Nigeria’s passport ranking has suffered a significant decline, dropping to 181st position out of 196 countries in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, amid a reduction in the number of destinations Nigerians can visit without obtaining a visa in advance.
According to a report published by The PUNCH on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the latest ranking represents a sharp fall from Nigeria’s 90th position in July 2026, when the country’s passport offered visa-free access to 44 destinations.
Data published by IziVisa indicates that Nigerian passport holders can currently travel to 24 countries without a visa, obtain visas on arrival in 16 countries, and access another 43 destinations through electronic visas.
The reduction in visa-free access from 44 to 24 destinations highlights the changing travel opportunities available to Nigerian citizens and the challenges they face when travelling internationally.
Passport rankings generally measure the extent to which citizens can travel across international borders without first securing a visa. The level of access is influenced by the entry policies of destination countries and the methodology adopted by individual ranking organisations.
However, Nigeria’s latest position on the IziVisa index should be distinguished from its ranking on the Henley Passport Index, which uses a different methodology and coverage.
The July 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index placed Nigeria 90th out of 199 passports, with access to 44 destinations without a prior visa.
The difference between the two rankings means they should not be directly compared as though they represent the same assessment.
Across Africa, several countries continue to offer their citizens broader international travel access. South Africa ranked 49th globally on the July Henley index, with access to 101 destinations, while Botswana ranked 61st with 81 destinations.
Morocco occupied the 67th position with access to 71 destinations, while Kenya ranked 68th with 70 destinations. Ghana placed 70th, with visa-free access to 67 destinations.
