Visa requirements by country of citizenship: the complete A–Z guide (2026)

How to read this guide

Each entry answers the questions travellers actually ask, in plain language: do citizens of this country need a visa for Schengen (the 29-country European zone), the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia, and roughly how freely the passport travels overall.

A few terms come up constantly. Visa-free means you show up with a passport. Visa waiver / ETA means a quick online authorisation before flying (US ESTA, UK ETA, Canada eTA, Australia ETA, and from 2026 Europe's ETIAS). eVisa means a proper visa you apply for online, usually approved in days. Visa on arrival means you get it at the border. Embassy visa means an appointment, documents, and often weeks of waiting.

One honest warning: no article can replace an official check the week you fly. Use this to understand your general position, then confirm with the destination's foreign ministry site or your airline's Timatic check.

A

• Afghanistan

  One of the most restricted passports in the world. Embassy visas required for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia; even many eVisa programmes exclude Afghan passports. Visa-free access is largely limited to a small group of countries in Asia and Africa.

• Albania

  Visa-free for Schengen (90 days in 180). Embassy visas for the UK, US, Canada and Australia — though Albanian applicants are well-practised at Schengen consulates and approval rates are decent with proper documentation.

• Algeria

  Embassy visas required for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. Schengen applications go mostly through France and Spain; expect long appointment waits in Algiers.

• Andorra

  Visa-free for Schengen, the UK (ETA), the US (ESTA), Canada (eTA) and Australia (eVisitor). One of the world's easiest passports despite the country's size.

• Angola

  Embassy visas for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. Visa-free travel mostly covers southern and eastern Africa; Portugal remains the most common Schengen gateway.

• Antigua and Barbuda

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA). Embassy visa required for the US, and a visa for Canada and Australia. Popular as a citizenship-by-investment passport precisely because of the Europe/UK access.

• Argentina

  One of Latin America's strongest passports: visa-free for Schengen, the UK (ETA) and Canada (eTA); ESTA for the US is not available, so a B1/B2 visa is required. Australia offers eVisa-style visitor access.

• Armenia

  Embassy visas for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. Visa-free access covers much of the former Soviet space plus Iran and a few others.

• Australia

  A top-tier passport: visa-free/ETA-style access to Schengen, the UK, the US (ESTA) and Canada (eTA). Almost nowhere in the developed world requires an embassy visa.

• Austria

  EU member: free movement across Schengen, ETA/ESTA/eTA waivers for the UK, US and Canada, eVisitor for Australia. Consistently among the strongest passports globally.

• Azerbaijan

  Embassy visas for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. The ASAN eVisa system makes Azerbaijan itself easy to visit, but its citizens face standard embassy processes westward.

B

• Bahamas

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); a visitor visa is needed for the US despite the geography, and for Canada and Australia.

• Bahrain

  Embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia; the UK now offers an electronic visa waiver (EVW) for Bahraini citizens, making Britain easier than Europe for this passport.

• Bangladesh

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations. One of the lower-mobility passports in Asia; visa-free access concentrates in a handful of Asian, African and Caribbean states.

• Barbados

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas required for the US, Canada and Australia. A strong Caribbean passport for Europe-bound travel.

• Belarus

  Embassy visas for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, with extra scrutiny and reduced consular services in recent years. Visa-free access is mostly the CIS region.

• Belgium

  EU member with top-tier mobility: ETA/ESTA/eTA waivers for the UK, US and Canada, eVisitor for Australia, and free movement across Europe.

• Belize

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas needed for the US, Canada and Australia.

• Benin

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations. Visa-free travel concentrates in West Africa (ECOWAS) plus a small global list.

• Bhutan

  Embassy visas for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. India is the notable visa-free partner; most other travel requires applications.

• Bolivia

  Embassy visas for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. Within South America, ID-card travel across Mercosur-associated states keeps regional mobility high.

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

  Visa-free for Schengen (90/180 rule). Embassy visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Botswana

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA) — a legacy Commonwealth advantage — but embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Brazil

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); Canada offers eTA to eligible Brazilian travellers who held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or hold a valid US visa, otherwise a visa. The US requires a B1/B2 visa; Australia requires a visitor visa. South America is ID-card accessible.

• Brunei

  A quiet overachiever: visa-free for Schengen, the UK (ETA) and the US (ESTA) — one of very few Asian passports in the Visa Waiver Program — plus eTA-style access to Canada.

• Bulgaria

  EU member (full Schengen since 2025): free movement in Europe, ETA/ESTA/eTA waivers for the UK, US and Canada, eVisitor for Australia.

• Burkina Faso

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations; visa-free access is mainly ECOWAS West Africa.

• Burundi

  Embassy visas for all five; regional East African Community travel is the main visa-free zone.

C

• Cabo Verde

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations, though Portugal is the habitual Schengen entry point and approval rates are comparatively favourable.

• Cambodia

  Embassy visas for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. ASEAN membership keeps Southeast Asia largely open.

• Cameroon

  Embassy visas for all five; France handles most Schengen applications from Yaoundé and Douala.

• Canada

  One of the world's strongest passports: visa-free/ETA for Schengen, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and visa-free entry to the US under the special US–Canada arrangement.

• Central African Republic

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations; among the more restricted passports globally.

• Chad

  Embassy visas for all five; regional CEMAC travel is the main open zone.

• Chile

  The only South American passport in the US Visa Waiver Program: ESTA for the US, plus visa-free/ETA access to Schengen, the UK, Canada and Australia. An exceptional travel document.

• China

  Embassy visas for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia — though multi-year US B1/B2 and long-validity Schengen visas are common for established travellers. Visa-free access has been expanding through bilateral deals, especially in Asia and the Gulf.

• Colombia

  Visa-free for Schengen (90/180). Embassy visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia; ID-card travel across much of South America.

• Comoros

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations; one of the lower-mobility African passports.

• Congo (Republic)

  Embassy visas for all five; regional Central African travel is the main visa-free zone.

• Congo (DRC)

  Embassy visas for all five, among the most restricted passports in the world for Western destinations.

• Costa Rica

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas required for the US, Canada and Australia. One of Central America's strongest passports.

• Croatia

  EU member: free movement in Schengen, ESTA for the US, ETA for the UK, eTA for Canada, eVisitor for Australia.

• Cuba

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations, with extra layers of US-specific restrictions. Visa-free access concentrates in Latin America, Russia and parts of Asia.

• Cyprus

  EU member with top-tier mobility: ESTA for the US, ETA for the UK, eTA for Canada, eVisitor for Australia.

• Czechia

  EU member: full Schengen free movement and waiver access to the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

D

• Denmark

  Perennially one of the strongest passports in the world: EU free movement plus ETA/ESTA/eTA/eVisitor waivers across the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

• Djibouti

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations; regional East African access is the main visa-free zone.

• Dominica

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas for the US, Canada and Australia. Another Caribbean citizenship-by-investment passport valued for Europe access.

• Dominican Republic

  Embassy visas for all five. A valid US, Canadian or Schengen visa unlocks visa-free entry to several Latin American countries, which is how many Dominican travellers build mobility.

E

• Ecuador

  Embassy visas for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia; ID-card travel within most of South America.

• Egypt

  Embassy visas for all five. Schengen applications run heavily through Cairo's European consulates; the Gulf states are the main accessible region.

• El Salvador

  Visa-free for Schengen; embassy visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. CA-4 agreement keeps Central America open.

• Equatorial Guinea

  Embassy visas for all five; one of Africa's more restricted passports.

• Eritrea

  Embassy visas for all five, with exit-permit requirements complicating outbound travel itself; among the world's most restricted nationalities.

• Estonia

  EU member with elite mobility: Schengen free movement plus UK ETA, US ESTA, Canada eTA and Australia eVisitor.

• Eswatini

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA) as a Commonwealth member; embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Ethiopia

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations; African Union and regional East African access covers most visa-free options.

F

• Fiji

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA) via the Commonwealth; embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Finland

  One of the strongest passports ever measured: EU free movement plus waivers for the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

• France

  Top-tier passport: EU free movement, ESTA for the US, ETA for the UK, eTA for Canada, eVisitor for Australia.

G

• Gabon

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations; CEMAC regional travel is the main open zone.

• Gambia

  Embassy visas for all five; ECOWAS covers West African travel.

