Sri Lanka
North Korea passportEdit check
Visa, stay set by the visa
Before you travel: you need a visa from an embassy or consulate.
How long you may stay is set by your visa.
Entry and stay only. What this covers
Entry conditions1 to check
- Short-term visa applications by nationals of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea require a recommendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the ETA/on-arrival route is not available to them.
Source & evidence Read the original words
Official wording
Passengers from Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) are required to obtain a recommendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for short-term visa applications.
Aevamo’s reading
Regulation 2 of the Immigrants and Emigrants Regulations 1956, made under section 48 of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act No. 20 of 1948, requires every person to whom section 10 of the Act applies to hold a visa to enter Sri Lanka; that is the instrument that creates the visa obligation which the Department's ETA system and the 2026 fee-waiver scheme implement and apply.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Qatar's notice requires nationals of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to obtain a recommendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for short-term visa applications, so North Korean nationals must arrange their visa in advance.
Source details
How the documents behind this regime are dated
immigration-notice: 'With effect from 25.05.2026', page footer 'Last Update : 2026-08-20'; eta-fees: 'With effect from 25.05.2026'; qatar-embassy-notice: dated 20/02/2026; immigrants-regulations: reprint of the 1956 regulations with amendments.
What this answer covers Limits & assumptions
Work and residence rights are separate from this check. This is the entry rule and the length of stay the instrument grants. It is not a decision about you: the officer at the border decides admission, and we do not evaluate the purpose of your trip, your passport's remaining validity, an onward ticket, funds, insurance or health requirements.
Informational planning, not legal or immigration advice. The source is linked so you can check our reading.