North Korean defectors can enter Thailand without identification and they can travel to South Korea from there. |
| Timor-Leste | Visa on arrival | 30 days | |
| Togo | eVisa | 15 days | |
| Tonga | Visa required | | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Visa required | | |
| Tunisia | Visa required | | |
| Turkey | Visa required | | Visa can be obtained on arrival by holders of a valid physical visa or residence permit from Schengen or OECD countries. |
| Turkmenistan | Visa required | | |
| Tuvalu | Visa on arrival | 1 month | |
| Uganda | eVisa | 3 months | |
| Ukraine | Visa required | | |
| United Arab Emirates | Visa required | | May apply using 'Smart service'. |
| United Kingdom | eVisa | | |
| United States | Visa required | | |
| Uruguay | Visa required | | |
| Uzbekistan | eVisa | 30 days | |
| Vanuatu | Visa required | | |
| Vatican City | Visa required | | |
| Venezuela | Visa required | | |
| Vietnam | eVisa | | e-Visa is valid for 90 days and multiple entry. |
| Yemen | Visa required | | |
| Zambia | eVisa | 90 days | |
| Zimbabwe | eVisa | 3 months | |

## 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) |

## Foreign travel statistics

These are the numbers of visits by North Korean citizens to various countries in 2019 (unless otherwise noted):
| Destination | Number of visitors | Year |
| United States | 16 | 2023 |
| China | 251,000 | 2018 |
| Czech Republic | 21 | |
| Germany | 117 | |
| Poland | 46 | |
| Sweden | 258 | |
| South Korea | 809 | 2018 |
| Ukraine | 240 | 2017 |
| Russia | 12,494 | |