Most Powerful Passports in Africa 2020 and the Countries their Nationals Do Not Require a Visa

Newly released statistics from the Henley Passport Index show an overall decline in the value of African passports over the past 10 years.

The report, which ranks passports based on their total visa-free score and data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), blames the decline in the value of African passports over political instability and conflict.

According to the New report, Seychelles holds the title for the most powerful passport in Africa, for the third year in a row. The country is closely followed by Mauritius, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.

Here is the full list of 20 most powerful passports in Africa and the countries their Nationals Do Not Require a Visa to visit free access to, according to the 2020 Henley Passport Index:

* Visa on arrival
** eTA (An Electronic Travel Authority), ETA provides authorisation to travel to and enter a country and it is electronically linked to your passport.

1. Seychelles

Global Rank: 29
Visa Free Access: 151

Seychelles holds the title for the most powerful passport in Africa, for the third year in a row.

Countries Where Seychelles Nationals Do Not Require a Visa to visit

Asia

Bangladesh, Cambodia *, China, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Laos *, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste *

Europe

Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City

Africa

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Egypt *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia *, Gambia, Ghana *, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique *, Namibia, Nigeria, Reunion, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, St. Helena *, Tanzania, Togo *, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Oceania, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands *, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand **, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tonga *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu

Caribbean

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French West Indies, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, st. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands

Americas

Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia *, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Nicaragua *, Panama, Uruguay

Middle East
Georgia, Iran *, Jordan *, Qatar, Turkey, United Arab Emirates

2. Mauritius

Global Rank: 32
Visa Free Access: 146

Mauritius holds the title for the second most powerful passport in Africa

Visa free countries for Mauritius Passport, the second most powerful passport in Africa

Asia
Cambodia *, China, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Japan, Laos *, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka **, Thailand, Timor-Lester.

Europe
Albania, Andorra, Austria Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City.

Africa
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Congo (Dem. Rep.) *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia *, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Réunion, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, St. Helena *, Tanzania, Togo *, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands *, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand **, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu

Caribbean
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French West Indies, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands

Americas
Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia *, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Nicaragua *, Panama

Middle East
Georgia, Iran *, Israel, Jordan *, Palestinian Territory, Qatar *, United Arab Emirates *

3. South Africa

Global Rank: 56
Visa Free Access: 100

South Africa holds the title for the third most powerful passport in Africa.

Visa free countries for South Africa Passport, the third most powerful passport in Africa

Asia
Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan *, Laos *, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka **, Tajikistan *, Thailand, Timor-Leste *, Europe, Ireland, Kosovo, Russian Federation

Africa

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia *, Gabon, Ghana *
Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique Namibia, Réunion, Rwanda *, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, St. Helena *, Tanzania, Togo *, Tunisia, Uganda *, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Oceania

Cook Islands, Fiji, Marshall Islands *, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu

Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands

Americas
Argentina, Belize, Bolivia *, Brazil
Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Falkland Islands, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru Uruguay
Venezuela

Middle East
Armenia *, Georgia, Iran *, Israel, Jordan *
Palestinian Territory, Qatar

4. Botswana

Global Rank: 62
Visa Free Access: 84

Botswana holds the title for the most powerful passport in Africa

Countries Where Botswana Nationals Do Not Require a Visa to visit

Asia
Bangladesh, Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Laos *, Macao (SAR China) *, Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Pakistan **, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka **, Timor-Leste *, Europe, Gibraltar, Ireland, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Russian Federation, United Kingdom

Africa
Angola, Benin, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Gambia, Ghana *, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda *, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, South Sudan *, St. Helena *, Tanzania, Togo *, Uganda *, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu

Caribbean
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands

Americas
Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia *, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama

Middle East
Georgia, Iran *, Israel, Palestinian Territory

5. Namibia

Global Rank: 67
Visa Free Access: 76

Namibia holds the title for the fifth most powerful passport in Africa.

Visa free countries for Namibia Passport

Asia
Bangladesh *, Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Laos *, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka **,, Timor-Leste *

Europe
Gibraltar, Kosovo, United Kingdom

Africa
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia *, Gambia, Ghana *, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique *, Rwanda *, Senegal, Seychelles * Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, St. Helena *, Tanzania, Togo *, Tunisia, Uganda *, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Oceania
Cook Islands, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu

Caribbean
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago

Americas
Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia *, Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua *, Panama

Middle East
Iran

6. Lesotho

Global Rank: 69
Visa Free Access: 74

Visa free countries for Lesotho Passport

Asia
Bangladesh, Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Japan, Macao (SAR China) *, Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka **, Timor-Leste *

Europe
Ireland, Kosovo

Africa
Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *
Comores Islands *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Gambia, Ghana *, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *
Mauritius, Mozambique *, Namibia, Rwanda *, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo *, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu

Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands

Americas
Belize, Bolivia *, Ecuador, Nicaragua *

Middle East
Iran *, Israel, Jordan *, Palestinian Territory

7. Eswatini (Swaziland)

Global Rank: 70
Visa Free Access: 73

Visa free countries for Eswatini’s Passport

Asia
Bangladesh *, Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Macao (SAR China) *, Malaysia, Maldives *, Philippines, Singapore
South Korea, Sri Lanka **, Timor-Leste *

Europe
Ireland, Kosovo

Africa
Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Ethiopia *, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda *, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo *, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu

Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago

Americas
Belize, Bolivia *, Ecuador, Guyana, Nicaragua *

Middle East
Iran *, Israel, Jordan *, Kuwait *, Palestinian Territory

8. Malawi

Global Rank: 71
Visa Free Access: 72

Visa free countries for Malawi Passport

Asia
Bangladesh, Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Laos *, Macao (SAR China) *, Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka **, Timor-Leste *

Europe
Kosovo

Africa
Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia *, Gambia, Ghana *, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda *, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo *, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Niue
Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu

Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica
Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago

Americas
Belize, Bolivia *, Ecuador, Nicaragua *

Middle East
Iran *, Israel, Jordan *, Palestinian Territory

9. Kenya

Global Rank: 72
Visa Free Access: 71 countries

Visa free countries for Kenya Passport

Asia
Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Laos * Macao (SAR China) *, Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, Timor-Leste *

Africa
Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso *, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Congo (Dem. Rep.) *, Eswatini (Swaziland)
Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau *, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mali *, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique *, Namibia
Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Sudan *, Sudan *, Tanzania, Togo *, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu

Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia *, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago

Americas
Bolivia *, Panama

Middle East
Iran *, Jordan

10. Tanzania

Global Rank: 73
Visa Free Access: 70 countries

Countries Where Seychelles Nationals Do Not Require a Visa to visit

Asia
Bangladesh, Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Laos *, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Pakistan **, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka **, Timor-Leste *

Africa
Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Congo (Dem. Rep.) *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Gambia, Ghana *, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal *, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa
South Sudan *, Togo *, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu

Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands
Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica
Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Americas
Belize, Bolivia *, Ecuador, Nicaragua *

Middle East
Iran

Other Countries

Meanwhile, Nigeria is ranked as one of the weakest travel documents in Africa. With access to just 46 countries

Methodology

The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information, and enhanced by ongoing research by the Henley & Partners Research Department.