Home › Entry Requirements
Pyongyang Entry Requirements

Pyongyang Entry Requirements

Visa, immigration, and customs information

Important Notice Entry requirements can change at any time. Always verify current requirements with official government sources before traveling.
Entering Pyongyang is tightly controlled and only possible through pre-approved group tours booked with one of a handful of state-authorized agencies. All travelers, regardless of nationality, must arrive on a pre-arranged visa that is issued in Beijing or another transit city, not at Pyongyang SunGan International Airport. Immigration officers in Pyongyang examine passports, visas, and tour confirmation letters line-by-line, so every detail must match exactly. The process is calm but formal: you will SEE austere marble counters, HEAR the soft shuffle of paperwork, SMELL faint ink from rubber stamps, and FEEL the cool air-conditioning that keeps the hall silent. Expect a 30- to 60-minute wait while bags are X-rayed and phones are briefly checked for sensitive apps or images. Tourists cannot travel independently. Your guide meets you air-side and escorts you through every step until departure. Bring printed copies of your itinerary, hotel voucher (usually the Yanggakdo or Koryo), and return ticket, digital versions are not accepted. If anything is missing, you will be held in the transit lounge until the next outbound flight.

Visa Requirements

Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.

Visa-Free Entry
Not applicable

Tourist visa-free access does not exist. Every traveler must obtain a visa before arrival.

Diplomatic or service passport holders from a handful of countries may be exempt. But these travelers are not processed through the tourist channel at Pyongyang airport.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA/eVisa)
Typical tourist visa allows 4, 6 days

Pyongyang does not issue electronic visas. All visas are paper stickers obtained through an authorized tour operator.

Includes
All nationalities
How to Apply: Apply via your tour operator at least 20 days before travel. The operator submits the blue visa form to the Embassy of the DPRK in Beijing or to the consulate in Shenyang.
Cost: Mid-range fee rolled into tour package

Journalists and US/South Korean passport holders face extra scrutiny and longer processing times.

Visa Required
Up to 6 days for standard tours

All tourists must hold a tourist visa issued on a separate paper card that is removed on departure. No stamp is placed in your passport.

How to Apply: Your chosen Pyongyang-accredited agency handles the application. You email a scanned passport and completed form, then collect the visa card in Beijing.

The visa card must be carried at all times inside Pyongyang and surrendered at immigration when you leave.

Arrival Process

Arrival in Pyongyang is orderly and quiet. Photography is forbidden in the terminal.

1
Quarantine & Temperature Check
Staff in white coats point a thermometer at your forehead. Anyone showing fever is taken to a side room for a second check.
2
Immigration Desk
One officer reviews passport, visa card, and tour list. You will HEAR the crisp click of the entry stamp and SEE the faint ink pad beside his terminal.
3
Baggage Scan & Hand-check
All bags pass through an X-ray belt; officers open cases to inspect for GPS devices, drones, or religious material.
4
Currency Declaration
Fill in a two-copy form stating how much foreign currency and RMB you carry. Keep the duplicate to present on departure.
5
Meet Your Guide
Beyond the last door, your Korean guide greets you under a hand-painted sign of Pyongyang's skyline; the faint TASTE of chalk dust lingers from the painted letters.

Documents to Have Ready

Passport valid 6 months beyond travel
Checked at every step. Must match visa card exactly
Blue tourist visa card
Issued by the Embassy in Beijing. Do not lose it
Printed tour confirmation
Lists hotels, usually Yanggakdo Hotel, and every city on your route
Medical certificate
Only if requested pre-tour, confirming no COVID-19 symptoms

Tips for Smooth Entry

Keep your phone's camera covered. Photography in the terminal can lead to deletion of all images.
Pack books, magazines, and printed maps at the top of your bag for quick inspection.
Bring small-denomination EUR or CNY for the arrival area snack stand where you can TASTE cold Pyongyang cider while waiting for stragglers.

Customs & Duty-Free

Customs in Pyongyang enforces strict limits on electronics, printed matter, and foreign currency.

Alcohol
2 bottles of beer or 1 bottle of spirits up to 1 litre
Must be 18 or older. Alcohol purchased on Air Koryo flight must also be declared
Tobacco
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars
Loose tobacco is counted as cigarettes
Currency
Declare amounts over 10,000 EUR or equivalent
Declaration form is stamped and returned. Keep it for exit inspection
Gifts/Goods
Items valued under 100 EUR total
Excess items may be held at airport until departure

Prohibited Items

  • GPS-enabled devices, deemed military-use items
  • Telescopic lens over 150 mm, can be confiscated as spy equipment
  • Religious pamphlets or Korean-language Bibles, considered subversive

Restricted Items

  • Mobile phones, allowed but must be registered at customs. You will FEEL the officer scroll through photos before approval
  • Laptops, permitted after inspection. Drones are banned outright

Health Requirements

No vaccinations are mandatory for Pyongyang. But several are strongly advised.

Recommended Vaccinations

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Typhoid
  • Japanese Encephalitis if visiting rural provinces on the tour route
  • Routine boosters: MMR, DPT, flu

Health Insurance

Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation to Beijing is essential. Local hospitals in Pyongyang will not treat foreigners without upfront cash payment.

Current Health Requirements: As of June 2025, a printed negative PCR test taken within 48 hours is required. Random temperature checks continue at Pyongyang airport.

Protect Your Trip with Travel Insurance

Comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and 24/7 emergency assistance. Many countries recommend or require travel insurance.

Get a Quote from World Nomads
Read our complete Pyongyang Travel Insurance Guide →

Important Contacts

Essential resources for your trip.

Embassy/Consulate
Most countries do not maintain an embassy in Pyongyang. The nearest consular support is in Beijing.
Check your government's travel advisory website before departure.
Immigration Authority
The Tourist Bureau of the DPRK processes visa requests via licensed agencies, not direct public applications.
For visa applications and official information, contact Koryo Tours or Korea International Travel Company.
Emergency
Dial 119 for ambulance and fire, 112 for police in Pyongyang.
Guides carry radios. Tourists cannot make international calls from local SIMs.

Special Situations

Additional requirements for specific circumstances.

Traveling with Children

Minors need their own visa card. Bring original birth certificate and notarized parental consent if only one parent travels.

Traveling with Pets

Pet import is effectively banned. No quarantine facility exists in Pyongyang.

Extended Stays

Tourist visas cannot be extended. Longer projects require a work visa arranged by a sponsoring ministry before arrival.

Know What to Pack

Climate-specific clothing, travel documents, electronics, and gear, with shopping links for every item.

View Pyongyang Packing List →

Ready to plan your trip to Pyongyang?

Now that you've got the research covered, here's where to go next.

Where to Stay

Best neighbourhoods and hotels for every budget.

Find hotels →

What to Pack

Climate-specific gear and essentials for Pyongyang.

See packing list →

Continue Planning Your Trip

Health & Safety

Stay safe while traveling for Pyongyang

Stay Connected

Internet and phone options for Pyongyang

Packing List

What to bring on your trip for Pyongyang

Budget Guide

Trip costs and money tips for Pyongyang