Nigeria’s passport has recorded a sharp decline in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, falling from 90th position in July 2026 to 181st, as the number of destinations Nigerians can visit without obtaining a visa in advance drops from 44 to 24.
Data published on IziVisa.com show that Nigerian passport holders can enter 24 countries visa-free, obtain visas on arrival in 16 countries and apply for electronic visas to access 43 others.
The figures highlight the limited travel access available to Nigerian passport holders under the latest ranking. However, the decline in position and visa-free access should be interpreted within the context of the index’s methodology and destination coverage.
IziVisa said its ranking assesses passports based on the travel access available to their holders, considering visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic visas. The index uses these categories to measure international mobility.
The United Arab Emirates leads the 2026 IziVisa ranking, with access to 185 of 198 documented destinations through visa-free entry, visas on arrival or electronic visas. Switzerland ranks second, with access to 120 destinations without a visa, 26 offering visas on arrival and 37 accessible through electronic visas.
Other countries featuring prominently in the ranking include Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain and Finland.
Nigeria’s position also contrasts with its standing in the Henley Passport Index, which placed the country 90th out of 199 passports in July 2026, with visa-free access to 44 destinations.
That ranking represented a one-place drop from Nigeria’s 89th position in April 2026, although its visa-free score remained unchanged at 44 destinations. The Henley index assesses 199 passports against 227 travel destinations using data from the International Air Transport Association.
Within Africa, South Africa ranked 49th globally in the July Henley index, with access to 101 destinations without a prior visa. Botswana placed 61st with access to 81 destinations, while Morocco ranked 67th with 71 destinations. Kenya occupied 68th position with 70 destinations, and Ghana ranked 70th with access to 67.
Nigeria was grouped alongside the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Turkmenistan in the Henley index, with each passport providing visa-free access to 44 destinations.
The two rankings should not be treated as directly equivalent, as IziVisa and Henley use different methodologies and destination coverage. Nevertheless, the latest IziVisa figures highlight the restrictions Nigerian travellers face when seeking international mobility without securing a visa before departure.
