Request for Approval to Issue Special Validation for Travel to a Restricted Country or Area on a U.S. Passport

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 valid for travel to, in, or through North Korea (also known as Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK). 

• We may grant an exception to qualified applicants by issuing a passport with a special validation.

• Most special validations will allow you to make one round trip to the DPRK in the next 365 days.

• In certain cases, we may approve applicants for a multiple-entry special validation, allowing you to make multiple trips to the DPRK during the special validation passport's period of validity of no more than two years.

• Special validations will only be issued on an extremely limited basis. 
  
  
  

Travel to, in, or through North Korea on a U.S. passport without this special validation may justify revocation of your passport for misuse under 22 C.F.R. § 51.62(a)(3) 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:

• 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.

• It is justified by compelling humanitarian considerations.

• It is otherwise in the national interest.

How to 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 information requested on this page, you are acknowledging our Privacy Act Statement.

We must first verify your eligibility for a special validation passport. If you do not follow the requirements below, your request for a special validation passport may be denied.

Steps to Apply

1. Collect the Required Information

For a single-entry special validation passport, please provide:

1. Your full name

2. Current contact information including phone number, mailing address, and email address

3. Copy 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 a temporary license or learner's permit). Provide a front-and-back copy of the license.

   • Naturalization certificate

   • Military identification

   • Federal, state, or municipal government employee identification card

4. Statement explaining the reason your trip is in the national interest (see criteria above) and/or why you are otherwise eligible for a special validation passport. Include proposed travel dates and your role and responsibilities on the trip. In group requests, each traveler must provide this statement.

5. 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).

For a multiple-entry special validation passport, you must submit all of the materials above and clearly indicate that you are requesting a multiple-entry special validation passport. You must also submit all of the following items:

1. Documentation showing you or your organization has a well-established history of traveling to the DPRK.

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

3. Documentation that shows your humanitarian work requires that you make multiple trips to the DPRK in the next two-year period. 

2. Submit Your Request

Email the required information to PPTSpecialValidations@state.gov or send by mail to:

Office of Adjudication, Passport Services, U.S. Department of State

44132 Mercure Circle, P.O. Box 1243

Sterling, VA 20166-1243

ATTN: Special Validations

3. Notification of Approval or Denial

After you submit your request:

1. We will notify you if your request is approved or denied. If your request is denied, we will not further review this decision.

2. If approved, we will send you a letter or email certifying your eligibility for travel to the DPRK.

3. You must then use that letter or email to apply for your special validation passport. You may be eligible to Apply in Person using Form DS-11 or Renew by Mail using Form DS-82 depending on your specific circumstances. Please email PPTSpecialValidations@state.gov if you have questions about applying.

4. If you are approved for a multiple-entry special validation passport, you must also send a final itinerary detailing dates and purpose of travel at least five days prior to each trip to the DPRK while using your multiple-entry special validation U.S. passport. You must send these documents by email to EAP-KM-DRPK-UNIT@state.gov or by mail to:
   
   

U.S. Department of State
Harry S. Truman Building
2201 C St. NW, Washington, DC 20520
ATTN: Rm. 4206 EAP/KM/DPRK

Frequently Asked Questions

Who may be approved for a multiple-entry special validation passport?

You may be approved if you meet all of the following criteria:

• Your special validation is in the national interest as described on this page.

• You or your organization has a well-established history of traveling to the DPRK.

• You have draft itineraries and sufficient documentation showing that you must make multiple trips to the DPRK in the next two-year period.

I have made arrangements through official channels to visit relatives in the DPRK. Is this potentially grounds for receiving a special validation passport?

Yes. We will consider these applications on humanitarian grounds on a case-by-case basis.

If I am approved, what form should I submit for my special validation passport?

If your special validation request is approved, you may be eligible to Apply in Person using Form DS-11 or Renew by Mail using Form DS-82 depending on your specific circumstances. Please email PPTSpecialValidations@state.gov if you have questions about applying.

Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act

Privacy Act Statement

AUTHORITIES: Collection of this information is authorized by 22 U.S.C. 211a et seq, 8 U.S.C. 1104, Executive Order 11295 (August 5, 1966); and 22 C.F.R. parts 50 and 51.

PURPOSE: We are requesting this information in order to determine your eligibility to be issued a U.S. passport containing a special validation.

ROUTINE USES: This information may be disclosed to another domestic government agency, a private contractor, a foreign government agency, or to a private person or private employer in accordance with certain approved routine uses. These routine uses include, but are not limited to, law enforcement activities, employment verification, fraud prevention, border security, counterterrorism, litigation activities, and activities that meet the Secretary of State's responsibility to protect U.S. citizens and non-citizen nationals abroad. More information on the Routine Uses for the system can be found in System of Records Notices State-05, Overseas Citizens Services Records and Other Overseas Records and State-26, Passport Records.

DISCLOSURE: Providing information is voluntary. Be advised, however, that failure to provide the information requested on this form may cause delays in processing your request and/or could result in the refusal or denial of your request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 45 minutes per response, including the time required for searching existing data sources, gathering the necessary data, providing the information and/or documents required, and reviewing the final collection. You do not have to supply this information unless this collection displays a currently valid OMB control number. If you have comments on the accuracy of this burden estimate and/or recommendations for reducing it, please send them to:

U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Consular Affairs

Passport Services, Office of Adjudication (CA/PPT/S/A)

Special Validations

44132 Mercure Cir, P.O. Box 1243

Sterling, Virginia 20166-1243

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED