Important Notes

Tourism to North Korea is highly restricted and must be arranged through an authorized tour operator. Independent travel is not permitted. Visa applications are submitted through the tour operator to a DPRK embassy or consulate. The approval process is opaque and can be lengthy, with no guarantee of success. Costs for the visa itself are usually a small part of the overall tour package, which can be expensive. Specific processing times and validity periods are determined by the North Korean authorities on a case-by-case basis and are not publicly standardized.