# 2025-08511: U.S. Passports Still Can't Take You to North Korea

2025-08511, United States Passports Invalid for Travel to, in, or Through the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a Federal Register notice from State Department published 2025-05-14, effective The restriction is extended until August 31, 2026, unless extended or revoked by the Secretary of State. (as of 2026-10-20).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-08511
- As of: 2026-10-20
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-08511
- Title: United States Passports Invalid for Travel to, in, or Through the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: State Department
- Citation: 90 FR 20545
- Published: 2025-05-14
- Effective: The restriction is extended until August 31, 2026, unless extended or revoked by the Secretary of State.
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-10-20

## In one line

U.S. Passports Still Can't Take You to North Korea

## Summary

If you’re a U.S. citizen, your passport still can’t be used to travel to North Korea unless you get special permission. This travel ban, first started in 2017 to keep Americans safe from serious risks like arrest or detention, has been extended again through August 31, 2026. So, no surprise trips to the DPRK anytime soon, and no extra fees—just a continued travel block for your safety.

## Abstract

On September 1, 2017, all U.S. passports were declared invalid for travel to, in, or through the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), unless specially validated for such travel. The restriction was extended for one year in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 and, if not renewed, the restriction is set to expire on August 31, 2025. This notice extends the restriction until August 31, 2026, unless extended or revoked by the Secretary of State.

## Effects PRIA read

- U.S. Passports Invalid for DPRK Travel: cost, medium. If you have a U.S. passport, you cannot use it to travel to, in, or through North Korea (the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) unless your passport is specially validated for that travel. This restriction began on September 1, 2017 and has been extended each year; the latest extension keeps th…

## Related documents

- [2026-20079](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20079): International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR): Review of the U.S. Munitions List and Related Definitions and License Exemptions, 2026-10-01
- [2026-17655](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-17655): Passports: Expanding Online Passport Renewal Overseas, 2026-08-28
- [2026-04931](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-04931): Schedule of Fees for Consular Services-Fee for Administrative Processing of Request for Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United St…, 2026-03-13
- [2025-17851](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-17851): Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, Department of State and Overseas Embassies and Consulates-Visa Services Fee Changes, 2025-09-16
- [2025-14826](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-14826): Visas: Visa Bond Pilot Program, 2025-08-05
- [2026-20082](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20082): International Traffic in Arms Regulations: Syria Country Policy Revision, 2026-10-01

## Sources
- [2025-08511 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/14/2025-08511/united-states-passports-invalid-for-travel-to-in-or-through-the-democratic-peoples-republic-of-korea)
- [2025-08511 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-05-14/pdf/2025-08511.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-08510, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Managemen…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-08510)
- [Next: 2025-08512, New Postal Products](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-08512)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-08511 (as of 2026-10-20).