Chile vs New Zealand Passport Comparison

Chile and New Zealand passports solve different travel problems, even when the headline comparison looks simple. The Chilean passport sits comfortably in the top tier in 2026, ranking 13th globally with access to 174 destinations. For passports in the Americas, regional access often does a lot of the practical work. The rank has edged up from 14th place in 2006. Access has widened meaningfully, from 109 destinations then to 174 now. The wider scoring backs that up: 92 for global strength and 75 for openness. The useful part is the visa-free base: 127 destinations, including Japan, Thailand, and Albania. Visa on arrival adds another 33 options, with examples like Madagascar, Armenia, and Bahrain. Before relying on any route, verify the current rule with the destination government or embassy because entry policies can move without much notice. The New Zealander passport sits comfortably in the top tier in 2026, ranking 7th globally with access to 182 destinations. Oceania passports can look deceptively small on the map but useful on Pacific and Commonwealth routes. It is slightly below its 2006 position of 6th. Access has widened meaningfully, from 125 destinations then to 182 now. The wider scoring backs that up: 33 for global strength and 92 for openness. The useful part is the visa-free base: 136 destinations, including Japan, South Korea, and Albania. Visa on arrival adds another 39 options, with examples like Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Bahrain. The caveat is the usual one: even strong passports still run into airline and border checks, so the 6-month validity buffer matters. Rules change, so travellers should still confirm the final entry requirement with the relevant embassy or government site before travel. Reading those profiles together gives better context than a one-line winner label, because passport strength depends on where you travel, how often rules change, and whether the passport creates practical friction at borders, airlines, or visa portals.