Taedong Gate in Pyongyang, North Korea (source: Wikimedia Commons)
For those that aren’t sure if they can acquire a visa for North Korea to visit such locations as the Juche Tower in Pyongyang or the Worker of Korea Party Monument, you’ll be happy to know that acquiring a visa for entry into North Korea will not be as difficult as one might have thought.
Quite frankly, contrary to popular belief, North Koreans will typically allow any person to travel to their country. The individuals that routinely get detained or restricted are those that are journalists or people claiming South Korean citizenship. If you would like to visit this country as a tourist, there are certain requirements that will need to be adhered to in order to do so.
In the information that follows, you’re going to discover some additional facts about the North Korea visa, and some of the requirements that will need to be satisfied in order to acquire one. Now, unlike any other country, the process for acquiring a visa to North Korea will be a bit complex. However, it is doable. For those of you that don’t want to do it yourself, you can hire special travel agents that can help you get through a lot of the bureaucratic issues and processes. However, the process is pretty straightforward but it’s just a bit time consuming. In addition, there are a number of rules and regulations that will need to be adhered to once you are granted entry into the country.
Acquiring a North Korea Visa
Although over the years, as some of the processes have changed, some requirements have gotten more restrictive while others have been eliminated altogether with. With that being said, the basic information you’ll need to know to gain entry will be to acquire a tourist visa for North Korea that has been arranged through an accredited tour group. These tour groups will understand all of the requirements necessary for getting you into the country, accompanying you while you are in the country, and being with you when you depart.
Visa Requirements
* Accredited North Korean Tour Groups
Booking a tour package through an accredited tour group will be extremely important. You do not want to take a chance working with a tour group that is not accredited only to find out for your trip that you have not met all the requirements. If you perform a search for these accredited North Korean tour groups, you’ll want to make sure that they have been in business for quite some time to ensure that you will not run into any issues.
* Gathering the Proper Documentation
One of the neat things about working with a tour group is that they typically offer a list of instructions and all the different paperwork that will be required for filling out your visa application. So, if you’ve done the proper research in finding an accredited North Korean tour group, they should provide you with a list of requirements in terms of documentation needed to fill out their online visa application form. Be prepared to provide a passport size photo and a copy of your identification page of your original passport.
* Consider Applying for a China Multi-Entry Visa
If you plan to enter or exit the country of North Korea via China, it will be in your best interest to acquire a 24-hour China tourist visa (if you qualify). You will not believe the headaches this will save, especially if you are faced with no other option when entering or departing North Korea.
You now have a general outline of what will be required when traveling to North Korea. As stated before, acquiring a North Korea Visa will not be as difficult as one may have thought. However, the process is complex and you need to be prepared in terms of the travel group you choose, the documentation required, and how you plan to enter and depart the country once your trip has been planned.
As a side note, make sure that you do not get sick before your trip because there will be additional requirements that will need to be addressed if this is the case.
Further Reading
Want Professional Visa Help? If you are a U.S. citizen and want professional help with getting a visa, check out my post on the 4 Best Travel Visa Services in the United States.
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Worldwide Jobs Guide: Be sure to check out my posts on how to find jobs in any country in the world.
Worldwide Dating Guide: Also, check out my posts on the best online dating sites in 60+ countries around the world.
About Addison Sears-Collins
Hey! I'm Addison Sears-Collins, the founder of Visa Hunter. You can learn more about me here. Connect with me by liking my fan page on Facebook, connecting with me on Twitter, or check out my website Automatic Addison where I build robots and embedded systems.
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