Germany vs Japan Passport Comparison

Germany flag

Germany

EUROPE

4
Rank
Visa-Free Access185 countries

The Germany passport remains one of the most powerful travel documents in Europe and globally, offering exceptional travel mobility. As of 2026, the German passport ra...

Japan flag

Japan

ASIA

2
Rank
Visa-Free Access187 countries

The Japan passport currently offers exceptional travel mobility, ranking 2nd globally for 2026 according to the provided data. Japanese citizens benefit from an extens...

Germany vs Japan Passport Comparison Overview (2026)

This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for Germany vs Japan. Japan currently leads this comparison with 187 visa-free destinations, while Germany has 185. Use the detailed sections below to compare practical travel access and historical changes.

  • 134 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
  • The largest exclusive advantage is 11 destination(s) unique to one passport in this comparison.
  • Ranking and access figures are rendered from country ranking history with a 2026-first year preference.

Detailed Passport Metrics

Detailed Comparison

Visa-Free Destinations

2026 Ranking

Global Mobility Score

Germany
75/100
Japan
83/100

Openness Score

Germany
95/100
Japan
95/100

Continent

Germany
EUROPE
Japan
ASIA

Schengen Member

Citizenship by Investment

Residency by Investment

Visa on Arrival

eTA Available

e-Visa Available

Visa Required

Summary Insights

Comparison Summary & Recommendations

Overall Winner

Japan

With 187 visa-free destinations, Japan offers the most global mobility among the compared passports.

Schengen Area Access

Germany

Germany is a Schengen Area member, providing free movement across 27 European countries.

Most Unique Access

Germany

Germany provides exclusive visa-free access to 11 destinations not accessible with the other passports.

Key Insights

  • All compared passports share access to 134 common destinations
  • The strongest passport offers 187 visa-free destinations
  • Consider your travel priorities: business, leisure, or specific regions when choosing a passport
  • Visa requirements can change - always verify current entry requirements before traveling

Visa Access Breakdown

Visa Access Analysis

Understanding the overlap and unique access each passport provides

134
Shared Destinations
11
Unique to Germany
5
Unique to Japan

Exclusive Visa-Free Access

Germany flag

Germany

11 unique destinations

JapanCape Verde IslandsThe GambiaMarshall IslandsPalau IslandsSamoaSolomon IslandsTimor-LesteTongaTuvalu+1 more
Japan flag

Japan

5 unique destinations

GermanyGuamLaosNorthern Mariana IslandsIran
Note: Exclusive visa-free access means destinations that are only accessible visa-free with that specific passport and not with any of the other compared passports.

Shared Visa-Free Destinations (134)

Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free

South KoreaAlbaniaAndorraAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustriaBahamasBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBermudaBoliviaBonaire; St. Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaCayman IslandsChileColombiaCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCuracaoCyprusCzechiaDenmarkDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorEstoniaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench West IndiesGeorgiaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenada+84 more destinations

Historical Ranking Trends

Ranking Trends Over Time

Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)

YearGermany RankJapan RankGermany Visa-freeJapan Visa-free
200623129128
20072300
200834155154
20093400
201056161160
201124172170
201225168165
201324172170
201413174172
201513173171
201615177173
201715176172
201831188190
201921188190
202031189191
202121190192
202221190192
202331190193
202411194194
202532192193
202642185187

Each cell shows rank and visa-free count for that year.

Destinations

Notable Visa-Free Destinations

Representative destinations that highlight each passport's strongest visa-free access profile.

Germany

  • Franceup to 90 days
  • Singaporeup to 90 days
  • Thailandup to 60 days
  • Japanup to 90 days
  • United Statesup to 90 days

Japan

  • Singaporeup to 90 days
  • Thailandup to 15 days
  • South Koreaup to 90 days
  • United Statesup to 90 days
  • United Kingdomup to 180 days