Germany
- Franceup to 90 days
- Singaporeup to 90 days
- Thailandup to 60 days
- Japanup to 90 days
- United Statesup to 90 days
Germany vs South Korea Passport Comparison
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...
South Korea
ASIA
2
Rank
Visa-Free Access187 countries
The South Korea passport remains one of the most powerful travel documents globally, consistently securing a top-tier position in global passport ranking data. As of 2...
Germany vs South Korea Passport Comparison Overview (2026)
This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for Germany vs South Korea. South Korea 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.
- 131 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
- The largest exclusive advantage is 14 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
| Metric | Germany | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 185 | 187 |
| 2026 Ranking | 4 | 2 |
| Global Mobility Score | 75/100 | 85/100 |
| Openness Score | 95/100 | 85/100 |
| Continent | EUROPE | ASIA |
| Schengen Member | Yes | Yes |
| Citizenship by Investment | No | No |
| Residency by Investment | No | No |
| Visa on Arrival | 27 | 40 |
| eTA Available | 16 | 15 |
| e-Visa Available | 22 | 20 |
| Visa Required | 16 | 16 |
Visa-Free Destinations
Germany
185
South Korea
187
2026 Ranking
Global Mobility Score
Germany
75/100
South Korea
85/100
Openness Score
Germany
95/100
South Korea
85/100
Continent
Germany
EUROPE
South Korea
ASIA
Schengen Member
Germany
Yes
South Korea
Yes
Citizenship by Investment
Residency by Investment
Visa on Arrival
eTA Available
e-Visa Available
Visa Required
Summary Insights
Comparison Summary & Recommendations
Overall Winner
South Korea
With 187 visa-free destinations, South Korea 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 14 destinations not accessible with the other passports.
Key Insights
- • All compared passports share access to 131 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
131
Shared Destinations
14
Unique to Germany
4
Unique to South Korea
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
Germany
14 unique destinations
South KoreaBoliviaCape Verde IslandsCayman IslandsMarshall IslandsPalau IslandsSamoaSolomon IslandsTimor-LesteTonga+4 more
South Korea
4 unique destinations
GermanyGuamLaosNorthern Mariana Islands
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (131)
Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free
JapanAlbaniaAndorraAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustriaBahamasBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBermudaBonaire; St. Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaChileColombiaCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCuracaoCyprusCzechiaDenmarkDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorEstoniaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench West IndiesThe GambiaGeorgiaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuatemala+81 more destinations
Historical Ranking Trends
Ranking Trends Over Time
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)
| Year | Germany Rank | South Korea Rank | Germany Visa-free | South Korea Visa-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 | 11 | 129 | 115 |
| 2007 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 | 12 | 155 | 144 |
| 2009 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 5 | 13 | 161 | 151 |
| 2011 | 2 | 10 | 172 | 163 |
| 2012 | 2 | 9 | 168 | 160 |
| 2013 | 2 | 7 | 172 | 166 |
| 2014 | 1 | 3 | 174 | 172 |
| 2015 | 1 | 3 | 173 | 171 |
| 2016 | 1 | 6 | 177 | 172 |
| 2017 | 1 | 7 | 176 | 170 |
| 2018 | 3 | 3 | 188 | 188 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 | 188 | 188 |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 | 189 | 189 |
| 2021 | 2 | 2 | 190 | 190 |
| 2022 | 2 | 2 | 190 | 190 |
| 2023 | 3 | 2 | 190 | 192 |
| 2024 | 1 | 2 | 194 | 193 |
| 2025 | 3 | 3 | 192 | 192 |
| 2026 | 4 | 2 | 185 | 187 |
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.
South Korea
- Japanup to 90 days
- Singaporeup to 90 days
- Thailandup to 90 days
- Vietnamup to 90 days
- Malaysiaup to 90 days
Resources
Official Resources
Primary government and immigration sources for policy verification before travel.
Germany
South Korea
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