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https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/passport-for-travel-to-north-korea.html.

Passport for Travel to North Korea

Travel Restriction

As of September 1, 2017, U.S. passports are not be valid for travel to, in, or through North Korea (also known as Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK). 

The U.S. Department of State may grant an exception to qualified applicants by issuing a passport with a special validation. Most special validations will permit the bearer to make one round-trip to the DPRK. In certain qualifying cases subject to additional requirements, the Department of State may approve applicants for a multi-entry special validation, permitting the bearer to make multiple trips to the DPRK during the special validation passport’s period of validity of no more than one year. Special validations will only be issued on an extremely limited basis.

Travel to, in, or through North Korea on a U.S. passport without a special validation may justify revocation of your passport for misuse under 22 C.F.R. § 51.62(a)(2) and may subject you to felony prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 1544 or other applicable laws.

Who Can Get a Special Validation Passport?

We will only issue a Special Validation Passport if your trip is in the national interest, and you meet all other passport eligibility requirements.

Your trip might be in the national interest if any of the following are true:

• You are a professional reporter or journalist and the purpose of your trip is to collect, and make available to the public, information about the DPRK.

• You are a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross or the American Red Cross traveling on an officially-sponsored Red Cross mission to the DPRK.

• Your trip to the DPRK is justified by compelling humanitarian considerations.

• Your trip to the DPRK is otherwise in the national interest.

Who May be Approved for a Multiple-Entry Special Validation?

Effective [date], those who meet all of the following criteria:

• Granting your special validation is in the national interest consistent with 22 C.F.R. §§ 51.63-51.64.

• You or your organization has a well-established history of traveling to the DPRK to work on well-monitored projects with compelling humanitarian considerations

• You have draft itineraries and sufficient documentation showing that your humanitarian work requires you to make multiple trips to the DPRK in the next 365-day period.

How Do I Apply for a Special Validation Passport?

If your trip is in the national interest, you may be eligible for a Special Validation Passport. By providing the following information, you are acknowledging the Privacy Act Statement included below.

1. First, we must verify your eligibility. Please send the following information by email to [email protected] or by mail to:

Office of Adjudication, Passport Services, U.S. Department of State, 44132 Mercure Circle, P.O. Box 1227
Sterling, VA 20166-1227

ATTN: Special Validations

Please send all the following information:

• Name

• Copy of front and back of valid Government-issued photo ID that includes your signature and date of birth. Examples include:

• Current U.S. passport book or card

• Driver's license (not temporary or learner's license)

• Certificate of Naturalization

• Military identification

• Federal, state, or municipal government employee identification card

• Current contact information including phone number, mailing address, and email address

• Statement explaining the reason you think your trip is in the national interest (see criteria above) and/or are otherwise eligible for a Special Validation Passport, including proposed travel dates and your role and responsibilities on the trip

• Any documentation to support your request, such as a letter from the organization being represented explaining in detail the purpose and intended work to be performed on your trip(s)

If you are seeking a multiple-entry special validation, you must clearly indicate so in your request. Providing a proposed itinerary documenting multiple trips, without indicating you are seeking a multiple-entry special validation, is not sufficient. You must also submit the following:

• Documentation showing you or your organization has a well-established history of traveling to the DPRK to work on well-monitored projects with compelling humanitarian considerations;

• Your draft itinerary, including proposed dates of travel and the intended work to be performed on each trip;

• and documentation that shows your humanitarian work requires that you make multiple trips to the DPRK in the next 365-day period.

2. You will receive written notification if your request is approved or denied. According to 22 C.F.R. § 51.70(b)(4), if your request is denied, there is no further review of this decision.

3. If approved, we will send you a letter at the mailing address or email address you provided certifying your eligibility for travel to North Korea.

4. You must then use that letter to apply for your Special Validation Passport and submit all applicable fees. We will include application instructions in your notification of approval.

5. Only for applicants issued a multi-entry special validation passport: You must also send a final itinerary detailing dates and purpose of travel at least five (5) days prior to each trip to the DPRK while using your multi-entry special validation U.S. passport. You must send these documents by email to: [email protected] or by mail to Department of State, Harry S. Truman Building, 2201 C St NW, Washington, DC 20520, ATTN: Rm. 4206 EAP/K/DPRK.  Failure to comply could be grounds to deny future special validation passport requests.

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED