South Korea visa requirements for North Korean citizens
Entry to South Korea is restricted for north korean citizens: a visa plus special approval.
PRK
North Korea
KOR
South Korea
Entry is restricted
A visa for holiday visitors who cannot use visa-free entry.
- Visa
- Restricted
- Fee
- Fee depends on passport and application location
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
Special rules for North Korean citizens in South Korea
You need special documents to enter South Korea
- You cannot enter South Korea with a North Korean passport.
- Get North Korean government approval before leaving.
- Give immigration your North/South Korea visitation verification certificate and departure card.
- Go through immigration checks when you arrive in South Korea.
What to do
Read the extra conditions for your passport below: South 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.
Get your South Korea visa sorted
A visa expert checks the rules and helps you apply. No payment now.
Ways into South Korea
Check visa-free entry first. Otherwise, apply for a tourist visa.
Visa not requiredAge-based K-ETA exemptionVisa-free visitors aged 17 or younger, or 65 or older, do not need K-ETA.
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your passport allows visa-free entry.
- Fill in the arrival form if required.
Documents required
- Valid passport
- Your passport's rules set your stay length.
- Age alone does not give you visa-free entry.
eTA requiredVisa-free with K-ETAK-ETA is online travel approval for eligible visa-free visitors who need it.
- Valid for
- 1095 days
- Fee
- ₩10,000
- Entries
- Multiple
How to apply
- Check eligibility on the official K-ETA website or app.
- Verify your email and add passport and trip details.
- Check your details, pay and submit.
- Get approval before boarding.
Documents required
- Passport details
- Email address
- Trip details and Korean address
- Usually takes 3 days; longer waits are possible. No faster service.
- Passport expiry ends approval. Reapply for new passports; update changed trips. No arrival form.
eVisaSelected online visasOnline visas cover selected workers, students, invited patients and other eligible applicants.
How to apply
- Check current eligibility using Visa Navigator.
- Choose the individual online visa application.
- Upload documents, pay and submit.
- Complete sponsor checks if required.
- Check the result and print your visa approval.
Documents required
- Online form
- Passport scans
- Digital colour photo, 3.5 × 4.5 cm
- Documents for your visa type
- The detailed eligibility page is dated 2014; check current rules before applying.
- An online embassy application form is not itself an online visa.
Visa requiredC-3-9 tourist visaA visa for holiday visitors who cannot use visa-free entry.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Fee depends on passport and application location
- Processing
- 14–21 days
- Entries
- Single
How to apply
- Fill in and print the visa form.
- Follow the Korean embassy's checklist for where you live.
- Pay the fee and submit as instructed.
Documents required
- Visa form
- Passport and copy
- Photo
- Proof of holiday plans
- You can stay up to 90 days.
- Your embassy may ask for more documents.
Sources (31)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Korea Visa Portal: Visa Navigator
- Korea Visa Portal: Visa classes by purpose
- Korea Visa Portal: Application procedures
- Korea Immigration Service: E-Visa Center
- Korea Immigration Service: K-ETA
- Official K-ETA application guide
- K-ETA eligible countries and applicants
- K-ETA temporary exemption extended through 2026
- K-ETA age exemptions and validity
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Visa guide
- Korean Embassy in the USA: Transfer passenger visa-free entry
- Korean Embassy in the UK: Visa information
- Korean Embassy in India: Visa information
- Korean Embassy in Malaysia: C-3-9 tourist visa
- Korean Embassy in Malaysia: C-3-10 airside transit
- Korean Embassy in Malaysia: Visa application guidelines
- Korean Embassy in Malaysia: Visa issuance confirmation applications
- Korean Embassy in Sweden: Tourist visa checklist
- Korean Embassy in Canada: B-2 transfer passenger schemes
- Korean Embassy in Bangladesh: C-3-4 business visa
- Korean Consulate in Hong Kong: Visa purposes and documents
- Korean Embassy in Canada: F-3 dependants
- Korean Consulate in Chicago: F-6-1 marriage migration
- Korean Consulate in Brisbane: Medical tourist visa
- Korean Embassy in Singapore: Jeju visa-free entry
- Study in Korea: Student visa and stay status
- Korea Tourism Organization: Visa and travel requirements
- Korea Tourism Organization: Medical visa routes
- Working Holiday Info Center: 2026/27 guidance
- Official e-Arrival card guide
- Korea Immigration Service: e-Arrival card questions and answers
Trips to South Korea
Day-by-day itineraries by snuck, shaped around you.
Coming from North Korea
- Plugs C FNo adapter
- MoneyKRW ₩
- TimeSame timeSame as home
- DrivingOn the rightSame as home
- LanguageKoreanSpoken at home too
- Emergency112 police119 ambulance
Planning your South Korea trip
Best time to go: Autumn, starting in September, brings comfortable weather and colourful leaves. Spring is also pleasant, but yellow dust storms can affect the air.
- SeoulVisit Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces, the National Museum of Korea and traditional teahouses in Insadong.
- BusanSouth Korea's second city is known for beaches, seafood restaurants and festivals. Haeundae is its most famous beach.
- Jeju IslandThis volcanic island has lava tubes, Seongsan Ilchubong and Hallasan, South Korea's highest mountain.
- GyeongjuThe former capital has royal burial sites and World Heritage cultural sites.
Scams to watch for in South Korea
- Unlicensed taxisUnlicensed operators offer rides in unregistered vehicles without meters. Travellers may be misled about the service or fare. These vehicles are a common sight around the terminal.
- Inflated taxi fares and refusal to use the meterA driver may try to charge a high fixed fare instead of using the meter. This is specifically reported around Busan port. In Seoul, travellers are also advised to check that the driver starts the meter.
- Taxi detours to increase the fareSome drivers take a longer route to run up the fare. A dashboard navigation device does not guarantee a fair route. Road construction or protests can also make a longer route necessary, so a detour alone is not proof of a scam.
About South Korea
South Korea is a republic on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, facing Japan and China.
- Capital
- Seoul
- Money
- South Korean won (₩)
- Languages
- Korean
- Time zone
- UTC+09:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +82
Other Asia passports
Going to South Korea
Easier trips nearby
Places close to South Korea with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Is entry to South Korea restricted for North Korean citizens?
North Korean citizens cannot use a North Korean passport to enter South Korea. They need special documents and North Korean government approval before departure. You cannot use a North Korean passport to travel to South Korea. You must get approval from the North Korean government before departure.
Do north korean citizens need a visa for South Korea?
North Korean citizens need an eVisa for South Korea. Apply on the official website.
Where do I apply online for South Korea?
Only on South Korea's official government website. Avoid agents and look-alike sites that add fees. Apply before you book anything you can't cancel.
Does a US, UK or Schengen visa help north korean citizens enter South Korea?
We have no record of South Korea relaxing its rules for north korean citizens who hold another country's visa. Check with the embassy before you rely on one.
Do south korean citizens need a visa for North Korea?
South Korean citizens need a visa for North Korea, from its embassy or consulate.
Do other Asia passports get easier entry to South Korea?
Brunei, Hong Kong, Macau, Oman Singapore, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near South Korea are easier for north korean citizens?
Macau, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Armenia Bangladesh, and 3 more let north korean citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to South Korea?
Apply on South Korea's official eVisa portal with a scan of your passport and a photo. Leave time for processing before you travel, and print the approval.
What money is used in South Korea?
South Korean won (₩). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in South Korea?
Korean.
How strong is the North Korea passport?
It ranks #97 and reaches 33 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck