Passport and visa regulations
Nationalities
| Passport required | visa required | Return ticket required | |
| Austria | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Germany | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Turkey | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other EU countries | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Switzerland | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Passport information
Generally required, must still be valid for at least 3 months upon entry.
Visa information
Generally required.
- Medicinelearners: Offers ultimate guide to duty-free shopping in North Korea. Also includes import and export regulations, as well as embassy and telecommunication information about this country.
Costs
Information can be obtained from the relevant diplomatic missions (see contact addresses).
Visa types and costs
Tourist, Visit and Business Visa.
Transit
North Korea is not a transit country. When traveling via China, two transit visas for China are required. In person at the consular section of the embassy (see contact addresses). Visas are only issued in person. Visitors can usually tour the country as part of a group tour approved by the Korea Tourism Bureau. Individual tours are only possible if the entire itinerary is pre-booked and also approved by the Korea Tourism Bureau.
Application required
(a) 1 application form. (b) 2 passport photos. (c) Passport that is valid for at least 6 months upon entry. (d) Fee (cash upon application). (e) Invitation (for tourists it is usually organized by the travel agency). Tourist visa additionally: (f) Confirmation from the Korea International Tourist Bureau in Pyongyang about the travel booking and payment as well as a note of approval for the visa issuance, if applicable. Business visa additionally: (f) Letter of invitation from the North Korean company with reference to the application for visa approval in Pyongyang and its direct delivery to the embassy.
Processing time
- Generally at least 1 month. If the Tourist Office has given its approval, it can also be issued at short notice.
Proof of sufficient funds
Foreigners must have sufficient funds in cash.
Documents required upon entry
Foreigners must have travel health insurance with repatriation insurance that is valid for the duration of their stay.
Entry with children
German: Machine-readable children’s passport with photograph or your own passport. Austrians: Own passport. Swiss: Own passport. Turks: Own passport. Note: The same visa regulations apply to children as to their parents. Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) to travel abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.
