Japan
- Singaporeup to 90 days
- Thailandup to 15 days
- South Koreaup to 90 days
- United Statesup to 90 days
- United Kingdomup to 180 days
Japan vs South Korea Passport Comparison
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...
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...
Japan vs South Korea Passport Comparison Overview (2026)
This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for Japan vs South Korea. Japan currently leads this comparison with 187 visa-free destinations, while Japan has 187. 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 | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 187 | 187 |
| 2026 Ranking | 2 | 2 |
| Global Mobility Score | 83/100 | 85/100 |
| Openness Score | 95/100 | 85/100 |
| Continent | ASIA | ASIA |
| Schengen Member | Yes | Yes |
| Citizenship by Investment | No | No |
| Residency by Investment | No | No |
| Visa on Arrival | 36 | 40 |
| eTA Available | 14 | 15 |
| e-Visa Available | 20 | 20 |
| Visa Required | 17 | 16 |
Visa-Free Destinations
Japan
187
South Korea
187
2026 Ranking
Global Mobility Score
Japan
83/100
South Korea
85/100
Openness Score
Japan
95/100
South Korea
85/100
Continent
Japan
ASIA
South Korea
ASIA
Schengen Member
Japan
Yes
South Korea
Yes
Citizenship by Investment
Japan
No
Residency by Investment
Japan
No
Visa on Arrival
Japan
36
eTA Available
Japan
14
e-Visa Available
Japan
20
Visa Required
Japan
17
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 6 destinations not accessible with the other passports.
Key Insights
- • All compared passports share access to 133 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
133
Shared Destinations
6
Unique to Japan
2
Unique to South Korea
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
Japan
6 unique destinations
South KoreaBoliviaCayman IslandsUnited Arab EmiratesTajikistanIran
South Korea
2 unique destinations
The GambiaJapan
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (133)
Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free
ChinaMexicoAlbaniaAndorraAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustriaBahamasBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBermudaBonaire; St. Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBruneiBulgariaChileColombiaCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCuracaoCyprusCzechiaDenmarkDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorEstoniaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench West IndiesGeorgiaGermanyGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenada+83 more destinations
Historical Ranking Trends
Ranking Trends Over Time
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)
| Year | Japan Rank | South Korea Rank | Japan Visa-free | South Korea Visa-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 | 11 | 128 | 115 |
| 2007 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 4 | 12 | 154 | 144 |
| 2009 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 6 | 13 | 160 | 151 |
| 2011 | 4 | 10 | 170 | 163 |
| 2012 | 5 | 9 | 165 | 160 |
| 2013 | 4 | 7 | 170 | 166 |
| 2014 | 3 | 3 | 172 | 172 |
| 2015 | 3 | 3 | 171 | 171 |
| 2016 | 5 | 6 | 173 | 172 |
| 2017 | 5 | 7 | 172 | 170 |
| 2018 | 1 | 3 | 190 | 188 |
| 2019 | 1 | 2 | 190 | 188 |
| 2020 | 1 | 3 | 191 | 189 |
| 2021 | 1 | 2 | 192 | 190 |
| 2022 | 1 | 2 | 192 | 190 |
| 2023 | 1 | 2 | 193 | 192 |
| 2024 | 1 | 2 | 194 | 193 |
| 2025 | 2 | 3 | 193 | 192 |
| 2026 | 2 | 2 | 187 | 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.
Japan
South Korea
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