• Georgia

  Visa-free for Schengen since 2017 (90/180). Embassy visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Germany

  Regularly ranked the strongest or among the strongest passports in the world: EU free movement plus UK ETA, US ESTA, Canada eTA and Australia eVisitor.

• Ghana

  Embassy visas for all five; ECOWAS keeps West Africa open and long UK visitor visas are common for established applicants.

• Greece

  EU member: free movement in Europe and waiver access to the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

• Grenada

  Visa-free for Schengen, the UK (ETA) and notably China — rare for a small state; visas for the US, Canada and Australia.

• Guatemala

  Visa-free for Schengen; embassy visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Guinea

  Embassy visas for all five; ECOWAS regional access is the main visa-free zone.

• Guinea-Bissau

  Embassy visas for all five; ECOWAS access plus historic Portugal links.

• Guyana

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA); embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia.

H

• Haiti

  One of the Western Hemisphere's most restricted passports: embassy visas for all five major destinations and most of the world.

• Honduras

  Visa-free for Schengen; embassy visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. CA-4 covers neighbouring Central America.

• Hungary

  EU member: Schengen free movement plus UK ETA, US ESTA, Canada eTA and Australia eVisitor.

I

• Iceland

  Schengen member with elite mobility: ESTA for the US, ETA for the UK, eTA for Canada, eVisitor for Australia.

• India

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations — but scale matters: Indian applicants receive huge volumes of Schengen, UK, US and Canadian visas yearly, and a valid US or UK visa unlocks visa-free or simplified entry to dozens of third countries, which is the standard mobility strategy.

• Indonesia

  Embassy visas for all five. ASEAN keeps Southeast Asia open, and Japan has eased rules for registered Indonesian travellers.

• Iran

  Embassy visas for all five, with additional sanctions-related banking and processing complications; visa-free access concentrates in a small group of Asian and regional states.

• Iraq

  Among the most restricted passports in the world: embassy visas for all five, limited visa-free access even regionally.

• Ireland

  A uniquely positioned passport: EU free movement plus the Common Travel Area with the UK (no ETA needed, live-and-work rights), ESTA for the US, eTA for Canada and eVisitor for Australia.

• Israel

  Visa-free for Schengen, the UK (ETA) and the US (ESTA — Israel joined the Visa Waiver Program in 2023); eTA-style access to Canada. Some Middle Eastern and a few Asian states remain closed to Israeli passports.

• Italy

  Top-tier EU passport: free movement in Europe plus waivers for the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

• Ivory Coast

  Embassy visas for all five; ECOWAS covers West Africa, France handles most Schengen traffic.

J

• Jamaica

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA) as a Commonwealth state; embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Japan

  One of the two or three strongest passports on earth: visa-free or waiver access to Schengen, the UK, the US (ESTA), Canada (eTA), Australia (ETA) and China.

• Jordan

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations; the Gulf and parts of Asia are the main accessible regions.

K

• Kazakhstan

  Embassy visas for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia; visa-free access across Central Asia, Russia and increasingly China.

• Kenya

  Embassy visas for all five; East African Community travel is open, and Kenya's own eTA system reflects the regional shift to digital authorisations.

• Kiribati

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA); embassy visas for the other four, with Pacific regional access.

• Kosovo

  Visa-free for Schengen since 2024 — a major recent upgrade. Embassy visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, and a handful of states that don't recognise the passport.

• Kuwait

  Visa-free for the UK via the electronic visa waiver; embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia. GCC residence gives broad Gulf mobility.

• Kyrgyzstan

  Embassy visas for all five; CIS regional access is the main visa-free zone.

L

• Laos

  Embassy visas for all five; ASEAN keeps Southeast Asia open.

• Latvia

  EU member: Schengen free movement plus UK ETA, US ESTA, Canada eTA and Australia eVisitor.

• Lebanon

  Embassy visas for all five; a valid Schengen, US or UK visa is the usual key that unlocks additional countries for Lebanese travellers.

• Lesotho

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA); embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia; South African access is the practical lifeline.

• Liberia

  Embassy visas for all five; ECOWAS regional access.

• Libya

  Embassy visas for all five with severe practical constraints; among the more restricted passports globally.

