Can Americans Travel to North Korea?
For many travellers interested in visiting North Korea, one of the most common questions is whether United States citizens are allowed to travel to the country.
In short, Americans cannot normally travel to North Korea for tourism due to restrictions imposed by the United States government. These rules have been in place since 2017 and remain in effect today.
You can find our North Korea tours below:
US Passport Restrictions
Since 2017, the United States has restricted the use of US passports for travel to North Korea. Under these regulations, US citizens are generally not permitted to travel to the DPRK.
The restriction applies to tourism as well as most other forms of travel and is administered by the US Department of State. As a result, American travellers are currently unable to visit North Korea as tourists.
Tourism for Other Nationalities
While American citizens face these restrictions, travellers from many other countries have historically been able to visit North Korea through organised tours.
Tourism in the DPRK is tightly controlled and all visitors must travel as part of a guided tour organised through an authorised operator. Independent travel is not permitted, and visitors are accompanied by local guides throughout their stay.
Most international visitors have traditionally entered North Korea via China, either by flight from Beijing or by train through the Chinese border city of Dandong.
What This Means for American Travellers
Because of the US passport restriction, American citizens are generally unable to travel to North Korea for tourism.
Even if the DPRK expands tourism opportunities for foreign visitors, the US passport restriction would still apply unless the policy changes.
At Beyond the Borders Tours, we continue to monitor developments regarding tourism access to North Korea and share updates when reliable information becomes available.
