Ireland
- Franceup to 90 days
- Singaporeup to 90 days
- Thailandup to 60 days
- Japanup to 90 days
- United Statesup to 90 days
Ireland vs South Korea Passport Comparison
Ireland
EUROPE
4
Rank
Visa-Free Access185 countries
The Ireland passport remains one of the world's most powerful travel documents, consistently maintaining a high position in the global passport ranking. As of 2026, th...
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...
Ireland vs South Korea Passport Comparison Overview (2026)
This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for Ireland vs South Korea. South Korea currently leads this comparison with 187 visa-free destinations, while Ireland has 185. Use the detailed sections below to compare practical travel access and historical changes.
- 130 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
- The largest exclusive advantage is 8 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 | Ireland | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 185 | 187 |
| 2026 Ranking | 4 | 2 |
| Global Mobility Score | 94/100 | 85/100 |
| Openness Score | 88/100 | 85/100 |
| Continent | EUROPE | ASIA |
| Schengen Member | Yes | Yes |
| Citizenship by Investment | No | No |
| Residency by Investment | No | No |
| Visa on Arrival | 33 | 40 |
| eTA Available | 16 | 15 |
| e-Visa Available | 24 | 20 |
| Visa Required | 15 | 16 |
Visa-Free Destinations
Ireland
185
South Korea
187
2026 Ranking
Global Mobility Score
Ireland
94/100
South Korea
85/100
Openness Score
Ireland
88/100
South Korea
85/100
Continent
Ireland
EUROPE
South Korea
ASIA
Schengen Member
Ireland
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
Ireland
Ireland is a Schengen Area member, providing free movement across 27 European countries.
Most Unique Access
Ireland
Ireland provides exclusive visa-free access to 8 destinations not accessible with the other passports.
Key Insights
- • All compared passports share access to 130 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
130
Shared Destinations
8
Unique to Ireland
5
Unique to South Korea
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
Ireland
8 unique destinations
BoliviaCape Verde IslandsCayman IslandsMarshall IslandsUnited KingdomUgandaMalawiTajikistan
South Korea
5 unique destinations
GuamIrelandLaosNorthern Mariana IslandsVietnam
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (130)
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 GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenada+80 more destinations
Historical Ranking Trends
Ranking Trends Over Time
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)
| Year | Ireland Rank | South Korea Rank | Ireland Visa-free | South Korea Visa-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 | 11 | 129 | 115 |
| 2007 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 2 | 12 | 156 | 144 |
| 2009 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 7 | 13 | 159 | 151 |
| 2011 | 5 | 10 | 169 | 163 |
| 2012 | 5 | 9 | 165 | 160 |
| 2013 | 4 | 7 | 170 | 166 |
| 2014 | 4 | 3 | 171 | 172 |
| 2015 | 5 | 3 | 169 | 171 |
| 2016 | 6 | 6 | 172 | 172 |
| 2017 | 5 | 7 | 172 | 170 |
| 2018 | 6 | 3 | 185 | 188 |
| 2019 | 6 | 2 | 184 | 188 |
| 2020 | 6 | 3 | 186 | 189 |
| 2021 | 5 | 2 | 187 | 190 |
| 2022 | 5 | 2 | 187 | 190 |
| 2023 | 6 | 2 | 187 | 192 |
| 2024 | 3 | 2 | 192 | 193 |
| 2025 | 4 | 3 | 191 | 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.
Ireland
South Korea
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