Seychelles has retained its position as Africa’s most powerful passport, ranking 22nd globally with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 154 destinations. This is according to the latest Henley Passport Index, updated on March 9, 2026. Seychelles leads the African ranking, ahead of Mauritius (25th globally, 147 destinations) and South Africa (46th globally, 100 destinations). The government continues negotiations on new visa-waiver agreements with strategic countries, while the recent adoption of biometric passports has further enhanced international travel access for Seychellois citizens. At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan ranks lowest, with visa-free access to just 24 destinations.

Source: Punch March 15, 2026 16:52 UTC