If you’ve ever had to travel internationally, then you know that having an African passport is usually to your disadvantage.
You have a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy before you can be allowed to travel, and even then your visa can be denied, even if it’s for tourism. That’s why having a passport that is visa-free in most countries is a need. 
African countries usually get a bad reputation for having terrible passports; case in point, US President Donald Trump banned visa applications from over 20 African countries. But there’s an African country that’s the envy of many.
The African Country With the Best Passport Globally
The Seychelles passport has been recognised as the most powerful in Africa for international travel in 2025, according to the Henley & Partners’ Passport Index. This tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean ranks 25th globally.
Its passport holders have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 156 destinations, an improvement from the 2024 ranking.
The index evaluates 199 passports based on the number of destinations accessible without prior visa requirements, incorporating factors like visas on arrival, visitor permits, and electronic travel authorisations, using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which covers over 250 airlines.
Top 10 African Countries With The Best Passport
Following Seychelles, Mauritius stands at 29th globally with access to 151 destinations, making it second in Africa.
South Africa surged five places to 48th globally, allowing access to 106 destinations, securing its position as the third strongest passport in Africa.
The remainder of Africa’s top ten includes Botswana (57th, 88 destinations), Namibia (62nd, 81 destinations), Lesotho (64th, 79 destinations), Eswatini (65th, 77 destinations), Malawi (67th, 75 destinations), Kenya (68th, 74 destinations), and Morocco (69th, 73 destinations).
The Country with the Best Passports Globally
The Singaporean passport is the best passport in the world providing visa-free travel to 195 countries. Japan, Finland, France, and Germany come next.
Interestingly, the number of African countries in the global top 50 has risen to three from two in 2024 because of South Africa’s advancement.
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