US Extends North Korea Travel Ban Until August 2027
The United States has announced that it will extend its restriction on the use of US passports for travel to North Korea for another year.
The renewed restriction will remain in place from 1 September 2026 until 31 August 2027, unless it is lifted or extended again. Under the measure, US passports are considered invalid for travel to, in or through North Korea without special validation from the US State Department.
The restriction has been in place since 2017 and has been renewed annually.
You can find our North Korea tours below:
Why has the restriction been extended?
The US State Department says there continues to be a serious risk for US citizens and nationals travelling to North Korea.
Because of this, ordinary tourist travel to the DPRK remains unavailable to US passport holders. Special validation may be granted in limited circumstances, but this is generally reserved for specific professional, humanitarian or other approved purposes rather than tourism.
Does this affect travellers from other countries?
The US restriction applies specifically to US passports.
It does not introduce a new restriction for British, European, Canadian, Australian or other non-US travellers. However, this does not mean that tourism to North Korea is currently open to those nationalities.
North Korea remains closed to most international tourists, with leisure travel still limited to a small number of Russian visitors travelling through approved arrangements.
For the latest information on when North Korea may reopen more widely, read our regularly updated guide:
Is the North Korea Border Open in 2026? Latest DPRK Travel Updates
What does this mean for North Korea tourism?
In practical terms, the announcement does not significantly change the current tourism situation.
US passport holders have already been unable to travel to North Korea for ordinary tourism under the existing restriction. The latest announcement simply extends that policy for another year.
For travellers of other nationalities, the larger issue remains the continued closure of North Korea to general international tourism.
Although some transport links and limited travel arrangements have resumed, there has been no confirmed date for a wider reopening. The return of selected flights, trains or Russian tour groups should not be interpreted as a general reopening of the country.
What about US dual nationals?
The US passport restriction is separate from recent reports concerning people who hold both US and another nationality.
There have been reports that some US dual nationals may face difficulties obtaining permission to enter North Korea, even when intending to travel on a non-US passport. However, the position remains unclear while wider international tourism is suspended.
We have covered the issue in more detail in our guide:
Has North Korea Banned US Dual Citizens?
Will Americans be able to visit North Korea again?
It is not currently possible to say when the restriction may be lifted.
The policy is reviewed and renewed periodically, but any future change would depend on decisions made by the US government. A reopening of North Korea’s borders would also not automatically make travel possible for US passport holders while the US restriction remains in force.
These are two separate issues:
North Korea decides which nationalities it permits to enter the country.
The United States decides whether US passports are valid for travel to North Korea.
Both conditions would need to allow travel before ordinary organised tourism could resume for US citizens.
Beyond The Borders Tours
Beyond The Borders Tours continues to monitor developments relating to North Korea through our local partners and contacts in Pyongyang.
At present, we are not accepting bookings for standard North Korea tours because the country has not reopened to most international travellers.
As soon as reliable information is confirmed regarding wider tourism, entry requirements or future tours, we will publish updates through our website and social media channels.
Travellers interested in visiting North Korea in the future can follow our dedicated border reopening blog or join our mailing list to receive the latest information.
