Costa Rica vs Mauritius Passport Comparison

Costa Rica and Mauritius passports solve different travel problems, even when the headline comparison looks simple. As of 2026, for the Americas, the Costa Rican passport has a genuinely useful mobility profile: 24th worldwide and 148 accessible destinations. It is slightly below its 2006 position of 23rd. Access has widened meaningfully, from 95 destinations then to 148 now. The useful part is the visa-free base: 110 destinations, including Japan, Albania, and Andorra. Visa on arrival adds another 30 options, with examples like Madagascar, Bangladesh, and Burundi. The caveat is the usual one: even strong passports still run into airline and border checks, so the 3-month validity buffer matters. Rules change, so travellers should still confirm the final entry requirement with the relevant embassy or government site before travel. As of 2026, for Africa, the Mauritian passport has a genuinely useful mobility profile: 25th worldwide and 147 accessible destinations. That is a real climb from 46th place in 2006. The access count tells the bigger story, jumping from 52 to 147 destinations. Its global and openness scores sit at 71 and 72, respectively. The useful part is the visa-free base: 113 destinations, including Japan, Albania, and Andorra. Visa on arrival adds another 27 options, with examples like Madagascar, Bolivia, and Burundi. 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.