Nigeria’s passport has plunged to 181st position in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, with visa-free access reportedly shrinking from 44 destinations in July 2026 to 24.
According to data published on IziVisa.com, Nigerian passport holders can enter 24 countries without a visa, obtain visas on arrival in 16 countries and travel to 43 destinations using electronic visas.
The latest ranking marks a sharp decline from the 90th position Nigeria held in July 2026, highlighting the reported reduction in destinations Nigerians can visit without securing a visa beforehand.
IziVisa said its index assesses passports based on the travel access available to their holders, including visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic visas.
The United Arab Emirates topped the 2026 ranking, with access to 185 of 198 documented destinations through a combination of visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic visas.
Switzerland ranked second, with visa-free access to 120 destinations, visas on arrival in 26 countries and electronic visa access to 37.
Other countries featuring prominently in the ranking included Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain and Finland.
However, the reported decline in Nigeria’s position on the IziVisa index differs significantly from the country’s standing in the Henley Passport Index.
The July 2026 edition of the Henley index ranked Nigeria 90th out of 199 passports, with access to 44 destinations without a prior visa. The ranking represented a one-place drop from Nigeria’s 89th position in April, although its visa-free score remained unchanged.
Henley & Partners said its index assesses 199 passports against 227 travel destinations using data from the International Air Transport Association.
Among African countries, South Africa ranked 49th globally, with visa-free access to 101 destinations. Botswana came 61st with access to 81 destinations, while Morocco ranked 67th with 71 destinations.
Kenya occupied 68th position with 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 index, with each passport providing visa-free access to 44 destinations.
The difference between the IziVisa and Henley rankings underscores the need to distinguish between the two indices, which use different methodologies and coverage. Their rankings are therefore not directly comparable.
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