LAGOS, Nigeria – Despite being ranked among the weakest passports globally, the Nigerian passport now boasts visa-on-arrival access to 20 countries across Oceania, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, according to the Henley Passport Index’s first quarter report for 2023.
The Nigerian passport, which provides visa-free access to 26 countries, now grants entry to an additional 20 territories using a visa-on-arrival system. This is a significant development for Nigerian travelers seeking to broaden their global experiences.
The Henley Passport Index, based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association, IATA, ranks the Nigerian passport as one of the weakest in the world, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only 46 countries.
The list of countries now offering visa-on-arrival access for Nigerian passport holders includes:
- Palau Islands
- Samoa
- Tuvalu
- Iran
- Lebanon
- Cambodia
- Maldives
- Timor-Leste
- Burundi
- Comoro Islands
- Ethiopia
- Madagascar
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- Uganda
Despite the limited reach of the Nigerian passport, this recent development is a step in the right direction for the country’s global travel potential.
“It’s a small but meaningful change for Nigerian passport holders who have long faced significant travel restrictions,” said Dr. Christian H. Kälin on Sunday, May 7, 2023, a prominent international immigration and citizenship law expert. “This visa-on-arrival access to an additional 20 countries offers new opportunities for Nigerian citizens to explore the world and expand their horizons.”
The Nigerian government and its citizens hope that this progress will continue, as increased global access offers a wealth of opportunities for the nation’s growth and development.
