North Korea passport power
Asia · PassRank 37 · ranked 189th of 199
The North Korea passport has a PassRank score of 37 in 2026, placing it 189th of 199 worldwide and making it one of the weakest passport. Holders can enter 8 destinations visa-free, 26 with a visa on arrival and 3 via an eTA — that is 37 of 199 destinations with no visa needed in advance. A further 54 require an e-visa and 105 require a standard visa before travel.
Source: Passport Index dataset. Data as of June 2026.
North Korea passport at a glance
| Access type | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Visa-free | 8 |
| Visa on arrival | 26 |
| eTA / ETA | 3 |
| PassRank score (no visa needed in advance) | 37 |
| e-Visa | 54 |
| Visa required | 105 |
| No admission | 2 |
Source: Passport Index dataset (imorte/passport-index-data). Data as of June 2026.
PassRank score = visa-free + visa on arrival + eTA = 37. Snapshot 17 February 2026. Counts exclude the North Korea itself. See how this is calculated.
Visa-free destinations (8)
Countries and territories the North Korea passport can enter visa-free (days shown where the dataset records a limit):
| Destination | Max stay |
|---|---|
| Dominica | 21 days |
| Guyana | 90 days |
| Haiti | 90 days |
| Kyrgyzstan | — |
| Micronesia | 30 days |
| Palestine | — |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 90 days |
| Seychelles | 90 days |
Source: Passport Index dataset. Data as of June 2026.
Visa on arrival (26)
Destinations that issue the North Korea passport a visa on arrival (effectively visa-free, paid at the border):
| Destination | Max stay |
|---|---|
| Armenia | — |
| Bangladesh | — |
| Burundi | — |
| Cambodia | — |
| Cape Verde | — |
| Comoros | — |
| Djibouti | — |
| Egypt | — |
| Ethiopia | — |
| Guinea-Bissau | — |
| Iran | — |
| Jordan | — |
| Laos | — |
| Macao | — |
| Madagascar | — |
| Malawi | — |
| Maldives | — |
| Mozambique | — |
| Nepal | — |
| Nicaragua | — |
| Palau | — |
| Rwanda | — |
| Samoa | — |
| Tanzania | — |
| Timor-Leste | — |
| Tuvalu | — |
Source: Passport Index dataset. Data as of June 2026.
Electronic travel authorisation / eTA (3)
Destinations requiring only an online eTA (e.g. ESTA, eTA, eVisitor) for the North Korea passport — quick to obtain and counted toward the PassRank score:
| Destination | Max stay |
|---|---|
| Ivory Coast | — |
| Kenya | — |
| Suriname | — |
Source: Passport Index dataset. Data as of June 2026.
e-Visa required (54)
Destinations that require an e-visa obtained before travel (not counted in the PassRank score):
| Destination | Max stay |
|---|---|
| Albania | — |
| Antigua and Barbuda | — |
| Australia | — |
| Bahamas | — |
| Benin | — |
| Bhutan | — |
| Bolivia | — |
| Botswana | — |
| Burkina Faso | — |
| Cameroon | — |
| Chad | — |
| Colombia | — |
| Cuba | — |
| DR Congo | — |
| Ecuador | — |
| El Salvador | — |
| Equatorial Guinea | — |
| Gabon | — |
| Georgia | — |
| Guinea | — |
| Hong Kong | — |
| Indonesia | — |
| Iraq | — |
| Israel | — |
| Kazakhstan | — |
| Liberia | — |
| Libya | — |
| Mauritania | — |
| Moldova | — |
| Myanmar | — |
| Namibia | — |
| Nigeria | — |
| Oman | — |
| Pakistan | — |
| Papua New Guinea | — |
| Qatar | — |
| Russia | — |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | — |
| Sao Tome and Principe | — |
| Sierra Leone | — |
| Singapore | — |
| Somalia | — |
| South Korea | — |
| South Sudan | — |
| Syria | — |
| Tajikistan | — |
| Thailand | — |
| Togo | — |
| Uganda | — |
| United Arab Emirates | — |
| Vanuatu | — |
| Vietnam | — |
| Zambia | — |
| Zimbabwe | — |
Source: Passport Index dataset. Data as of June 2026.
