What the North Korea visa rules mean for Saudi Arabia travellers
Saudi Arabia citizens need a visa issued in advance by an embassy or consulate of North Korea. Start the application several weeks before departure: you will typically need a passport valid for six months with blank pages, a completed application form, passport photos, a travel itinerary, proof of accommodation and of sufficient funds, and sometimes an invitation letter or bank statements.
Documents to prepare
Whatever your visa status, North Korea applies the same entry conditions to every traveller:
- Passport validity: The UK government says your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay, and to check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements, including for China if…
- Vaccinations: Yellow fever: WHO's country list marks North Korea as requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged one year and over arriving from countries at risk of yellow fever transmission; the UK government says you need th…
- Travel insurance: No official source we could read states an insurance requirement for entry. Canada's travel advice says to get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays, and that medical services…
- Return or onward ticket: No official source we could read states an onward-ticket requirement. The UK government says tourists can normally travel to North Korea only as part of an organised tour, and that independent travellers need a sponsor …
North Korea entry rules compared
North Korea does not grant visa-free entry to any passport and requires an embassy visa from 197. Saudi Arabia citizens are treated the same way as Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Brunei. Overall the Saudi Arabia passport ranks #101 in the world with 55 visa-free destinations.
More travel options
Planning a longer trip in Asia? With a Saudi Arabia passport you can also visit 20 countries in the region without a visa, including United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan and Kuwait.
In the other direction, North Korea citizens need a visa to visit Saudi Arabia.