Tuesday, October 20, 2026 - Nigeria’s passport has again plunged from 90th position in July 2026 to 181st out of 196 countries in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, reflecting a significant decline in the number of destinations Nigerian passport holders can access without obtaining a visa in advance.
According to data published on IziVisa.com, Nigerian
passport holders can travel to 24 countries visa-free, obtain visas on arrival
in 16 countries, and access 43 countries through electronic visas.
The latest ranking represents a sharp drop from the 90th
position Nigeria occupied in July 2026, when its passport provided visa-free
access to 44 destinations.
The decline in the visa-free score from 44 to 24
destinations highlights the difference between the two reported rankings and
the reduced number of countries Nigerians can visit without prior visa
approval.
In a statement on its website, IziVisa explained that
passports are ranked according to the number of destinations their holders can
access without obtaining a visa beforehand.
The index considers different categories of travel access,
including visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic visas, which
determine the level of international mobility available to passport holders.
The United Arab Emirates leads the 2026 IziVisa ranking,
with its passport providing access to 185 of 198 documented destinations
through visa-free entry, visas on arrival or electronic visas.
Switzerland occupies second position, with access to 120
destinations without a visa, 26 destinations offering visas on arrival and 37
accessible through electronic visas.
Other countries that featured prominently in the ranking
included Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain and Finland.
IziVisa showed that the difference between passports at the
top and bottom of the ranking illustrates the wide disparity in international
travel access. The index uses the number of destinations accessible without a
prior visa as a measure of what it describes as freedom of movement.
Separately, the July 2026 edition of the Henley Passport
Index had placed Nigeria 90th out of 199 passports assessed worldwide, with a
visa-free score of 44 destinations.
The ranking, released by Henley & Partners, represented
a one-place decline from Nigeria’s 89th position in the April 2026 edition,
although its visa-free score remained unchanged at 44 destinations.
According to Henley & Partners, the index marked the
organisation’s 20th anniversary and assessed 199 passports against 227 travel
destinations using data from the International Air Transport Association.
Among African countries, South Africa ranked 49th globally,
with visa-free access to 101 destinations. Botswana followed in 61st position
with access to 81 destinations, while Morocco ranked 67th with 71 destinations.
Kenya occupied 68th position with access to 70 destinations,
while Ghana ranked 70th with a visa-free score of 67.
Nigeria ranked alongside the Democratic Republic of the
Congo and Turkmenistan, with each passport providing visa-free access to 44
destinations.
The reported IziVisa ranking marks a substantial difference
from Nigeria’s July position in the Henley index. However, the two indices use
separate methodologies and coverage, meaning their rankings should not be
treated as directly equivalent.
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