• Liechtenstein

  Schengen-associated micro-state with full elite mobility: ESTA, UK ETA, Canada eTA and Australia eVisitor.

• Lithuania

  EU member: free movement in Europe and waivers across the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

• Luxembourg

  EU founding member with top-tier mobility everywhere that matters.

M

• Madagascar

  Embassy visas for all five; regional Indian Ocean and African access.

• Malawi

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA); embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Malaysia

  One of Asia's stronger passports: visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas for the US and Australia, eTA-style arrangements for Canada only in limited cases. Broad visa-free Asia access.

• Maldives

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA) and Schengen; visas for the US, Canada and Australia.

• Mali

  Embassy visas for all five; ECOWAS regional access.

• Malta

  EU member and a top-tier passport: Schengen free movement plus UK ETA, US ESTA, Canada eTA and Australia eVisitor.

• Marshall Islands

  A special case: Compact of Free Association citizens can live and work in the US visa-free; Schengen is visa-free too. UK, Canada and Australia require visas.

• Mauritania

  Embassy visas for all five; regional West African access.

• Mauritius

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas for the US, Canada and Australia. One of Africa's strongest passports.

• Mexico

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); Canada requires an eTA (air) for eligible Mexican citizens; the US requires a B1/B2 visa — the famous 'mica' — and Australia a visitor visa.

• Micronesia

  Like the Marshalls: US Compact visa-free access, Schengen visa-free; visas for the UK, Canada and Australia.

• Moldova

  Visa-free for Schengen since 2014. Embassy visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Monaco

  Effectively French-level access: visa-free/waiver for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Mongolia

  Embassy visas for all five; Russia and China regional access.

• Montenegro

  Visa-free for Schengen; embassy visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. EU candidacy keeps the trajectory upward.

• Morocco

  Embassy visas for all five. One of the highest-volume Schengen applicant nationalities — Spain and France dominate; long waits in Casablanca and Rabat are normal in summer.

• Mozambique

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA); embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Myanmar

  Embassy visas for all five; ASEAN regional access, with post-2021 practical complications for outbound travel.

N

• Namibia

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA); embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Nauru

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA) and Schengen; visas for the US, Canada and Australia despite Pacific proximity.

• Nepal

  Embassy visas for all five; India is open border, which shapes most Nepali international travel.

• Netherlands

  Perennially top-three passport: EU free movement plus UK ETA, US ESTA, Canada eTA and Australia eVisitor.

• New Zealand

  Elite passport: visa-free/waiver access to Schengen, the UK, the US (ESTA) and Canada (eTA); special Trans-Tasman arrangement gives free movement to Australia.

• Nicaragua

  Visa-free for Schengen; embassy visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Niger

  Embassy visas for all five; ECOWAS regional access.

• Nigeria

  Embassy visas for all five, and one of the highest-stakes applicant pools in the world: UK and US refusal rates are closely watched, documentation standards are strict, and a strong travel history is the standard advice. ECOWAS keeps West Africa open.

• North Korea

  The world's most restricted passport in practice: exit itself is state-controlled, and virtually every destination requires visas with additional scrutiny.

• North Macedonia

  Visa-free for Schengen; embassy visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Norway

  Schengen member with elite global mobility: ESTA, UK ETA, Canada eTA and Australia eVisitor.

O

• Oman

  Visa-free for the UK via electronic visa waiver; embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia. GCC mobility across the Gulf.

P

• Pakistan

  One of the lowest-mobility passports in the world: embassy visas for all five major destinations and most of the globe; visa-free access is limited to a small group of countries.

• Palau

  US Compact state: visa-free US access and Schengen visa-free; visas for the UK, Canada and Australia.

• Palestine

  Embassy visas for all five, with travel-document complexity depending on the issuing authority; among the hardest travel situations in the world.

• Panama

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas for the US, Canada and Australia. A solid Latin American passport.

• Papua New Guinea

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA); embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Paraguay

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas for the US, Canada and Australia; Mercosur ID-card travel.

• Peru

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas for the US, Canada and Australia; South American ID-card mobility.

