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North Korea

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
147
Top destination, 2023
Germany
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
53
UK visas issued, 2025
7
NationalityKPISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<KPNORTH<KOREA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
KP5<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of North Korea need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongVisa requiredImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from North Korea move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Germany66
  2. Austria39
  3. United States10
  4. Sweden9
  5. Denmark8
  6. Netherlands5
  7. France4
  8. Italy3
  9. Switzerland2
  10. Luxembourg1

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

6271,253200020032006200920122015201820212023
6271,2532000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000148
2001135
2002697
2003768
20041,125
20051,253
2006669
2007466
2008349
2009613
2010585
2011817
2012701
2013762
2014657
2015813
2016665
2017448
2018279
2019714
2020141
202190
2022149
2023147
Share going to the top destination
44.9%
Destinations recording arrivals
10
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in North Korea who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Japan23,696
  2. China9,636
  3. Argentina5,447
  4. Mali2,322
  5. Kyrgyzstan1,693
  6. Guinea1,144
  7. Mongolia718
  8. Denmark328
  9. Russia172
  10. Gabon171
  11. South Africa161
  12. Tajikistan154

Living abroad by year

28k57k19901995200020052010201520202024
28k57k19902000201020202024
Data table
199031,450
199533,120
200034,814
200539,887
201049,563
201556,701
202050,879
202446,379
Living abroad, 2024
46,379
Change since 2000
+33.2%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
51.1%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of North Korea by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. G350
  2. B1/B22
  3. G41

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

2753201720182019202020212022202320242025
275320172019202120232025
Data table
201747
201845
201949
202022
202120
202221
202316
202442
202553
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. I54
  2. IR12
  3. E31
Immigrant visas, FY2025
7
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
0
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in North Korea who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of North Korea with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

30602015201620172018201920202021202220232024
3060201520172019202120232024
Data table
201560
201650
201730
201840
201930
202030
202120
202220
202320
202440
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens40
Green cards, FY2024 (born in North Korea)
40
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in North Korea)
20
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
110
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of North Korea (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in North Korea (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Other5
  2. Visitor2

Visas issued by year

336620102012201420162018202120232025
3366201020132016201920232025
Data table
201019
20118
201216
201314
201414
201515
201629
201756
201830
201966
20211
20221
20233
20246
20257
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
5
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of North Korea, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

232005–062009–102012–132017–182020–212024–252025–26
232005–062009–102012–132017–182020–212024–252025–26
Data table
2005–061
2008–091
2009–101
2011–122
2012–131
2016–171
2017–181
2018–191
2020–213
2022–231
2024–251
2025–261
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Short-term1
Granted, 2025–26
1
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of North Korea in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Education16
  2. Other reasons10
  3. Work9
  4. Family8
First permits by country
  1. Germany27
  2. Poland4
  3. Ireland3
  4. Spain2
  5. Switzerland2
  6. Hungary1
  7. Netherlands1
  8. Belgium1
  9. France1
  10. Italy1
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card1
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)3
  3. Other paid activities5
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
1
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
18
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
279
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
0
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
539
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
12
Changed status into work, 2025
1
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of North Korea in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Austria202520173
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in North Korea

Countries with an embassy or consulate in North Korea, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Brazil1——
Bulgaria1——
Cambodia1——
China11—
Cuba1——
Czechia1——
Egypt1——
Germany1——
India1——
Indonesia1——
Iran1——
Laos1——
Libya1——
Malaysia1——
Mongolia1——
Nigeria1——
Pakistan1——
Palestine1——
Poland1——
Romania1——
Russia11—
Sweden1——
Syria1——
United Kingdom1——
Venezuela1——
Vietnam1——
Countries
26
Missions
28
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more