The Nigerian passport has experienced a steep decline in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, dropping from 90th place in July 2026 to 181st out of 196 countries, reflecting a significant reduction in visa-free and visa-on-arrival access worldwide.
According to data published on IziVisa.com, holders of a Nigerian passport currently enjoy visa-free access to 24 countries, can obtain visas on arrival in 16 nations, and are eligible for electronic visas in 43 destinations.
This represents a stark contrast to the country’s standing in July 2026, when it held the 90th position with visa-free entry privileges to 44 nations.
The drop in the visa-free score from 44 to 24 locations emphasizes the disparity between the two published rankings and the fewer nations that Nigerians are able to travel to without first obtaining a visa.
IziVisa said in a statement on its website that passports are evaluated based on how many places their holders can travel to without first acquiring a visa.
The index takes into account various travel access categories, such as electronic visas, visas upon arrival, and visa-free entry, which establish the degree of international mobility accessible to passport holders.
According to the 2026 IziVisa ranking, the United Arab Emirates’ passport grants entrance to 185 out of 198 recognized countries via electronic, on-arrival, or visa-free visas.
Switzerland holds the second position on the index, offering visa-free travel to 120 countries, visa-on-arrival access in 26 locations, and electronic visas for 37 destinations.
Other countries featuring prominently in the rankings include Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, and Spain.
Also Read: UK-based Lawyer Officially Renounces Nigerian Citizenship
Backstory…
Nigeria’s latest passport ranking comes amid years of changes in the country’s international travel access. The Nigerian passport ranked 62nd globally in 2006, but its position gradually weakened over the following two decades.
By January 2024, it had fallen to 95th on the Henley Passport Index before improving to 89th in April 2026 and slipping to 90th in July.
Despite the improvement in ranking during part of that period, the number of destinations Nigerians could visit without obtaining a visa beforehand declined from 46 in January 2025 to 44 in April 2026
Read Also: Nigeria’s Passport Rises to 89th in Latest Global Ranking