Visa required in advance (105)
Destinations where North Korea passport holders must obtain a standard visa before travelling:
| Destination | Max stay |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | — |
| Algeria | — |
| Andorra | — |
| Angola | — |
| Argentina | — |
| Austria | — |
| Azerbaijan | — |
| Bahrain | — |
| Barbados | — |
| Belarus | — |
| Belgium | — |
| Belize | — |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | — |
| Brazil | — |
| Brunei | — |
| Bulgaria | — |
| Canada | — |
| Central African Republic | — |
| Chile | — |
| China | — |
| Congo | — |
| Costa Rica | — |
| Croatia | — |
| Cyprus | — |
| Czech Republic | — |
| Denmark | — |
| Dominican Republic | — |
| Eritrea | — |
| Estonia | — |
| Fiji | — |
| Finland | — |
| France | — |
| Gambia | — |
| Germany | — |
| Ghana | — |
| Greece | — |
| Grenada | — |
| Guatemala | — |
| Honduras | — |
| Hungary | — |
| Iceland | — |
| India | — |
| Ireland | — |
| Italy | — |
| Jamaica | — |
| Kiribati | — |
| Kosovo | — |
| Kuwait | — |
| Latvia | — |
| Lebanon | — |
| Lesotho | — |
| Liechtenstein | — |
| Lithuania | — |
| Luxembourg | — |
| Malaysia | — |
| Mali | — |
| Malta | — |
| Marshall Islands | — |
| Mauritius | — |
| Mexico | — |
| Monaco | — |
| Mongolia | — |
| Montenegro | — |
| Morocco | — |
| Nauru | — |
| Netherlands | — |
| New Zealand | — |
| Niger | — |
| North Macedonia | — |
| Norway | — |
| Panama | — |
| Paraguay | — |
| Peru | — |
| Philippines | — |
| Poland | — |
| Portugal | — |
| Romania | — |
| Saint Lucia | — |
| San Marino | — |
| Saudi Arabia | — |
| Senegal | — |
| Serbia | — |
| Slovakia | — |
| Slovenia | — |
| Solomon Islands | — |
| South Africa | — |
| Spain | — |
| Sudan | — |
| Swaziland | — |
| Sweden | — |
| Switzerland | — |
| Taiwan | — |
| Tonga | — |
| Trinidad and Tobago | — |
| Tunisia | — |
| Turkey | — |
| Turkmenistan | — |
| Ukraine | — |
| United Kingdom | — |
| United States | — |
| Uruguay | — |
| Uzbekistan | — |
| Vatican | — |
| Venezuela | — |
| Yemen | — |
Source: Passport Index dataset. Data as of June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries can North Korea passport holders visit visa-free?
The North Korea passport has a PassRank score of 37, meaning holders can enter 37 of 199 destinations without arranging a visa in advance: 8 visa-free, 26 with a visa on arrival and 3 via an eTA. A further 54 require an e-visa and 105 require a standard visa. Snapshot 17 February 2026.
What is the North Korea passport's rank in 2026?
The North Korea passport ranks 189th out of 199 on the PassRank index in 2026, with a score of 37. PassRank counts destinations reachable visa-free, on arrival or via eTA; it is our own methodology and may differ from commercial indices.
Does North Korea need a visa for the United States?
North Korea passport holders need a visa for the United States in advance, per the snapshot. Verify the current requirement with the official US source.
How is the North Korea PassRank score calculated?
We count every destination the North Korea passport can enter with no visa required before travel: visa-free (8), visa on arrival (26) and eTA/ETA (3). e-Visas are excluded because they must be obtained in advance. The data is a dated snapshot from the open passport-index dataset (passportindex.org). See the methodology page for details.
Compare with similar passports
- Sudan — PassRank 39 (186th) · compare North Korea vs Sudan
- Eritrea — PassRank 36 (190th) · compare North Korea vs Eritrea
- Sri Lanka — PassRank 39 (186th) · compare North Korea vs Sri Lanka
- Nepal — PassRank 36 (190th) · compare North Korea vs Nepal
- Iran — PassRank 39 (186th) · compare North Korea vs Iran
- Palestine — PassRank 35 (192nd) · compare North Korea vs Palestine
See the full ranking, the Asia ranking, or all head-to-head comparisons.
Source & accuracy
Access data is a dated snapshot from the open passport-index dataset (MIT packaging; data from passportindex.org), captured 17 February 2026. The PassRank score is our own transparent count and may differ from commercial indices. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice — visa rules change frequently; always verify the current requirement with the destination's official government source before booking travel. PassRank is not affiliated with Passport Index or Henley & Partners.
Last updated: 2026-06-21