Ireland
- Franceup to 90 days
- Singaporeup to 90 days
- Thailandup to 60 days
- Japanup to 90 days
- United Statesup to 90 days
Ireland vs United Kingdom 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...
United Kingdom
EUROPE
7
Rank
Visa-Free Access182 countries
The United Kingdom passport remains one of the most powerful travel documents globally, offering high levels of travel mobility for British citizens. As of 2026, the U...
Ireland vs United Kingdom Passport Comparison Overview (2026)
This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for Ireland vs United Kingdom. Ireland currently leads this comparison with 185 visa-free destinations, while United Kingdom has 182. Use the detailed sections below to compare practical travel access and historical changes.
- 133 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
- The largest exclusive advantage is 6 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 | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 185 | 182 |
| 2026 Ranking | 4 | 7 |
| Global Mobility Score | 94/100 | 20/100 |
| Openness Score | 88/100 | 87/100 |
| Continent | EUROPE | EUROPE |
| Schengen Member | Yes | Yes |
| Citizenship by Investment | No | No |
| Residency by Investment | No | Yes |
| Visa on Arrival | 33 | 32 |
| eTA Available | 16 | 13 |
| e-Visa Available | 24 | 22 |
| Visa Required | 15 | 20 |
Visa-Free Destinations
Ireland
185
2026 Ranking
Global Mobility Score
Ireland
94/100
United Kingdom
20/100
Openness Score
Ireland
88/100
United Kingdom
87/100
Continent
Ireland
EUROPE
United Kingdom
EUROPE
Schengen Member
Ireland
Yes
Citizenship by Investment
Residency by Investment
Visa on Arrival
eTA Available
e-Visa Available
Visa Required
Summary Insights
Comparison Summary & Recommendations
Overall Winner
Ireland
With 185 visa-free destinations, Ireland 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.
Residency by Investment
United Kingdom
United Kingdom offers a Residency by Investment program for those seeking alternative pathways.
Most Unique Access
United Kingdom
United Kingdom provides exclusive visa-free access to 6 destinations not accessible with the other passports.
Key Insights
- • All compared passports share access to 133 common destinations
- • The strongest passport offers 185 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
133
Shared Destinations
5
Unique to Ireland
6
Unique to United Kingdom
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
Ireland
5 unique destinations
HondurasUnited KingdomUgandaChinaTajikistan
United Kingdom
6 unique destinations
South KoreaGuamIrelandNorthern Mariana IslandsVietnamRwanda
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (133)
Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free
JapanAlbaniaAndorraAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustriaBahamasBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBermudaBoliviaBonaire; St. Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaCape Verde IslandsCayman IslandsChileColombiaCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCuracaoCyprusCzechiaDenmarkDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorEstoniaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench West IndiesThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGibraltar+83 more destinations
Historical Ranking Trends
Ranking Trends Over Time
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)
| Year | Ireland Rank | United Kingdom Rank | Ireland Visa-free | United Kingdom Visa-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 | 3 | 129 | 128 |
| 2007 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 2 | 6 | 156 | 152 |
| 2009 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 7 | 1 | 159 | 166 |
| 2011 | 5 | 3 | 169 | 171 |
| 2012 | 5 | 3 | 165 | 167 |
| 2013 | 4 | 1 | 170 | 173 |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 | 171 | 174 |
| 2015 | 5 | 1 | 169 | 173 |
| 2016 | 6 | 3 | 172 | 175 |
| 2017 | 5 | 4 | 172 | 173 |
| 2018 | 6 | 5 | 185 | 186 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 | 184 | 184 |
| 2020 | 6 | 7 | 186 | 185 |
| 2021 | 5 | 7 | 187 | 185 |
| 2022 | 5 | 6 | 187 | 186 |
| 2023 | 6 | 6 | 187 | 187 |
| 2024 | 3 | 4 | 192 | 191 |
| 2025 | 4 | 5 | 191 | 190 |
| 2026 | 4 | 7 | 185 | 182 |
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.
United Kingdom
- Franceup to 90 days
- Singaporeup to 90 days
- Thailandup to 60 days
- Japanup to 90 days
- United Statesup to 90 days
Resources
Official Resources
Primary government and immigration sources for policy verification before travel.