Nigeria’s passport has dropped significantly in a new global passport ranking, with holders able to enter 24 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance.
The latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index placed Nigeria 181st out of 196 countries assessed, marking a sharp decline from its 90th position in July 2026, when the platform recorded 44 destinations accessible without a prior visa.
According to the latest figures, Nigerian passport holders can also obtain visas on arrival in 16 countries, while another 43 destinations are accessible through electronic visa applications.
The ranking assesses passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access through visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic visas.
UAE LEADS GLOBAL PASSPORT RANKING
The United Arab Emirates emerged as the leading country in the latest IziVisa assessment, with its passport providing access to 185 out of 198 destinations through a combination of visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic visas.
Switzerland ranked second, offering visa-free access to 120 destinations, visas on arrival in 26 countries and electronic visas for another 37 destinations.
Other countries that featured among the highest-ranked passports included Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain and Finland.
The latest figures highlight the significant difference in international travel access between highly ranked passports and those with more restrictive entry privileges.
NIGERIA’S POSITION ON THE HENLEY PASSPORT INDEX
Despite the decline recorded by IziVisa, a separate assessment by Henley & Partners presented a different picture of Nigeria’s passport strength.
The October 2026 Henley Passport Index placed Nigeria 92nd globally, an improvement from its 94th position in October 2025.
The Henley index relies on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to assess passport access across 227 travel destinations.
Nigeria’s passport ranking has fluctuated over the years. The country ranked 62nd in 2006 before falling to 76th in 2010 and 87th in 2012.
Its position improved to 78th in 2013 but declined to 95th in 2015. Nigeria subsequently ranked 94th in 2018, 95th in 2019 and 94th in 2020.
The country’s position dropped to 103rd in 2021 before improving to 98th in 2022, 97th in 2023 and 95th in 2024. Nigeria ranked 94th in 2025 before moving up to 92nd in 2026.
WHY THE TWO RANKINGS DIFFER
The contrasting results from IziVisa and Henley & Partners reflect differences in their assessment methods and the number of destinations covered.
While IziVisa placed Nigeria 181st with 24 visa-free destinations in its latest assessment, Henley ranked the country 92nd, with access to 45 destinations without a visa in advance.
The rankings should therefore not be compared directly, as they use different methodologies and cover different numbers of destinations.
Nigerian travellers are advised to verify entry requirements with the relevant embassies or immigration authorities before making travel arrangements. Visa rules can change, and some destinations may require electronic applications, supporting documents or visas on arrival.