• Philippines

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations. ASEAN keeps Southeast Asia open, and overseas-worker documentation culture means Filipino applicants are among the most experienced visa applicants anywhere.

• Poland

  EU member: Schengen free movement plus UK ETA, US ESTA (since 2019), Canada eTA and Australia eVisitor.

• Portugal

  Top-tier EU passport with elite global mobility across all major destinations.

Q

• Qatar

  The first Gulf state in the US Visa Waiver Program (2024): ESTA for the US, UK electronic visa waiver, and embassy visas still for Schengen, Canada and Australia. GCC mobility regionally.

R

• Romania

  EU member (full Schengen since 2025): European free movement, US ESTA, UK ETA, Canada eTA and Australia eVisitor.

• Russia

  Embassy visas for all five, with post-2022 restrictions: several EU states no longer issue tourist Schengen visas to Russians, and flight bans reshape routes. Visa-free access remains broad across the CIS, Latin America and parts of Asia.

• Rwanda

  Embassy visas for all five; East African Community mobility and a reputation for efficient eVisa diplomacy.

S

• Saint Kitts and Nevis

  The original citizenship-by-investment passport: visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas for the US, Canada and Australia.

• Saint Lucia

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas for the US, Canada and Australia.

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas for the US, Canada and Australia.

• Samoa

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA) and Schengen; visas for the US (American Samoa aside), Canada and Australia.

• San Marino

  Visa-free/waiver access to Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.

• São Tomé and Príncipe

  Embassy visas for all five; Portugal links shape Schengen applications.

• Saudi Arabia

  UK electronic visa waiver; embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia — though Saudi applicants receive high approval rates and long-validity US and Schengen visas are common. GCC regional mobility.

• Senegal

  Embassy visas for all five; ECOWAS regional access, France as the main Schengen gateway.

• Serbia

  Visa-free for Schengen; embassy visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. A strong Balkan passport for east–west travel.

• Seychelles

  Africa's strongest passport: visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas for the US, Canada and Australia.

• Sierra Leone

  Embassy visas for all five; ECOWAS regional access.

• Singapore

  The strongest passport in the world by most rankings: visa-free/waiver access to Schengen, the UK, the US (ESTA), Canada (eTA), Australia (ETA) and China.

• Slovakia

  EU member: Schengen free movement plus UK ETA, US ESTA, Canada eTA and Australia eVisitor.

• Slovenia

  EU member with elite mobility across all major destinations.

• Solomon Islands

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA) and Schengen; visas for the US, Canada and Australia.

• Somalia

  Among the most restricted passports in the world: embassy visas for all five and minimal visa-free access.

• South Africa

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA) as a Commonwealth member; embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia. The Schengen appointment bottleneck in Cape Town and Johannesburg is a famous frustration.

• South Korea

  Elite passport: visa-free/waiver access to Schengen, the UK, the US (ESTA), Canada (eTA) and Australia (ETA); among the strongest in Asia alongside Japan and Singapore.

• South Sudan

  Embassy visas for all five; among the world's lowest-mobility passports.

• Spain

  Top-tier EU passport with elite mobility across every major destination.

• Sri Lanka

  Embassy visas for all five; South Asian regional access plus a few Asian and African states.

• Sudan

  Embassy visas for all five with severe practical constraints; among the most restricted nationalities.

• Suriname

  Visa-free for Schengen via Dutch-Caribbean arrangements in parts, UK ETA; visas for the US, Canada and Australia.

• Sweden

  Perennially among the strongest passports on earth: EU free movement plus waivers everywhere that matters.

• Switzerland

  Schengen-associated and elite: ESTA, UK ETA, Canada eTA and Australia eVisitor.

• Syria

  The most restricted passport in the world in recent rankings: embassy visas for all five, minimal visa-free access, and asylum-era documentation complexity.

T

• Taiwan

  A quietly elite passport: visa-free/waiver access to Schengen, the UK, the US (ESTA), Canada (eTA), Australia (ETA) and Japan — broader than most people assume.

• Tajikistan

  Embassy visas for all five; CIS regional access.

• Tanzania

  Embassy visas for all five; East African Community mobility.

• Thailand

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations. ASEAN keeps the region open, and Japan and South Korea have eased short-stay rules for Thai travellers in recent years.

