Nigeria's passport has suffered another setback
globally, falling to 181st out of 196 countries in the latest IziVisa Passport
Ranking Index. This is a steep decline from the 90th position it held in
mid-2026.
According to the index, the number of destinations
Nigerians can visit without a visa dropped from 44 in July 2026 to just 24.
This means passport holders have lost easy entry to about 20 destinations that
were previously more accessible.
Several popular destinations have been affected or
reclassified, now requiring visas, visas on arrival under stricter conditions,
or electronic processes. Nigerians now need a visa to travel to Burundi,
Comoros, Djibouti, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Cambodia, Iran,
Lebanon, Maldives, Timor-Leste and Tuvalu. Seychelles now requires a visitor's
permit on arrival, while Niue requires an entry permit on arrival.
Other countries now require electronic travel
authorisations (ETAs) or special clearance. They include Kenya (electronic
travel authorisation), Suriname (entry fee/e-visa clearance), Kiribati and the
Cook Islands.
Under the new ranking, Nigerians can still enter 24
countries completely visa-free, obtain visas on arrival in 16 countries, and
access 43 destinations through e-visas.
The more widely recognised Henley Passport Index still
places Nigeria much higher, at around 90th to 92nd, with access to roughly 44
to 45 destinations. The two indexes use different methodologies, so their
figures cannot be directly compared. Even so, the IziVisa figures point to
growing restrictions and reduced mobility for Nigerian travellers.
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