Nigerian travellers: visa-free entry now just 24 countries, down from 44

Nigeria's passport has dropped to 181st place out of 196 countries in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, down from 90th position in July 2026. The fall reflects a sharp reduction in the number of destinations Nigerian passport holders can enter without arranging a visa in advance.

Key facts

• Latest ranking: 181st out of 196 countries in the IziVisa Passport Ranking Index
• Previous position: 90th in July 2026
• Visa-free access: 24 countries, down from 44 destinations
• Visas on arrival: 16 countries
• Electronic visas (e-Visas): 43 countries
• Henley Passport Index, July 2026: 90th out of 199 passports, with a visa-free score of 44

What does the latest index show?

Data published on IziVisa.com puts Nigerian passport holders at 24 countries they can visit visa-free, 16 where they can obtain a visa on arrival and 43 they can reach with an e-Visa. That compares with visa-free access to 44 destinations when Nigeria held 90th position in July 2026.

IziVisa states on its website that passports are ranked by the number of destinations their holders can enter without getting a visa beforehand. The index takes into account visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic visas, which together determine the level of international mobility available to passport holders.

Which passports lead the 2026 ranking?

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 e-Visas. Switzerland is second, with 120 destinations without a visa, 26 offering visas on arrival and 37 accessible through e-Visas. Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain and Finland also feature prominently.

IziVisa notes that the gap between passports at the top and bottom of the ranking illustrates a wide disparity in international travel access, using the number of destinations reachable without a prior visa as its measure of what it calls freedom of movement.

How does this compare with the Henley Passport Index?

The July 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index placed Nigeria 90th out of 199 passports assessed worldwide, with a visa-free score of 44 destinations. That was a one-place decline from 89th in the April 2026 edition, although the visa-free score stayed at 44.

Henley & Partners said the index marked the organisation's 20th anniversary and assessed 199 passports against 227 travel destinations using data from the International Air Transport Association. In that ranking, Nigeria sat alongside the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Turkmenistan, each with visa-free access to 44 destinations.

Among African countries, South Africa ranked 49th globally with visa-free access to 101 destinations, followed by Botswana in 61st position with 81, Morocco in 67th with 71, Kenya in 68th with 70 and Ghana in 70th with 67.

What this means for travellers

Nigerian passport holders can currently enter 24 countries without a visa, obtain a visa on arrival in 16 and use an e-Visa for 43. The two rankings use separate methodologies and coverage, so their positions should not be treated as directly equivalent. Travellers should confirm the specific entry requirement for their destination before booking, as access differs by country and by type of visa arrangement.

No further updates to either index have been announced in the source material.