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Free Economic and Trade Zone Long-Stay Certificate

North KoreaLong-term residence

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in North Korea Read the five questions ↓

What exact status does accumulated residence lead to?

In the DPRK Free Economic and Trade Zone, a foreigner staying more than 90 days follows the long-term-stay regime and may obtain a staying certificate; a person intending to stay more than one year may take up residence.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The source distinguishes the certificates but does not provide a current operational designation or complete permit taxonomy.
  • NATLEX PRK85431 — Article 3
    A short-term stay is that of up to 90 days and a longterm stay is that of over 90 days. A foreigner who is going to stay more than one year may take up residence.

What qualifying residence period is required and when does the period begin?

No accumulated multi-year residence period is stated. The regulation defines a long-term stay as over 90 days and requires a long-stay certificate procedure within 7 days after stay registration.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • This is a duration-and-certificate rule, not a permanent-residence accumulation route.
  • NATLEX PRK85431 — Article 9
    A foreigner who intends to stay for a long period shall undertake procedures to get a staying or resident certificate within 7 days from the day he has registered for stay.

Which types of residence count fully, partially or not at all where the official rules specify this?

The regulation applies to foreigners staying or residing in the Zone and also expressly covers Koreans residing outside DPRK when they are going to stay or reside in the Zone. It does not list a full set of qualifying residence types.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The complete current list of qualifying purposes and residence types is not published in the consulted source.

What absence/continuity rules affect accumulation of the qualifying residence period?

The regulation does not state an accumulated-residence continuity or absence formula. It does state that a person returning to the Zone after travel to another country without passing through other DPRK territory must carry a valid staying or resident certificate.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No general absence threshold or continuity calculation was demonstrated.
  • NATLEX PRK85431 — Article 18
    When a foreigner returns back to the Zone after travelling to other country without passing through other parts of the D.P.R.K, he shall have to take with him the valid staying or resident certificate to enter the Zone.

What other major conditions apply, how is the status obtained, and what renewal, document-validity, retention or loss rules matter?

Under Article 79 of the Rason Economic and Trade Zone Law (consolidated text with amendments through 3 December 2011), foreigners may enter, leave, stay or reside in the Zone, and may enter or leave via the designated route, without a visa, on presentation of a passport or other equivalent pass. The official source does not state the renewal, retention or loss rules for the certificate.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Sanctions caveat (applies to this Zone-based route): UN Security Council Resolution 2375 (2017), paragraph 18, requires states to prohibit their nationals from opening, maintaining or operating joint ventures or cooperative entities with DPRK entities or individuals, new or existing, unless approved case-by-case by the Security Council's 1718 Committee. A DPRK domestic legal permission to enter, stay or reside in the Zone does not by itself indicate that international investment, business or joint-venture activity there is normally available to a given applicant -- that depends on the applicant's own country's sanctions compliance and any required Committee approval, which this route does not establish.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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