Poland→North Korea
Poland to North Korea
Do I need a visa for North Korea?
A visa is required for Polish citizens and it must be obtained before you depart. The permission is issued as a physical, single‑entry visa and does not arrive on entry.
The entry permission does not allow paid work or study.
Which documents do I need?
You must travel on a passport or a temporary passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the planned date you cross the North Korean border.
A Polish national identity card and a driving licence are not accepted for entry on this route.
Are vaccinations required for North Korea?
No vaccinations are required or recommended for travel on this route. On arrival you must complete a health declaration confirming you have no symptoms such as cough or raised temperature.
How long can I stay, and can I extend it?
Arrival registration is required and is completed on arrival at the airport.
Hotels collect passports at reception and lodge them with authorities; for individual stays a guide gives passports to the foreigners office, which returns them after several days.
Can children travel on this route?
Children travel on the same documents as adults: a passport or temporary passport is required. No additional parental‑consent or notarised paperwork for minors is required for this route.
Do I need travel insurance?
Travel insurance is recommended but it is not a condition of entry for this route.
No minimum cover is specified in the official material.
Where do I get the visa?
The physical visa must be obtained at a North Korean embassy or consulate before travel. North Korea does not maintain an embassy in Poland; the nearest missions are located abroad (for example in China).
The embassy contacts listed on official pages are for consular help and information, not an alternative application method.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my national ID card or driving licence to enter?
A Polish national identity card and a driving licence are not accepted for travel to North Korea; you must travel on a passport or a temporary passport.
How long must my passport be valid for?
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the planned date you cross the border into North Korea.
What happens to my passport and registration when I arrive?
Arrival registration is completed on arrival at the airport: hotels collect passports at reception and lodge them with authorities, and individual guides hand passports to the foreigners office which returns them after several days.
Is there any health paperwork on arrival?
You must complete a health declaration on arrival confirming you have no symptoms such as cough or raised temperature.
Do I have to buy travel insurance before I go?
Travel insurance is recommended for travel to North Korea but it is not a condition of entry.
Will officials ask me to prove I have enough money for my stay?
You will not be asked to show proof of funds, bank statements or similar financial documents on this route.
What documents do children need for this trip?
Children travel on the same accepted documents as adults: a passport or a temporary passport; there are no additional parental-consent documents required for minors.
What kind of entry permission will I hold when approved?
The visa granted is a single-entry physical visa; the permission is obtained at an embassy or consulate before departure.
Will my hotel or guide register me with the authorities?
North Korean authorities require hotels to handle registration; for individual stays a guide will hand your passport to the foreigners office, which returns it after several days.
What if my passport expires soon?
If your passport is close to expiry, you must renew it so it meets the six-month validity rule measured from the planned date you enter North Korea.
Do I need an onward or return ticket when travelling?
There is no requirement to show onward or return tickets specified in the official material for this route.
Where can I get consular help if I need it?
Consular help for Polish citizens may be limited because North Korea does not host a Polish mission; the nearest North Korean embassies are abroad and their websites are listed for consular information, not as an application route.
Can I work or study on this tourist entry?
The permission does not allow paid work or study while you are in North Korea.
What if my passport is damaged?
If you arrive with a damaged passport you risk refusal; travel on a valid passport or temporary passport that meets the six‑month rule.
Is there an online visa or an e‑visa I can use instead of applying at an embassy?
The visa is a physical document issued at an embassy or consulate; there is no official online application process stated for this route.
Where can I check the official rules?
When was this last checked?
Our checker last confirmed these requirements on August 5, 2026. Entry rules can change without notice, so confirm against the official source below before you travel.
Before you travel
- 1Apply before you travel
Apply before you book. Processing times vary, and a refusal cannot be appealed at the border.
- 2Check your passport
Your passport must stay valid for 6 months beyond your trip.
- 3Complete the arrival registration
At the airport and At the airport
- Travel insurance
Not required to enter, but treatment is charged to visitors — worth a policy that covers repatriation.
- Save your embassy’s contact
Your nearest mission: China — worth having if your documents are lost.
Open the embassy page - Read our travel guides
Local know-how, seasons and etiquette — the things a border does not check but a trip depends on.
Open the guide
More about North Korea
Asia
- Capital
- Pyongyang
- Currency
- North Korean Won (KPW)
- Known for
- Nuclear Program, Political System, Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
- Food
- Kimchi, Bibimbap, Naengmyeon
Full requirements13
Poland embassy in China