Mapped: The World’s Most and Least Welcoming Borders

Which Countries Have the World’s Most Welcoming Borders?

Key Takeaways:

• 19 countries admit all 198 nationalities visa-free, through visas on arrival, or with electronic travel authorizations.

• Africa accounts for 13 of these 19 countries, reflecting efforts to facilitate tourism and cross-border travel.

• Afghanistan, North Korea, and Turkmenistan rank last, while the U.S. and Australia each admit just 46 nationalities under these arrangements.

Some of the world’s most popular travel destinations have surprisingly restrictive entry requirements. Meanwhile, countries across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific offer simpler entry arrangements for a much wider range of nationalities.

Using the 2026 Welcoming Countries Rank from Passport Index, this visualization compares how many nationalities can enter each country without obtaining a traditional visa in advance.

Which Countries Have the Most Open Borders?

The following table ranks countries by the number of nationalities admitted visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or through an electronic travel authorization (eTA).

Welcoming RankCountryNationalities Admitted

1 Seychelles198

1 Samoa198

1 Tuvalu198

1 Micronesia198

1 Timor-Leste198

1 Bolivia198

1 Kenya198

1 Viet Nam198

1 Uganda198

1 Togo198

1 Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)198

1 Guinea198

1 Comoros198

1 Djibouti198

1 Guinea-Bissau198

1 Burundi198

1 Nigeria198

1 Congo (Dem. Rep.)198

1 South Sudan198

2 Maldives197

2 Suriname197

2 Rwanda197

2 Gabon197

2 Cambodia197

2 Equatorial Guinea197

2 Mauritania197

2 Ethiopia197

3 Dominica196

3 Palau196

3 Madagascar196

4 Malaysia195

5 Haiti193

6 Macao192

6 Mozambique192

7 St. Vincent and the Grenadines186

8 Nepal185

9 Sri Lanka183

10 Mauritius182

11 Barbados179

12 Cuba176

13 Tanzania175

14 Laos170

15 India168

16 Bangladesh164

17 Singapore163

18 Philippines162

19 Palestinian Territories156

20 Ecuador151

20 Malawi151

21 Hong Kong150

22 Zambia145

23 Zimbabwe144

23 Jordan144

24 Saint Lucia143

25 Armenia140

25 Uzbekistan140

26 Namibia137

27 Sierra Leone136

28 Senegal135

29 Trinidad and Tobago134

30 Gambia132

31 Russian Federation127

32 Ukraine125

33 Jamaica124

34 Bahamas123

34 Grenada123

34 Kiribati123

35 Egypt122

36 Saint Kitts and Nevis121

37 Vanuatu120

38 Panama117

38 Türkiye117

39 Antigua and Barbuda113

40 Fiji112

41 South Korea110

41 Marshall Islands110

42 Kosovo109

42 Dominican Republic109

43 Belize106

43 Azerbaijan106

44 Peru104

45 Colombia103

45 Georgia103

45 Botswana103

45 Cape Verde103

46 Brazil102

46 Israel102

46 Moldova102

46 Angola102

47 Bosnia and Herzegovina99

47 Qatar99

47 Indonesia99

47 Tunisia99

47 Lebanon99

48 Montenegro98

48 Tajikistan98

49 Eswatini97

50 Papua New Guinea96

51 Costa Rica95

51 Belarus95

52 United Arab Emirates94

53 Belgium93

53 Luxembourg93

53 France93

53 Denmark93

53 Germany93

53 Sweden93

53 Netherlands93

53 Finland93

53 Spain93

53 Italy93

53 Switzerland93

53 Greece93

53 Portugal93

53 Austria93

53 Croatia93

53 Norway93

53 Malta93

53 Slovenia93

53 Poland93

53 Slovakia93

53 Hungary93

53 Estonia93

53 Latvia93

53 Romania93

53 Czech Republic93

53 Bulgaria93

53 Lithuania93

53 Cyprus93

53 Liechtenstein93

53 Iceland93

53 Monaco93

53 Chile93

53 Andorra93

53 San Marino93

53 Vatican City93

53 South Africa93

54 Taiwan91

55 Argentina90

55 Serbia90

56 Albania89

57 El Salvador88

58 Honduras87

58 Morocco87

59 Kazakhstan86

60 Uruguay85

60 Guatemala85

61 United Kingdom84

61 Oman84

61 Kyrgyzstan84

62 China83

63 Lesotho82

