Nigeria’s passport has plunged from 90th to 181st in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, while its visa-free destinations have fallen from 44 in July 2026 to just 24.
According to the data published on IziVisa.com, Nigerian passport holders can enter 24 countries without securing a visa in advance. They can also obtain visas on arrival in 16 countries and apply for electronic visas to visit 43 destinations.
The latest figures point to limited international travel access for Nigerian passport holders, placing the country near the bottom of the IziVisa ranking.
In contrast, the July 2026 Henley Passport Index ranked Nigeria 90th out of 199 passports, with access to 44 destinations without securing a visa in advance.
Henley & Partners compiles its index using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), assessing passport access across 227 destinations. IziVisa, however, considers three travel categories: visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic visas.
In the ranking the United Arab Emirates leads the 2026 IziVisa ranking, offering access to 185 of 198 destinations across the three travel categories. Switzerland follows in second place, while Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain and Finland also rank among the leading countries.
Across Africa, South Africa ranks 49th globally, with access to 101 destinations. Botswana follows in 61st place with 81 destinations, while Morocco occupies the 67th position with access to 71 destinations. Kenya ranks 68th, allowing its citizens to access 70 destinations, while Ghana sits in 70th place with access to 67 destinations. Nigeria shares its position in the Henley ranking with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Turkmenistan.
Notably, the two indices use different ranking methods and cover different numbers of destinations, making their results unsuitable for direct comparison.
Despite these differences, the latest IziVisa report highlights the travel restrictions Nigerian passport holders face and the limited number of destinations they can visit without securing a visa in advance.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
