Nigeria’s passport has fallen to 181st position in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, with holders able to travel to only 24 countries without obtaining a visa in advance.
The latest ranking represents a sharp difference from the 90th position Nigeria occupied in July 2026, when its passport reportedly offered visa-free access to 44 destinations, according to data published by IziVisa.
The index shows that Nigerian passport holders can also obtain visas on arrival in 16 countries, while another 43 destinations offer access through electronic visas.
The figures highlight the travel restrictions confronting Nigerian citizens seeking international mobility, although the reported change in ranking requires careful interpretation because passport indices may differ in methodology and the destinations they assess.
IziVisa said its ranking measures passport strength based on the destinations holders can access without obtaining a visa beforehand. Its assessment also considers other entry arrangements, including visas on arrival and electronic visas.
The United Arab Emirates leads the 2026 IziVisa ranking, with its passport providing access to 185 of 198 destinations through visa-free entry, visas on arrival or electronic visas.
Switzerland occupies second position, offering visa-free access to 120 destinations, visas on arrival in 26 countries and electronic visas in another 37.
Other countries featuring prominently in the ranking include Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain and Finland.
In a separate assessment, the July 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index placed Nigeria 90th out of 199 passports, with visa-free access to 44 destinations.
The Henley ranking, published by Henley & Partners, represented a one-place decline from Nigeria’s 89th position in April 2026, although its visa-free score remained unchanged at 44 destinations.
The index assesses 199 passports against 227 travel destinations using data from the International Air Transport Association.
Across Africa, 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, 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 offering visa-free access to 44 destinations.
The difference between Nigeria’s reported positions in the IziVisa and Henley indices underscores the importance of distinguishing between their methodologies and coverage. The rankings should not be treated as directly equivalent measures of a change in passport strength.
Nevertheless, the IziVisa figures indicate that Nigerian passport holders have limited visa-free travel options compared with citizens of several other countries featured near the top of its ranking.
