Nigeria’s passport has climbed to 89th place out of 199 countries in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, marking a modest improvement from its 94th position at the end of 2025. In July last year, the passport reached its best ranking in five years at 88th.
The Henley Passport Index, published annually, is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and expert analysis to measure global passport strength. The latest edition was released in January 2026.
Nigeria shares the 89th position with Myanmar, with both countries recording a visa-free score of 44. This score reflects the number of destinations Nigerian passport holders can access without a visa, or where they can obtain a visa on arrival, visitor’s permit, or electronic travel authorisation (ETA).
Singapore topped the 2026 ranking with access to 192 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea in second place with 188 destinations each. Several European countries, including Denmark, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, ranked jointly in third place with access to 186 destinations.
Despite remaining in the lower half of the global ranking, Nigeria’s position highlights gradual progress in international mobility for its citizens. According to earlier reports by Coastal reporters News Digital, Nigerians can now travel to 45 countries without securing a pre-arranged visa. Of these destinations, 27 offer full visa-free entry, while others provide easier options such as visas on arrival or electronic travel authorisations.
The improvement underscores expanding travel opportunities for Nigerians, making it easier to undertake trips for tourism, business, education, and family visits, while reducing the administrative barriers traditionally associated with international travel.
