# North Korean passport

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea passport (Korean: 조선민주주의인민공화국 려권), commonly referred to as the North Korean passport, is the passport which may be issued to North Korean citizens for international travel. Since the majority of North Koreans do not get opportunities to leave the country, due to foreign sanctions, DPRK passports are rarely issued.

## History

The earliest passports of the Korean Peninsula were issued in 1902 by the Korean Empire, with two types, a trading passport and a travel passport. The passports have Korean Hanja text as well as English and French translations. The People's Committee of North Korea also issued "Certificate for Foreign Travel" for the same purpose which had Korean mixed text as well as English and Russian translations.
North Korean passports were first issued in the 1950s with Korean (Chosŏn'gŭl), Russian and Chinese (traditional script) texts, while the current(likely after 2000) passport has Korean (Chosŏn'gŭl) and English only.
In 2016, North Korea began issuing biometric passports complying to the ICAO 9303 standard.
* The Korean Empire's travel passport issued in 1905.
* The Certificate for Foreign Travel issued in 1947.

## Physical appearance

DPRK passport covers are navy blue with the emblem of North Korea emblazoned in the center. The official name of the country "조선민주주의인민공화국" and "DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA" are inscribed above the emblem, with "려권" (ryŏgwon) and "PASSPORT" below.

## Passport types

* An ordinary passport is a single passport which, after being granted special permission, is handed out to North Koreans who visit foreign countries for official reasons, i.e., sports and academic competitions, business trips. Ordinary passports are taken back by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after returning to North Korea. The cover is navy blue.
* An official passport is issued for trade and other economic bureaucrats travelling abroad. The cover is green.
* A diplomatic passport is issued to high officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and other subordinate offices of the Workers' Party of Korea. For other bureaucrats, only vice ministers or higher can receive a diplomatic passport. The cover is red.
Official and diplomatic passports must be returned and kept in the passport office, from where it can be retrieved for any further foreign travel. Ordinary passports are never issued without special permission and all holders must apply for an exit visa in order to legally leave the country.

## Identity pages

A DPRK Passport includes two identity pages. The first identifies the holder, and includes the following information:
* 1. Passport number
* 2. Name in full (in Latin and Korean scripts)
* 3. Date of birth (YY-MM-DD)
* 4. Place of birth
* 5. Nationality (specified as "Korean")
* 6. Length of the passport validity (five years)
* 7. Expiry date (YY-MM-DD)
* 8. Issue date (YY-MM-DD)
The second page is for official endorsements.

## Note of passport

The passport contains the following note:
Korean:
   이 려권소지자는 조선민주주의인민공화국의 보호를 받습니다. 이 려권소지자를 지장없이 통과시켜 주며 그에게 필요한 편의와 보호를 베풀어 줄것을 모든 관계자들에게 요청하는 바입니다.
English:
   The holder of this passport is under the protection of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. All those whom it may concern are hereby requested to allow the holder to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the holder with assistance and protection as may be necessary.

## Gallery

* 1950s DPRK passport
* 1950s DPRK passport, inner page
* 1950s DPRK passport, personal information page
* 1990s-edition passport covers
* 2000-edition emergency DPRK passport
* Passport 2019