North Korea Passport Ranking

AI Summary

North Korea ranks #164 out of 199 countries and territories in the Globevisa Passport Ranking, placing it in the low-ranking category. Across the five core dimensions — Mobility (#191), Governance (#140), Security (#126), Education (#182), and Quality of Life (#92) — North Korea performs strongest in quality of life (#92), followed by security (#126). Its weakest dimension is mobility (#191).

Five-Dimension Ranking Scores

Mobility: #191 (score 5/100), Governance: #140 (score 30/100), Security: #126 (score 37/100), Education: #182 (score 9/100), Quality of Life: #92 (score 54/100)

• Mobility: #191 (score 5/100)
• Governance: #140 (score 30/100)
• Security: #126 (score 37/100)
• Education: #182 (score 9/100)
• Quality of Life: #92 (score 54/100)

North Korea Passport Ranking Overview

North Korea ranks #164 globally in the 2026 Globevisa Passport Ranking, which evaluates 199 countries and territories worldwide. Unlike traditional passport indices that focus solely on visa-free destination counts, the Globevisa Passport Ranking provides a comprehensive structural assessment across five core dimensions: Mobility, Governance, Security, Education, and Quality of Life. North Korea shows a relatively balanced profile across all dimensions. However, Security (#126) and Governance (#140) and Education (#182) and Mobility (#191) represent structural areas of concern.

North Korea — Passport Profile

Country Overview: North Korea is a highly secretive, authoritarian state with an isolationist policy and extreme restrictions on movement and foreign entry. / Limited mobility passport with restricted immigration pathways (Not currently recommended).

Identity Attributes: Not Recommended

Global Taxation: No (Territorial or Limited Taxation)

Cost of Living: Low

Culture & Adaptation: Significant language barriers with no English proficiency; extreme cultural distance due to strict state control and isolationist norms; exceptionally challenging adaptation for nearly all international residents.

Employment & Development: Centrally planned economy dominated by heavy industry and agriculture; extremely limited opportunities for foreign professionals due to severe isolation and sanctions; significant barriers including restricted movement, language, and high security risks.

Frequently Asked Questions about North Korea

After obtaining a passport from North Korea, does it grant visa-free access to countries in the Schengen Area and the UK? How well is this passport recognized internationally? Is there any risk of future scrutiny or policy changes regarding potential suspension or cancellation of visa-free agreements with the EU or other major visa-free regions?

Holding a North Korean passport does not grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, or the United States, with formal visa applications required for almost all major global destinations. Internationally, the passport is consistently ranked among the most restricted in terms of mobility, reflecting limited diplomatic reach and significant security-related vetting. Given the current geopolitical environment and international sanctions, the document faces intense scrutiny, ensuring that any expansion of travel privileges remains highly unlikely for the foreseeable future.

How stable are the current immigration laws in North Korea? Has there been a history of sudden policy tightening, widespread visa refusals, or outright closures? Is there a high potential risk of future international compliance reviews?

North Korea maintains an exceptionally restrictive and isolationist immigration policy that is characterized by high levels of central control and limited transparency. Historically, entry and exit conditions have been subject to sudden changes and rigorous enforcement, with no established pathway for conventional investment-based residency or citizenship. Prospective applicants may face significant challenges due to intense international sanctions and evolving global compliance standards, which could lead to increased scrutiny or arbitrary processing delays. Given the volatile nature of the country's regulatory environment, any individual seeking legal status should prepare for substantial administrative hurdles and potential policy shifts.

What is the overall social security and political stability of the North Korea? Are there significant regional differences in security (e.g., extremely dangerous neighborhoods) in actual residence? What local systems protect the personal safety and property of residents?

North Korea maintains a highly centralized and stable political environment characterized by strict state control and a significant security presence, which results in low levels of conventional street crime. While safety conditions are generally consistent across the country due to pervasive surveillance, certain border regions and areas outside the capital of Pyongyang may have more limited infrastructure and more frequent checkpoints. Institutional safeguards are enforced through a rigorous police and military apparatus, though the legal system operates with limited transparency and prioritizes state security over individual protections. Potential residents should be aware that personal safety is largely dependent on strict adherence to local laws and social regulations, as the state exercises comprehensive oversight over all aspects of daily life.