- Nigeria ranked 181st out of 196 countries in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index, with passport holders able to access 24 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance
- Nigerian passport holders can access 16 countries through visas on arrival and 43 others through electronic visas, according to IziVisa data
- The United Arab Emirates topped the IziVisa ranking, with its passport providing access to 185 of 198 destinations through visa-free entry, visas on arrival or electronic visas
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Nigeria ranked 181st among 196 countries in the latest IziVisa Passport Ranking Index. The platform's data shows that Nigerian passport holders can access 24 destinations without securing a visa beforehand.
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This represents a decline from July 2026, when Nigeria ranked 90th and passport holders reportedly had access to 44 destinations without a visa, according to IziVisa.
IziVisaassesses passports based on the number of destinations accessible through visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic visas.
Beyond the 24 destinations listed as visa-free, Nigerians can obtain visas on arrival in 16 countries and apply for electronic visas to visit another 43 destinations, the data shows.
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According to the IziVisa data cited in the report, the destinations and permitted stays are as follows:
- Barbados – Up to 90 days
- Benin – Up to 90 days
- Burkina Faso – Duration not specified
- Cameroon – Up to 90 days
- Cape Verde – Up to 90 days
- Chad – Up to 90 days
- Côte d’Ivoire – Duration not specified
- Dominica – Up to six months
- Fiji – Up to four months
- Ghana – Up to 90 days
- Guinea – Duration not specified
- Guinea-Bissau – Duration not specified
- Haiti – Duration not specified
- Kenya – Up to 60 days
- Kiribati – Up to one month
- Liberia – Up to 90 days
- Mali – Duration not specified
- Micronesia – Up to 30 days, extendable to 60 days
- Niger – Duration not specified
- Rwanda – Up to 30 days
- Senegal – Up to 90 days
- Sierra Leone – Duration not specified
- The Gambia – Up to 90 days
- Togo – Up to 30 days
- Vanuatu – Up to 120 days
Note: Although the report describes the list as containing 24 destinations, it includes 25 entries. Travellers should check the latest entry requirements with the relevant immigration authorities before making travel arrangements.
UAE and Switzerland Lead the IziVisa Ranking
The United Arab Emirates ranked first in the latest IziVisa assessment, with its passport providing access to 185 of 198 destinations through visa-free entry, visas on arrival or electronic visas, according to the report.
Switzerland ranked second, offering visa-free access to 120 destinations, visas on arrival in 26 countries and electronic visas for another 37 destinations.
Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain and Finland also featured among the highest-ranked passports.
How Nigeria Compares on the Henley Passport Index
Separately, the Henley Passport Index, published by Henley & Partners in October 2026, reported an improvement in Nigeria's passport ranking.
Nigeria rose to 92nd place in October 2026, up from 94th in October 2025. The index uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to assess passport access across 227 travel destinations.
Nigeria's passport ranking has fluctuated over the years. The country ranked 62nd in 2006 before falling to 76th in 2010 and 87th in 2012.
Its position improved to 78th in 2013 but declined to 95th in 2015. Nigeria ranked 94th in 2018, 95th in 2019 and 94th in 2020.
The country's position dropped to 103rd in 2021 before improving to 98th in 2022, 97th in 2023 and 95th in 2024. Nigeria ranked 94th in 2025 before rising to 92nd in 2026.
What Nigerian Travellers Should Know
The IziVisa and Henley indices use different methodologies and cover different numbers of destinations, meaning their rankings are not directly comparable.
Travellers should also understand the distinction between visa-free entry, visas on arrival and electronic visas. Visa-free entry generally means a visa does not need to be obtained before arrival, while a visa on arrival is issued at the destination's point of entry. An electronic visa typically requires an online application before departure.
Nigerian passport holders should confirm current entry requirements, permitted lengths of stay and any additional conditions with the relevant embassy or immigration authority before travelling.
Source: Legit.ng