Nigeria’s passport drops to 181st position as visa-free access shrinks to 24 countries, according to the latest global mobility assessment released by IziVisa. The new data highlights a sharp decline from the 90th ranking recorded earlier in July 2026.
Specifically, Nigerian citizens can now travel to only 24 destinations completely visa-free. In addition, travelers can access 16 destinations via visa-on-arrival and 43 nations through electronic visas. International travel experts attribute this decline to changing bilateral agreements, security concerns, and global border adjustments.
Furthermore, aviation analysts caution that these travel restrictions could hamper international business travel and cross-border trade for Nigerian entrepreneurs.
Nigeria’s Passport Drops to 181st Position in IziVisa Global Index
IziVisa ranks global passports based on combined access through visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival, and e-visas across international destinations. The United Arab Emirates topped the 2026 index, securing access to 185 out of 198 global destinations. Furthermore, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain, and Finland occupied top spots in the global ranking.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s visa-free score dropped significantly from 44 countries recorded in July down to 24. Therefore, Nigerian business travelers and tourists face increased travel hurdles across multiple international corridors.
Comparative Index Methodologies and African Country Standings
Separately, the Henley Passport Index ranked Nigeria 90th out of 199 passports in its July release. The Henley index tied Nigeria alongside Turkmenistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, offering 44 visa-free destinations.
However, analysts noted that IziVisa and Henley employ different ranking metrics and destination sample sizes. Among African nations, South Africa led in 49th place with access to 101 destinations.
Finally, Botswana ranked 61st, Morocco 67th, Kenya 68th, and Ghana 70th in global mobility rankings.
