El Salvador vs Panama Passport Comparison

El Salvador and Panama passports solve different travel problems, even when the headline comparison looks simple. El Salvador passport holders are working with solid travel leverage in 2026, not elite but clearly above the global middle. For passports in the Americas, regional access often does a lot of the practical work. It is slightly below its 2006 position of 31st. Access has widened meaningfully, from 81 destinations then to 131 now. The useful part is the visa-free base: 96 destinations, including Japan, Albania, and Andorra. Visa on arrival adds another 31 options, with examples like Madagascar, Bangladesh, and Bolivia. Visa and validity rules can change quickly; confirm the current requirement with the official embassy or government source before booking around it. Panama passport holders are working with solid travel leverage in 2026, not elite but clearly above the global middle. That is up from 30th place in 2006. Access has widened meaningfully, from 82 destinations then to 147 now. Its global and openness scores sit at 71 and 68, respectively. The useful part is the visa-free base: 109 destinations, including Albania, Andorra, and Anguilla. Visa on arrival adds another 31 options, with examples like Madagascar, Bangladesh, and Burundi. For borderline itineraries, those online-visa routes can be the difference between a simple form and a full consular application. Before relying on any route, verify the current rule with the destination government or embassy because entry policies can move without much notice. 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.