Israel to North Korea visa requirements

An Israeli ordinary passport holder needs a visa to visit North Korea (DPRK). There is no visa-free, eVisa, visa-on-arrival or ETA option. Visas are arranged in advance only through an authorized tour operator, and as of June 2026 general tourism remains largely suspended for most nationalities. North Korea requires all ordinary passport holders (except South Koreans, who are governed by separate inter-Korean rules) to obtain a visa in advance from a DPRK diplomatic mission, and Israeli citizens are no exception. Independent travel is not permitted: every tourist must book a fully guided tour through an operator registered with the State General Bureau of Tourist Guidance, which handles the visa invitation and approval. Israelis have been permitted to travel to the DPRK with appropriate visas since around 2016, despite the two countries having no formal diplomatic relations. The DPRK tourist visa is typically issued as a separate paper document (a blue tourist card) rather than a sticker in the passport, and is usually collected at a pre-tour briefing in China or Russia. Crucially, as of mid-2026 North Korea has not fully reopened to international tourism following its COVID-era closure. Only limited, irregular access has resumed (mainly Russian groups, a brief Rason Special Economic Zone window in early 2025, and select Chinese industry visitors), with no published timeline for a full reopening to all nationalities. Travelers should treat any trip as contingent on an authorized operator confirming that tours are running for their nationality at the time of travel.