Data published on IziVisa.com showed that Nigerian passport holders can enter 24 countries without a visa, obtain visas on arrival in 16 countries and travel to another 43 destinations using electronic visas.
The reported decline represents a significant reduction in visa-free access compared with July 2026, when Nigeria occupied the 90th position and its passport offered access to 44 destinations without requiring prior visa approval.
The reduction from 44 to 24 visa-free destinations highlights the difference between the two reported assessments and raises fresh concerns about the international mobility available to Nigerian travellers.
According to IziVisa, its ranking evaluates passports based on the destinations their holders can access without obtaining a visa in advance. The index considers several categories of entry arrangements, including visa-free travel, visas on arrival and electronic visas, to assess the level of international mobility afforded by different passports.
The United Arab Emirates emerged as the leading passport in the 2026 IziVisa ranking, with access to 185 of 198 documented destinations through visa-free entry, visas on arrival or electronic visas.
Switzerland occupied second place, with its passport offering visa-free access to 120 destinations, visas on arrival in 26 countries and electronic visa access to another 37 destinations.
Other countries featuring prominently in the ranking included Luxembourg, Malta, Denmark, Spain and Finland.
The wide gap between the highest- and lowest-ranked passports illustrates the differences in international travel opportunities available to citizens of different countries. IziVisa uses destination access without prior visa approval as a key measure of freedom of movement.
Henley Index Places Nigeria 90th in July
Separately, the July 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index ranked Nigeria 90th out of 199 passports assessed worldwide, with a visa-free score of 44 destinations.
Published by Henley & Partners, the ranking represented a one-place decline from Nigeria’s 89th position in the April 2026 edition, although the country’s visa-free score remained unchanged at 44 destinations.
According to Henley & Partners, the index marked its 20th anniversary and assessed 199 passports against 227 travel destinations using data from the International Air Transport Association.
Within Africa, South Africa ranked 49th globally, with visa-free access to 101 destinations. Botswana followed in 61st position with access to 81 destinations, while Morocco ranked 67th with 71 destinations.
Kenya occupied 68th position, with access to 70 destinations, while Ghana ranked 70th with a visa-free score of 67.
Nigeria was ranked alongside the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Turkmenistan, whose passports also provided visa-free access to 44 destinations in the Henley assessment.
Different Methodologies, Different Rankings
Although the latest IziVisa assessment places Nigeria considerably lower than its July position, the figures from the two indices should not be interpreted as directly equivalent.
The IziVisa Passport Ranking Index and the Henley Passport Index employ separate methodologies and differ in their coverage of passports and travel destinations. Their rankings may therefore produce different results for the same country.
Nevertheless, the reported reduction in Nigeria’s visa-free score on IziVisa highlights the importance of examining how international travel restrictions affect Nigerian citizens seeking opportunities for tourism, education, business and other cross-border activities.
For Nigerian passport holders, access to more destinations without advance visa approval can reduce travel costs, simplify planning and improve the ease of international movement.
The latest figures place renewed attention on Nigeria’s position in global passport rankings, although a direct comparison of the two indices requires careful consideration of their different assessment criteria and destination coverage.