Japan vs China Passport Comparison

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...

China flag

China

ASIA

56
Rank
Visa-Free Access82 countries

The China passport currently offers a visa-free or visa-on-arrival count of 82 destinations, reflecting a significant upward trend in travel mobility over the last two...

Japan vs China Passport Comparison Overview (2026)

This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for Japan vs China. Japan currently leads this comparison with 187 visa-free destinations, while China has 82. Use the detailed sections below to compare practical travel access and historical changes.

  • 38 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
  • The largest exclusive advantage is 101 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

Japan
83/100
China
32/100

Openness Score

Japan
95/100
China
72/100

Continent

Japan
ASIA
China
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

Japan

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

Most Unique Access

Japan

Japan provides exclusive visa-free access to 101 destinations not accessible with the other passports.

Key Insights

  • All compared passports share access to 38 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

38
Shared Destinations
101
Unique to Japan
9
Unique to China

Exclusive Visa-Free Access

Japan flag

Japan

101 unique destinations

ChinaMexicoSouth KoreaAndorraAnguillaArgentinaArubaAustriaBelgiumBelize+91 more
China flag

China

9 unique destinations

BeninComoro IslandsEgyptGuineaMaldivesMalawiCubaAzerbaijanSolomon Islands
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 (38)

Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free

AlbaniaAntigua and BarbudaArmeniaBahamasBarbadosBelarusBosnia and HerzegovinaBruneiCook IslandsDominicaFijiGeorgiaGrenadaHaitiIraqJamaicaKazakhstanKiribatiMalaysiaMauritiusMicronesiaMoroccoNorthern Mariana IslandsOmanSerbiaSingaporeSt. LuciaSurinameThailandTunisiaTurks and Caicos IslandsUnited Arab EmiratesUzbekistanVanuatuBritish Virgin IslandsZambiaAngolaIran

Historical Ranking Trends

Ranking Trends Over Time

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

YearJapan RankChina RankJapan Visa-freeChina Visa-free
200637812818
200737800
200847915433
200947900
201068816038
201149017040
201259216541
201348217044
201438317245
201539417145
201658717350
201758517251
201817119074
201917219071
202016719175
202117219279
202216419280
202316619380
202416219485
202526019385
202625618782

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.

Japan

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

China

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belarus
  • Benin
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina