Since the majority of North Koreans do not get opportunities to leave the country, due to foreign sanctions, DPRK passports are rarely issued.

The People's Committee of North Korea also issued "Certificate for Foreign Travel" for the same purpose, it have Korean mixed text as well as English and Russian translations.

The official name of the country "조선민주주의인민공화국" and "DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA" are inscribed above the emblem, with "려권" (ryŏgwon) and "PASSPORT" below.

Ordinary passports are never issued without special permission and all holders must apply for an exit visa in order to legally leave the country.

이 려권소지자를 지장없이 통과시켜 주며 그에게 필요한 편의와 보호를 베풀어 줄것을 모든 관계자들에게 요청하는 바입니다.English: The holder of this passport is under the protection of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.