North Korea Tourist Visa
North Korea is really one of those places that you would only consider going to if you just wanted to increase the number of countries that you have been to (I am country counter, so I definitely cannot blame you for wanting to add this to your bucket list!). Yes, U.S. citizens can travel to North Korea, and the process is not as difficult as you would think. You will require a tourist visa for North Korea though in order to gain entry.
I’m not here to give you the warnings and all that stuff that you would get at websites like the U.S. State Department. The bottom line is that, if you follow the rules of getting a North Korea visa and arrange your trip through an accredited tour group, you will be fine. The only thing is that your tour guide must accompany you every time you set foot outside of your hotel.
Also, bear in mind that, if you are going to enter and depart North Korea through China (and are staying in China for more than 24 hours), you must also obtain a multiple-entry visa for China, because a valid Chinese visa is required to leave North Korea at the conclusion of your visit.
I recommend, even if you are in China for less than 24 hours, to go ahead and get a China Tourist Visa. See the link here for information on how to get that.
Without further ado, let me tell you all you need to know below on how to get a North Korea visa. Be sure to give yourself lots of time (up to 2 months in advance of your trip to start preparing)
By the way, I have more information on visas to North Korea. Just go to my North Korea visa information page.
Book a tour package from an accredited North Korea tour group
There are several North Korea tour groups that have been around for a while and are well known. Here is one.
Usually if you go to the tour group’s site, there will be a place where you will fill out an online visa application form. You will also have to provide a copy of the identification page of your passport along with a recent passport-sized photo.
As I mentioned above, even if you are in China for less than 24 hours, go ahead and get a China Tourist Visa. See the link here for information on how to get that. I tell you to do that because, most likely, you will be travelling to Pyongyang via Beijing.
You will normally have to pick up your visa in Beijing a few days prior your tour start. Ask your tour group for the pickup location. In a lot of cases, the tour group can even pick up your North Korea visa on your behalf.
Congratulations! That’s it! Enjoy your trip to North Korea!
Don’t get sick! Check vaccination requirements here.
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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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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