South Korea vs Japan Passport Comparison
South Korea
ASIA
Japan
ASIA
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Korea | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 187 | 187 |
| 2026 Ranking | #3 | #2 |
| Global Mobility Score | 85/100 | 83/100 |
| Openness Score | 85/100 | 95/100 |
| Continent | ASIA | ASIA |
| Schengen Member | Yes | Yes |
| Citizenship by Investment | No | No |
| Residency by Investment | No | No |
| Visa on Arrival | 40 | 36 |
| eTA Available | 15 | 14 |
| e-Visa Available | 20 | 20 |
| Visa Required | 16 | 17 |
Visa-Free Destinations
2026 Ranking
Global Mobility Score
Openness Score
Continent
Schengen Member
Citizenship by Investment
Residency by Investment
Visa on Arrival
eTA Available
e-Visa Available
Visa Required
Comparison Summary & Recommendations
Overall Winner
South Korea
With 187 visa-free destinations, South Korea offers the most global mobility among the compared passports.
Highest Global Ranking
Japan
Ranked #2 globally, Japan is the highest-ranked passport in this comparison.
Schengen Area Access
South Korea
South Korea 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 Analysis
Understanding the overlap and unique access each passport provides
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
South Korea
2 unique destinations
Japan
6 unique destinations
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (133)
Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free
Ranking Trends Over Time (Server Rendered)
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2025 (lower rank is better)
2025 Snapshot
South Korea
Rank: #3
Visa-free: 192
Japan
Rank: #2
Visa-free: 193
Recent Historical Ranks
| Year | South Korea | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3 (192) | #2 (193) |
| 2024 | #2 (193) | #1 (194) |
| 2023 | #2 (192) | #1 (193) |
| 2022 | #2 (190) | #1 (192) |
| 2021 | #2 (190) | #1 (192) |
| 2020 | #3 (189) | #1 (191) |
| 2019 | #2 (188) | #1 (190) |
| 2018 | #3 (188) | #1 (190) |
| 2017 | #7 (170) | #5 (172) |
| 2016 | #6 (172) | #5 (173) |
Each cell shows rank and visa-free count for that year.