Good news for travellers as Nigerian passport ranking improves

Nigeria’s passport has improved in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, moving from 94th position in 2025 to 92nd in 2026.

The improvement means Nigerian passport holders can now travel to 45 destinations without obtaining a visa before departure, compared with 44 destinations in 2025.

The Henley Passport Index ranks countries based on the number of destinations their citizens can visit without getting a visa in advance. The index uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

List of 45 destinations Nigerians can visit without a visa in advance

According to the report, Nigerian passport holders can visit the following destinations without obtaining a visa before departure:

Barbados

Benin

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cambodia

Cameroon

Cape Verde Islands

Chad

Comoros

Cook Islands

Côte d’Ivoire

Djibouti

Dominican Republic

Fiji

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Haiti

Iran

Kenya

Kiribati

Lebanon

Liberia

Madagascar

Maldives

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Micronesia

Montserrat

Mozambique

Niger

Niue

Palau Islands

Rwanda

Samoa

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Somalia

St Kitts and Nevis

The Gambia

Timor-Leste

Togo

Tuvalu

Vanuatu

Nigeria’s passport ranking over the years

Nigeria’s position in the global passport ranking has changed several times over the years.

The country ranked 62nd in 2006 but dropped to 76th in 2010 and 87th in 2012. It improved to 78th in 2013 before falling to 95th in 2015.

Nigeria ranked 94th in 2018, 95th in 2019 and 94th in 2020. Its position dropped to 103rd in 2021 before improving to 98th in 2022, 97th in 2023 and 95th in 2024.

In 2025, Nigeria ranked 94th before moving up to 92nd in 2026.

What the improvement means for Nigerian travellers

The latest ranking shows a slight improvement in Nigeria’s international travel access, with the number of destinations Nigerians can visit without obtaining a visa in advance increasing by one.

However, travellers should confirm the entry requirements of their destinations before making travel plans. Some countries may require visas on arrival or electronic travel authorisation, while others may have conditions relating to passport validity, supporting documents and the length of stay.

The ranking also does not mean Nigerians can automatically obtain permission to work, study or live permanently in these countries. Such activities may require separate visas or permits.