VISA TO NORTH KOREA

You will get your North Korean visa in the country of your residence (if there is a DPRK Embassy there) or upon your arrival in Beijing, the choice is up to you, but you have to inform us about your decision beforehand.

How to get your DPRK visa in the country of residence 

This is only possible if your resident country has a North Korean diplomatic mission or embassy (like for example UK, Hong Kong etc). If you want to apply for a visa please send us the following informations by e-mail at least 5 weeks before the date of your trip:

Family name, First name(s), date of birth, sex, nationality, passport number, employment details with your employer's contact number, home address, your own contact telephone number.

When your visa details are approved by the North Korean authorities, the North Korean diplomatic mission or embassy will contact you for obtaining your visa.

How to get your visa in Beijing

If you want to get your visa in Beijing (you have to arrive there at least one day before departure to North Korea) please send us the following visa details by e-mail at least 5 weeks before the date of your trip:

Family name, First name(s), date of birth, sex, nationality, passport number, address and telephone number of your employer, profession, home address, your own telephone number.

Then at least 3 weeks prior your trip please send us as well:

a) passport size photo with white background taken within the past 6 months
b) 1 photocopy of the first page of your passport (the page with personal details)
c) visa application form (the application form is on 2 pages, pls click here to download). Filling instructions: Item 10 on the form : write "tourism". Item 13: write "Sinuiju" if you enter the DPRK by train and "Pyongyang" if you arrive by flight. Item 14: "train", "flight" or both depending on your particular trip. Item 15: write "KITC". Item 17: should be filled in only if you travel with minors under 18 years of age.

Send the above papers either by e-mail (scanned copies) as JPEG files to postmaster@koreakonsult.com (max 1MB per each e-mail), or send them by regular mail to our address in Sweden:

Korea Konsult

Rödklövervägen 79
165 73 Hässelby

Sweden

When your visa is approved, we will contact you by e-mail and you will get all instructions about how you pick-up your visa in Beijing.

Information for North European residents: If you are a resident of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland or the Baltic countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia), your visa can be issued at the North Korean Embassy in Sweden. Please fill in the same visa application form as above, attach 1 passport photo and copy of your passport's first page and send to us by regular mail or e-mail. When your visa is ready, please send us your passport by registered mail and we return your passport with the DPRK visa inside.

WHILE IN THE COUNTRY

Taking pictures.

It is possible to take pictures during the trip (digital cameras are allowed) but, please, always ask for permission if you want to photograph people closely, and especially military people.

Other informations.

North Korea does not allow foreigners to travel around the country without tour guides. Even if you go to the DPRK individually, your 2 guides will accompany you everywhere; this is the first condition to which you have to consent.

It is needed to show respect for Korean traditions and way of life. If you visit some holy places or monuments appropriate clothing must be worn, especially when you visit the Kumsusang Memorial Palace/the Mausoleum (to pay homage to the embalmed body of the country’s eternal leader, Kim Il Sung). No t-shirts, blue jeans, shorts or mini-skirts will be accepted inside the Mausoleum.

You are not allowed to leave the hotel on your own. But if you are craving for a stroll around the block or have any other special requests (not reflected in the program), please contact your guides and they will do their best to make it possible.The guides will follow you wherever you wish to go. 

Electric voltage in North Korea is 220 V and electric sockets are of the same type as in Western Europe. Electricity shortages can occur from time to time, so it is recommended you bring a pocket lamp with batteries or an electric torch with you.

Unauthorized cellular (mobile) phones and GPS are forbidden in the DPRK. If you, nevertheless, take one on this trip, please be prepared to surrender it to the customs officer who will keep them for you in the storage at the airport.

If you enter the DPRK by train, these items will be sealed by border officers so you won't be able to use them during your stay in the country. They will be unsealed when your leave the DPRK.

Laptops are ok to take in as well as MP-3 players.

It is not possible to use Internet in North Korea.

Foreigners are not allowed to pay with or buy any local currency (North Korean Won). All transactions are made in Euros, US Dollars, or Chinese Yuan, but Euros are preferred. It is recommended to take with you Euros in cash (preferably in small denominations as sometimes it can be difficult to get change in the souvenir or book shops).

Credit cards are NOT accepted. All payments should be done in cash.

Take with you all medicines that you normally use. It is a good idea to have some stomach medicines. Insurance coverage for your trip is recommended.

We are going to provide you with more useful information when you book your tour and will be happy to reply to any of your questions.

IMPORTANT! Please note that US, South Korean and Israeli citizens are allowed to visit the DPRK as tourists only on special occasions, like for example Mass Games. Professional journalists, regardless of their nationality, must apply for a special permission to visit North Korea.