Namibia Strengthens Global Travel Access in Latest Henley Passport Ranking
By TUW
Namibia has secured its place among Africa’s top five strongest passports in the latest 2026 Henley & Partners Passport Index, reflecting the country’s growing international mobility and diplomatic reach.
According to the global ranking, the Namibian passport is ranked 60th–61st worldwide, giving citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 74 to 79 destinations across the globe. The improvement marks another positive step for Namibia compared to previous years.
The Henley Passport Index, which uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks passports based on the number of destinations holders can enter without obtaining a visa beforehand.
Seychelles and Mauritius continue to hold the strongest passports in Africa, while South Africa and Botswana occupy third and fourth positions respectively. Namibia completes the continent’s top five, ahead of countries such as Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi, Kenya and Morocco.
Top 10 strongest African passports in 2026:
- Seychelles – 154 destinations
- Mauritius – 147 destinations
- South Africa – 100 destinations
- Botswana – 82 destinations
- Namibia – 74 to 79 destinations
- Lesotho – 73 destinations
- Eswatini – 74 destinations
- Malawi – 73 destinations
- Kenya – 72 destinations
- Morocco – 72 destinations
The latest rankings highlight how African countries are slowly improving global travel access despite stricter immigration policies being introduced in several parts of the world.
