Nigeria’s passport has dropped sharply to 181st position out of 196 countries in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, with visa-free access reportedly falling to 24 destinations.
According to data published on IziVisa.com, Nigerian passport holders can travel to 24 countries without a visa, obtain visas on arrival in 16 countries and access 43 destinations through electronic visas.
The latest ranking represents a significant decline from Nigeria’s 90th position in July 2026, when its passport reportedly offered visa-free access to 44 destinations.
The reduction from 44 to 24 visa-free destinations highlights the difference between the two reported assessments and the challenges Nigerian travellers may face when seeking international mobility.
In its explanation of the ranking methodology, IziVisa said passports are assessed based on the number of destinations their holders can access without obtaining a visa in advance. The index also considers visas on arrival and electronic visas when evaluating overall travel access.
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 featuring prominently in the ranking include Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain and Finland.
The index illustrates the differences in international travel opportunities available to passport holders across countries, using access to destinations without prior visa approval as a measure of mobility.
However, the IziVisa ranking should be distinguished from the Henley Passport Index, which uses a separate methodology and destination coverage.
In the July 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index, Nigeria ranked 90th out of 199 passports assessed worldwide, with visa-free access to 44 destinations.
That position 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 assessed 199 passports against 227 travel destinations using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
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, providing 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 in the Henley assessment, with each passport offering visa-free access to 44 destinations.
The reported decline in Nigeria’s IziVisa ranking highlights the importance of examining the methodology and coverage of different passport indices before drawing conclusions about changes in international mobility.
Although both indices assess passport strength through travel access, their rankings are not directly comparable because they use different methodologies and destination coverage.
For Nigerian travellers, access to visa-free destinations, visa-on-arrival arrangements and electronic visas remains an important consideration when planning international trips for business, education, tourism and other purposes.
