Nigeria’s passport has fallen to 181st place among 196 countries in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, down from 90th position in July 2026. The decline points to a sharp reduction in the number of destinations Nigerians can visit without securing 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 use electronic visas to enter another 43 destinations. The latest Nigeria passport ranking shows a drop in visa-free access from 44 destinations in July to 24 in the new assessment.
IziVisa ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without obtaining a visa beforehand. Its assessment includes visa-free travel, visas on arrival and electronic visas.
The United Arab Emirates leads the 2026 IziVisa ranking, offering access to 185 of 198 destinations across the three travel categories. Switzerland holds second place, while Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain and Finland also feature prominently.
Meanwhile, the July 2026 Henley Passport Index placed Nigeria 90th among 199 passports, with access to 44 destinations without a visa. Published by Henley & Partners, the index uses data from the International Air Transport Association to assess passports against 227 travel destinations.
Elsewhere in Africa, South Africa ranked 49th globally, with access to 101 destinations. Botswana followed in 61st place with 81 destinations, while Morocco ranked 67th with 71. Kenya came 68th with access to 70 destinations. Ghana ranked 70th, offering access to 67 destinations. Nigeria shared its Henley position with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Turkmenistan.
However, the IziVisa ranking and Henley Passport Index use different methods and cover different numbers of destinations. Their results are therefore not directly comparable.
What could Nigeria do to improve passport access and make international travel easier for its citizens?