64 North Macedonia80

64 Thailand80

65 Solomon Islands77

66 Paraguay76

66 Saudi Arabia76

67 Ireland75

68 Japan74

68 Venezuela74

69 Nicaragua72

70 Bahrain71

71 Tonga69

71 Mongolia69

72 Mexico67

73 Benin66

74 Ghana65

75 Brunei64

76 Guyana62

76 Sao Tome and Principe62

77 New Zealand61

78 Syria58

79 Kuwait57

80 Canada54

81 Australia46

81 United States of America46

82 Iran43

83 Mali26

84 Niger20

85 Burkina Faso19

86 Myanmar17

87 Nauru16

87 Liberia16

87 Chad16

88 Central African Republic15

88 Congo15

89 Somalia13

90 Yemen12

91 Pakistan9

91 Iraq9

92 Sudan8

93 Algeria7

94 Cameroon6

95 Libya4

95 Eritrea4

96 Bhutan3

97 Turkmenistan0

97 North Korea0

97 Afghanistan0

Seychelles, Kenya, Bolivia, and Vietnam are among the countries tied for first place. At the opposite extreme, Bhutan admits just three nationalities under the index’s simplified entry categories.

These figures measure entry requirements rather than whether travelers can actually visit safely or easily. A low score does not mean a country prohibits foreign visitors.

Why Does Africa Dominate the Most Welcoming Countries?

Easier entry can encourage tourism and regional trade while reducing administrative barriers. The African Development Bank has highlighted the economic costs of visa restrictions, particularly for regional integration.

However, openness involves trade-offs. A 2026 Afrobarometer survey found that 43% of Seychellois viewed immigration’s economic impact negatively, illustrating domestic concerns despite the country’s visitor-friendly policies.

Why Are Wealthier Countries More Restrictive?

Some of the world’s most popular travel destinations rank surprisingly low for simplified entry. The United States and Australia each admit just 46 nationalities under these arrangements, compared with Canada’s 54 and the UK’s 84.

Governments balance tourism revenue against immigration enforcement and security screening, including concerns about unauthorized stays. European countries also apply common Schengen entry rules, helping explain their similar scores.

Wealthier countries may face greater pressure to distinguish short-term visitors from prospective migrants, particularly when economic disparities create incentives to overstay visas. As a result, they often require travelers from certain countries to demonstrate sufficient funds, strong ties to their home country, or a clear purpose for visiting.

Nevertheless, easier access can strengthen a country’s competitiveness as a leading tourism destination.

What Makes Some Borders Particularly Difficult to Cross?

Conflict, diplomatic isolation, and tightly controlled immigration systems help explain the lowest rankings. Afghanistan, North Korea, and Turkmenistan have no nationalities qualifying under the index’s simplified entry categories. This does not mean entry is universally impossible, but travelers generally face more demanding visa procedures.

North Korea, for example, has historically required foreign tourists to travel through tightly controlled, government-approved arrangements. Turkmenistan typically requires advance authorization and supporting documentation, while security concerns and limited diplomatic services create additional obstacles for visitors to Afghanistan.

Ultimately, the ranking reveals an important distinction: countries that attract the most tourists aren’t necessarily those with the simplest entry requirements. For another perspective, see which countries are gaining and losing the most tourists.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To explore another dimension of global tourism, see Mapped: Where International Tourists Spend the Most on Voronoi.