Do France passport holders need a visa to visit KP?

French passport holders need a visa to enter North Korea (DPRK), and it can only be arranged through a state-approved tour operator. Important: as of mid-2026, North Korea remains closed to all non-Russian tourists, so French citizens cannot currently visit for tourism regardless of visa eligibility. A France (FR) ordinary passport holder requires a visa (officially an entry permit / tourist visa) to travel to North Korea. North Korea is not part of any visa-waiver, eVisa, visa-on-arrival, or ETA scheme for French citizens. The visa is issued by the DPRK Delegation General in Paris (3 rue Asseline, 75014 Paris) but in practice is always processed through an authorized tour operator (e.g. Koryo Tours, Young Pioneer Tours, Uri Tours), because independent tourism is prohibited: every tourist must travel on a fully guided tour with North Korean state guides. The visa is typically issued as a "tourist card" / sticker and collected shortly before entry, usually in China or Russia.\n\nCritically, North Korea has remained closed to virtually all international tourism since early 2020. A brief reopening of the Rason Special Economic Zone in February 2025 was reversed on 5 March 2025, and as of May 2026 only Russian nationals are permitted to enter as tourists. French and other European citizens cannot currently obtain DPRK tourist access. The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (France Diplomatie) classifies the entire country as "formally advised against" (red zone). Travelers should treat the route as visa-required and currently not practically available for tourism, and must confirm reopening with an authorized operator before making plans.