Nigeria has recorded an improvement in its global travel standing, moving up to 89th position in the 2026 Henley Passport Index.

The latest ranking is a jump from 94th in 2025.

The Henley Passport Index, regarded as the world’s leading reference for assessing passport strength, ranks 199 passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without obtaining a visa before travel.

The index relies on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the world’s largest travel information database, and is enhanced by Henley & Partners’ in-house research.

Nigeria passport ranking According to the 2026 ranking, Nigerian passport holders can travel to approximately 44 destinations without a prior visa, including countries that grant visas on arrival, electronic travel authorisations, or visitor permits.

Here are the pervious ranking:

2006 – 62nd

2007 – 64th

2008 – 67th

2009 – 67th

2010 – 76th

2011 – 84th

2012 – 87th

2013 – 78th

2014 – 79th

2015 – 95th

2016 – 92nd

2017 – 91st

2018 – 94th

2019 – 95th

2020 – 94th

2021 – 98th

2022 – 103rd

2023 – 95th

2024 – 94th

2025 – 97th

Despite the improvement in 2026, Nigeria’s passport remains among the lower-ranked globally, limiting international mobility for its citizens.

Nigeria continues to face restrictive entry requirements in key destinations across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia, which significantly affect its overall ranking.

By comparison, African peers such as Seychelles and Mauritius continue to rank significantly higher, offering broader visa-free access to their nationals.

Seychelles remains Africa’s strongest passport, while South Africa also outperforms Nigeria, ranking within the top 50 globally.

Global ranking

At the top of the 2026 Henley Passport Index, Singapore retains its position as the world’s most powerful passport, providing visa-free access to more than 190 destinations.

It is followed closely by Japan and a group of European countries, including Germany, Spain, France, and Italy, whose citizens enjoy access to over 180 destinations without prior visas.

Citizens of the world’s highest-ranked countries can travel to nearly 200 destinations without visas, while those at the bottom of the index have access to fewer than 30.

Why is strong passport important?

Limited passport strength has practical implications for Nigeria, affecting trade, education, tourism, and migration.

Nigerian travellers often face lengthy visa application processes, high fees, and strict documentation requirements, which can constrain business opportunities and international exposure.