• Timor-Leste

  Visa-free for Schengen (a legacy Portugal link); visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.

• Togo

  Embassy visas for all five; ECOWAS regional access.

• Tonga

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA) and Schengen; visas for the US, Canada and Australia.

• Trinidad and Tobago

  Visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas for the US, Canada and Australia.

• Tunisia

  Embassy visas for all five; France and Italy handle the bulk of Schengen applications, and summer appointment scarcity in Tunis is chronic.

• Turkey (Türkiye)

  Embassy visas for Schengen, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia — one of the highest-volume Schengen applicant nationalities in the world. Turkish travellers compensate with strategy: multi-entry Schengen visas renew into longer validities with good history, and a valid Schengen/US/UK visa unlocks eVisas or visa-free entry to Mexico, much of the Balkans and beyond. Visa-free access already covers Japan, South Korea, most of Latin America and Southeast Asia.

• Turkmenistan

  Embassy visas for all five; one of the world's most closed countries both ways.

• Tuvalu

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA) and Schengen; visas for the US, Canada and Australia.

U

• Uganda

  Embassy visas for all five; East African Community mobility.

• Ukraine

  Visa-free for Schengen (biometric passports, 90/180) since 2017. Embassy visas for the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, with temporary-protection schemes reshaping wartime travel.

• United Arab Emirates

  The meteor of passport rankings: visa-free for Schengen and China, UK electronic visa waiver; visas still for the US, Canada and Australia. The fastest-rising travel document of the past decade.

• United Kingdom

  Elite passport: ETA-free entry to Schengen (visa-free short stay), ESTA for the US, eTA for Canada, eVisitor for Australia. Post-Brexit, UK citizens are third-country nationals in the EU: 90 days in 180, passport validity rules apply, and ETIAS will add a pre-travel authorisation.

• United States

  Elite passport: visa-free short stays in Schengen (ETIAS coming), UK ETA, Canada visa-free, Australia ETA. The main embassy-visa destinations for Americans are China, Russia, Brazil (reinstated, then adjusted — check current status) and a handful of others.

• Uruguay

  One of South America's strongest: visa-free for Schengen and the UK (ETA); visas for the US, Canada and Australia; Mercosur ID-card travel.

• Uzbekistan

  Embassy visas for all five; CIS regional access, and the country's own liberalised eVisa regime contrasts with its citizens' outbound situation.

V

• Vanuatu

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA); the EU suspended Vanuatu's Schengen visa waiver over its citizenship-by-investment programme, so Schengen now requires a visa. Visas for the US, Canada and Australia.

• Vatican City

  Effectively Italian-level access in practice.

• Venezuela

  Embassy visas for all five; Mercosur-associated regional mobility has frayed, and the passport's validity/renewal crisis adds a documentation layer to everything.

• Vietnam

  Embassy visas for all five major destinations. ASEAN keeps Southeast Asia open; Japan and Korea have progressively eased rules for Vietnamese travellers.

Y

• Yemen

  Among the most restricted passports in the world: embassy visas for all five, minimal visa-free access, and conflict-related documentation problems.

Z

• Zambia

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA); embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia; regional southern African access.

• Zimbabwe

  Visa-free for the UK (ETA); embassy visas for Schengen, the US, Canada and Australia.

The patterns worth remembering

Three big clubs dominate the map. The EU/EEA passports move freely across Europe and get waivers almost everywhere else. The Commonwealth legacy still shows: many African, Caribbean and Pacific states keep UK visa-free or ETA access even where Schengen demands a visa. And the US Visa Waiver Program is the hardest club to join — roughly 40 countries, with Qatar, Israel, Romania and Bulgaria among the recent additions.

The single most powerful mobility tool for a restricted passport is a used, valid visa from the US, UK or Schengen area. It unlocks visa-free or eVisa entry to dozens of third countries — Mexico, much of the Balkans, several Gulf and Central American states — which is why experienced travellers treat their first Schengen or US visa as an investment.

Everything above moves. Visa waivers appear (Kosovo got Schengen in 2024), get suspended (Vanuatu lost it), and digital authorisations (ETIAS for Europe, UK ETA expanding) are the direction of travel worldwide. Check the official source before every trip, not just every year.