Nigeria’s Passport ranks 181st globally as visa-free access remains limited

Nigeria’s passport has been ranked 181st globally in the October 2026 assessment by IziVisas, placing the country among those with limited international travel mobility.

According to the report, Nigerian passport holders can visit 25 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance, while other countries offer entry through visas on arrival or electronic visa arrangements.

The ranking highlights the gap between Nigeria and other African countries, including Seychelles, Mauritius and South Africa, whose passports provide access to significantly more destinations.

IziVisas assessed passport strength based on short-stay tourist entry requirements, including visa-free access, visas on arrival and electronic visas.

In its African Passport Ranking 2026, Nigeria placed 47th out of 54 countries, with a mobility score of 40 destinations accessible without obtaining a visa before departure under the ranking’s methodology.

The continental assessment listed 24 visa-free destinations, 16 visa-on-arrival destinations and 43 electronic visa destinations for Nigerians. However, a more recent Nigeria-specific page on the platform lists 25 visa-free destinations, 17 visa-on-arrival destinations and 43 eVisa destinations.

The difference between the figures underscores the need to distinguish between the platform’s ranking data and its updated country-specific listings.

Seychelles leads Africa’s passport ranking

Seychelles emerged as Africa’s strongest passport in the assessment, offering access to 124 destinations without a prior visa, including 103 visa-free destinations.

Mauritius ranked second with access to 114 destinations, followed by South Africa with 88. Morocco and Botswana completed the continent’s top five, with access to 66 and 63 destinations, respectively.

READ ALSO;     NIS committed to issuing passports in 3 weeks – C-G

Ghana ranked 16th in Africa, with access to 56 destinations, compared with Nigeria’s 40 under the continental assessment.

Somalia occupied the bottom position, with access to 30 destinations, followed by Sudan, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

The report also noted that Seychelles ranked 53rd globally when measured strictly by visa-free and visa-on-arrival access, illustrating how the methodology used can affect a passport’s position in international rankings.

Destinations Nigerians can visit without a visa

The IziVisas database identifies 25 destinations Nigerian passport holders can visit without securing a visa before departure.

They include Ghana, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Kenya.

Outside Africa, the listed destinations include Barbados, Dominica, Fiji, Haiti, Kiribati, Micronesia and Vanuatu.

The platform also identifies 17 visa-on-arrival destinations for Nigerian travellers, including Cambodia, Ethiopia, Madagascar, the Maldives, Mauritius and Tanzania.

Another 43 destinations offer electronic visa arrangements, allowing eligible Nigerian travellers to submit applications online before travelling.

However, an electronic visa is not the same as visa-free entry, as travellers generally need to apply and obtain the required approval before departure.

IziVisas said African passports gain access to an average of 42 additional destinations through electronic visa arrangements, although these are excluded from the primary mobility score used in its African ranking.

Global rankings reflect different methodologies

Globally, the United Arab Emirates topped the IziVisas assessment with access to 154 destinations, followed by Singapore with 153 and Malaysia with 152.

IziVisas said its rankings draw on a database of tourist entry requirements, cross-checked against official immigration sources where necessary. It also cautioned that visa policies change frequently and advised travellers to confirm entry requirements with the relevant authorities before departure.

The IziVisas results differ significantly from the Henley Passport Index, which ranked Nigeria 90th globally in July 2026, with access to 44 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance.

The difference reflects the need to compare the methodologies, coverage and dates of individual passport assessments rather than treating their rankings as directly interchangeable.

In May, Togo announced the removal of visa requirements for African passport holders visiting for up to 30 days, as part of efforts to promote regional mobility. The Republic of Congo has also announced plans to remove visa requirements for African travellers from 2027.