Nigeria's passport has climbed to 92nd place in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, a two-position improvement from 94th in October 2025, while the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa increased to 45, according to the latest data released in October 2026.
The Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a visa before departure, uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The new figures show Nigeria's rank improving from 94th in October 2025 to 92nd in October 2026, and the number of visa-free destinations rising from 44 to 45.
Historical Ranking Fluctuations
Nigeria's passport ranking has seen significant fluctuations over the past two decades. The country ranked 62nd in 2006 before slipping to 76th in 2010 and 87th in 2012. A brief improvement brought it to 78th in 2013, but it fell again to 95th in 2015.
More recent years show a similar pattern: Nigeria ranked 94th in 2018, 95th in 2019, and 94th in 2020. The position dropped to 103rd in 2021, before improving to 98th in 2022, 97th in 2023, and 95th in 2024. The 2025 ranking was 94th, and the latest 2026 figure of 92nd marks a modest but notable gain.
Full List of 45 Visa-Free Destinations
According to the Henley Passport Index data, Nigerian passport holders can now access the following 45 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance:
- Barbados
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde Islands
- Chad
- Comoro Islands
- 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
What the Improved Ranking Means
The improved ranking indicates a modest gain in Nigeria's relative position among world passports. The increase from 44 to 45 accessible destinations also points to a slight expansion in travel access, based on the figures provided.
However, travellers should note that entry requirements differ by destination. Some countries may offer visas on arrival or require electronic travel authorisations, while others may impose conditions on passport validity, supporting documents, and the length of stay. Nigerians planning international trips should confirm the latest requirements with the relevant immigration authorities before departure.
The Henley Passport Index measures access for international travel and does not determine eligibility for work visas, student visas, or permanent residency in other countries.
