North Korea visa requirements for South Korean citizens
Entry to North Korea is restricted for south korean citizens: a visa plus special approval.
KOR
South Korea
PRK
North Korea
Entry is restricted
Special approval or set entry points.
- Visa
- Restricted
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
Special rules for South Korean citizens in North Korea
South Koreans need government approval to visit North Korea
- You cannot use a South Korean passport for this trip.
- Get government approval before you leave.
- Show a North/South Korea visitation verification certificate or special authorization at immigration.
- Also show a departure card to North Korean immigration.
- You must pass immigration checks in North Korea.
What to do
Read the extra conditions for your passport below: North Korea limits where and how you can enter.
Apply for the visa at the embassy well ahead, and expect extra checks.
Enter only through the allowed border points and register with the police if required.
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Documents you'll need
For the Tourist visa
What to carry
- Passport valid for at least 6 months after you arrive, with 2 blank pages
- Return or onward ticket
- Where you'll stay: hotel booking or your host's address
- Proof you can pay for the trip: bank statement or cards
- Visa application form, filled in and signed
- 2 recent passport photos on a white background
- Bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months
- Travel insurance for the whole trip
- Visa fee receipt
- Covering letter or invitation, if you have one
Embassies can ask for more. Check the official website before you apply.
Coming from South Korea
- Plugs C FNo adapter
- MoneyKPW ₩
- TimeSame timeSame as home
- DrivingOn the rightSame as home
- LanguageKoreanSpoken at home too
- Emergencylocal numbers only police
Planning your North Korea trip
- Pyongyang museums and monumentsTours commonly visit war museums, memorials and monuments to the country’s leaders and ruling party. Guides control access and photography.
- Panmunjom and the Demilitarized ZoneThis heavily guarded border area is a common tour stop. Stay with your group because the surrounding area contains minefields and other traps.
- MansudaeThis monument site has statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Follow your guide’s instructions about photographs.
- Friendship ExhibitionThe exhibition displays gifts given to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il from around the world. Photography inside is prohibited.
Scams to watch for in North Korea
- Overcharging through missing change and rough conversionsSellers often lack change. If you pay with a large note, you may end up paying more than the price. Rough conversions between foreign currencies can also make the final amount hard to check. These problems do not always mean deliberate fraud.
- Theft at Tonghil MarketA small amount of theft occurs at the market. No specific theft method is described.
About North Korea
North Korea is a single-party state on the northern half of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia.
- Capital
- Pyongyang
- Money
- North Korean won (₩)
- Languages
- Korean
- Time zone
- UTC+09:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +850
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Questions
Is entry to North Korea restricted for South Korean citizens?
South Korean citizens need government approval before departure and special documents to enter North Korea. They cannot use a South Korean passport for this trip. South Korean citizens cannot use South Korean passports to travel to North Korea. South Korean citizens must get government authorization before departure.
Do south korean citizens need a visa for North Korea?
South Korean citizens need a visa for North Korea, from its embassy or consulate.
Where do I apply for a North Korea visa?
At North Korea's embassy or consulate that covers where you live. Book an appointment early, as it can take several weeks.
Does a US, UK or Schengen visa help south korean citizens enter North Korea?
We have no record of North Korea relaxing its rules for south korean citizens who hold another country's visa. Check with the embassy before you rely on one.
Do north korean citizens need a visa for South Korea?
North Korean citizens need an eVisa for South Korea. Apply on the official website.
Do other Asia passports get easier entry to North Korea?
None of the 10 other Asia passports we compared enter without applying first.
Which countries near North Korea are easier for south korean citizens?
China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau Mongolia, and 3 more let south korean citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to North Korea?
Find North Korea's embassy or consulate that covers where you live. Prepare the application form, photos, bank statements and travel bookings.
What money is used in North Korea?
North Korean won (₩). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in North Korea?
Korean.
How strong is the South Korea passport?
It ranks #7 and reaches 155 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck