Eritrea vs South Sudan Passport Comparison

Eritrea and South Sudan passports solve different travel problems, even when the headline comparison looks simple. The mobility picture for the Eritrean passport is restrictive in 2026: 94th globally, with only 38 destinations available through simplified entry routes. The direction has not all been positive: it stood at 76th in 2006. Access has still improved, rising from 20 to 38 destinations. The supporting scores are modest too, at 8 globally and 8 for openness. This passport leans heavily on arrival-based access rather than pure visa-free entry: 24 destinations offer visa on arrival, including Madagascar, Bangladesh, and Bolivia. There are also 13 visa-free destinations, such as Benin, Cook Islands, and Dominica. The practical advice is simple: check the visa route early and keep the 6-month validity buffer in mind before booking. Visa and validity rules can change quickly; confirm the current requirement with the official embassy or government source before booking around it. For South Sudan passport holders, international travel still starts with paperwork more often than not. The passport ranks 92nd globally in 2026. It is slightly below its 2008 position of 86th. Access has widened meaningfully, from 0 destinations then to 41 now. The supporting scores are modest too, at 18 globally and 12 for openness. This passport leans heavily on arrival-based access rather than pure visa-free entry: 22 destinations offer visa on arrival, including Madagascar, Bolivia, and Burundi. There are also 18 visa-free destinations, such as Benin, Botswana, and Cook Islands. The practical advice is simple: check the visa route early and keep the 6-month validity buffer in mind before booking. Use this as planning data, not final permission to travel; official embassy or border-authority guidance should be checked before departure. 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.