North Korea visa requirements for British citizens
British citizens need a visa for North Korea and must apply for it before the trip at a consulate or embassy.
- Minimum passport validity
- 6 months
Why is this passport validity required? →
Last verified: 6 October 2026
Verified practical details
You'll need to apply for a visa at a consulate or embassy before travelling. Here are the practical details we've verified:
Authorisation system
Tourist or business visa, on an organised tour
A visa is required for both tourism and business. All sightseeing must be on an organised tour with the official agencies, and any trip outside Pyongyang needs prior authorisation. Entry and exit are only via China or Russia, so those countries' entry requirements also apply on both legs. Foreigners trying to enter at unauthorised points have been arrested and shot at.
Required documents
- Passport with at least six months' validity.
- A visa and an organised tour with an official agency.
- Visas or entry requirements for China or Russia for the inbound and outbound legs.
Transit rules
Photographing military installations, airports, stations, ports, bridges and other sensitive places is forbidden, and the official portraits of the leaders are best left alone. Customs bans short-wave radios and computers, GPS devices are deposited on entry, and phones and tablets may be inspected. Drugs carry very large fines and prison. Air Koryo does not meet EU safety requirements. According to the UK Government, stays over 24 hours are registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, usually through the hotel.
More North Korea rules
They don't depend on your passport, so they are on the North Korea page:
Official portal: . Destination data verified on 6 October 2026. Sources: exteriores.gob.es (travel advice of Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for North Korea, updated 6 May 2026: advice against travel, visa, entry via China or Russia, organised tours, photography, customs, currency, detention, Embassy in Seoul); gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/north-korea (UK Government: registration at 24 hours). All checked on 6 October 2026.
This pair in context
In the other direction, citizens of North Korea need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. See the North Korea → United Kingdom page.
All 10 passports from Northern Europe that VisaRadar tracks need a visa to enter North Korea. Same result as the United Kingdom: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland and Latvia.
With a passport from the United Kingdom, in the rest of Eastern Asia you can enter China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Mongolia, South Korea and Taiwan visa-free.
A passport from the United Kingdom ranks 35 of 199 in the VisaRadar passport ranking and reaches 156 of 198 destinations without applying for a visa in advance.
Counts from the same requirements matrix behind this page's verdict, using the UN M49 subregions.
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens need a visa for North Korea?
Yes. You must apply for the visa in advance at the relevant consulate or embassy.
What minimum passport validity is required?
Passport with at least six months' validity.
What currency is used in North Korea?
North Korean Won (KPW).
What do British passport holders need for the countries near North Korea?
With a passport from the United Kingdom, in the rest of Eastern Asia you can enter China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Mongolia, South Korea and Taiwan visa-free.
Related pages
See North Korea requirements for other passports →
See entry requirements to United Kingdom for other passports →
Informational only. Always verify requirements with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.