Nigeria’s passport has been ranked 181st globally in the 2026, inserting it among the least highly effective journey paperwork worldwide.
According to the October 2026 passport evaluation by IziVisas, Nigerian passport holders have visa-free entry to 25 locations, whereas one other 60 locations are accessible by visas on arrival or digital visas.
The rating highlights the restricted worldwide mobility accessible to Nigerian travellers in contrast with residents of different African international locations, notably Seychelles, Mauritius and South Africa.
The report assessed passport accessibility based mostly on short-stay vacationer entry necessities, together with visa exemptions, visas on arrival and digital visa preparations.
Nigeria ranks forty seventh in Africa
Nigeria ranked forty seventh out of 54 African international locations in the IziVisas African Passport Ranking 2026, with a mobility rating of 40 locations accessible with out acquiring a visa earlier than departure.
The continental rating listed 24 visa-free locations, 16 visa-on-arrival locations and 43 digital visa locations for Nigerian passport holders.
- However, the platform’s newer Nigeria-specific passport web page lists 25 visa-free locations, 17 visa-on-arrival locations and 43 eVisa locations.
- Seychelles emerged as Africa’s strongest passport, providing entry to 124 locations with out a prior visa, together with 103 visa-free locations.
- Mauritius ranked second with 114 locations, adopted by South Africa with 88.
- Morocco and Botswana accomplished the highest 5 with 66 and 63 locations, respectively.
- Ghana ranked sixteenth in Africa with entry to 56 locations, in contrast with Nigeria’s 40 in the continental evaluation.
- Somalia occupied the underside place with 30 locations, adopted by Sudan, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
Countries Nigerians can go to with out a visa
The IziVisas database identifies 25 locations the place Nigerian passport holders can journey with out acquiring a visa.
These embody Ghana, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Kenya.
- Outside Africa, Nigerian travellers additionally get pleasure from visa-free entry to Barbados, Dominica, Fiji, Haiti, Kiribati, Micronesia and Vanuatu, among others.
- The platform additional identifies 17 visa-on-arrival locations, together with Cambodia, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius and Tanzania.
Another 43 locations supply digital visa preparations, permitting eligible travellers to use on-line earlier than departure.
What it is best to know
The report recognized digital visas as an more and more necessary different for African travellers dealing with restrictions on visa-free motion.
According to IziVisas, African passports acquire entry to a median of 42 extra locations by digital visa preparations.
However, digital visas typically require approval earlier than journey and are due to this fact excluded from the African rating’s main mobility rating.
- The report additionally revealed that Seychelles, Africa’s strongest passport, ranked 53rd globally when measured strictly by visa-free and visa-on-arrival entry.
- Globally, the United Arab Emirates led the evaluation with 154 locations, adopted by Singapore with 153 and Malaysia with 152.
- IziVisas defined that its rankings draw on a database of vacationer entry necessities, cross-checked in opposition to official immigration sources the place mandatory.
The platform cautioned that visa insurance policies change incessantly and suggested travellers to substantiate entry necessities with related immigration authorities earlier than departure.
Henley Passport Index paints a distinct image
The newest IziVisas evaluation differs from the Henley Passport Index, which positioned Nigeria ninetieth globally in July 2026, with entry to 44 locations with out acquiring a previous visa.
Similarly, the Republic of Congo introduced plans to take away visa necessities for African travellers from 2027
