South Korea
- Japanup to 90 days
- Singaporeup to 90 days
- Thailandup to 90 days
- Vietnamup to 90 days
- Malaysiaup to 90 days
South Korea vs United States Passport Comparison
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...
United States
AMERICAS
10
Rank
Visa-Free Access179 countries
The United States passport offers high travel mobility for American citizens, currently providing access to 179 destinations through visa-free or visa-on-arrival arran...
South Korea vs United States Passport Comparison Overview (2026)
This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for South Korea vs United States. South Korea currently leads this comparison with 187 visa-free destinations, while United States has 179. Use the detailed sections below to compare practical travel access and historical changes.
- 126 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
- The largest exclusive advantage is 9 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 | South Korea | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 187 | 179 |
| 2026 Ranking | 2 | 10 |
| Global Mobility Score | 85/100 | 88/100 |
| Openness Score | 85/100 | 85/100 |
| Continent | ASIA | AMERICAS |
| Schengen Member | Yes | Yes |
| Citizenship by Investment | No | No |
| Residency by Investment | No | Yes |
| Visa on Arrival | 40 | 35 |
| eTA Available | 15 | 10 |
| e-Visa Available | 20 | 25 |
| Visa Required | 16 | 21 |
Visa-Free Destinations
South Korea
187
2026 Ranking
Global Mobility Score
South Korea
85/100
United States
88/100
Openness Score
South Korea
85/100
United States
85/100
Continent
South Korea
ASIA
United States
AMERICAS
Schengen Member
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
South Korea
South Korea is a Schengen Area member, providing free movement across 27 European countries.
Residency by Investment
United States
United States offers a Residency by Investment program for those seeking alternative pathways.
Most Unique Access
South Korea
South Korea provides exclusive visa-free access to 9 destinations not accessible with the other passports.
Key Insights
- • All compared passports share access to 126 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
126
Shared Destinations
9
Unique to South Korea
9
Unique to United States
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
South Korea
9 unique destinations
BelarusBrazilThe GambiaLaosParaguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamChina
United States
9 unique destinations
South KoreaCanadaCayman IslandsMarshall IslandsPalau IslandsPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsMalawiTajikistan
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (126)
Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free
MexicoAlbaniaAndorraAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustriaBahamasBarbadosBelgiumBelizeBermudaBonaire; St. Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBruneiBulgariaChileColombiaCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCuracaoCyprusCzechiaDenmarkDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorEstoniaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench West IndiesGeorgiaGermanyGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuamGuatemalaGuyana+76 more destinations
Historical Ranking Trends
Ranking Trends Over Time
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)
| Year | South Korea Rank | United States Rank | South Korea Visa-free | United States Visa-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 11 | 1 | 115 | 130 |
| 2007 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 12 | 3 | 144 | 155 |
| 2009 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 13 | 7 | 151 | 159 |
| 2011 | 10 | 5 | 163 | 169 |
| 2012 | 9 | 4 | 160 | 166 |
| 2013 | 7 | 2 | 166 | 172 |
| 2014 | 3 | 1 | 172 | 174 |
| 2015 | 3 | 2 | 171 | 172 |
| 2016 | 6 | 4 | 172 | 174 |
| 2017 | 7 | 5 | 170 | 172 |
| 2018 | 3 | 5 | 188 | 186 |
| 2019 | 2 | 6 | 188 | 184 |
| 2020 | 3 | 7 | 189 | 185 |
| 2021 | 2 | 7 | 190 | 185 |
| 2022 | 2 | 6 | 190 | 186 |
| 2023 | 2 | 7 | 192 | 186 |
| 2024 | 2 | 7 | 193 | 188 |
| 2025 | 3 | 9 | 192 | 186 |
| 2026 | 2 | 10 | 187 | 179 |
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 States
- United Kingdomup to 180 days
- Franceup to 90 days
- Italyup to 90 days
- Spainup to 90 days
- Japanup to 90 days
Resources
Official Resources
Primary government and immigration sources for policy verification before travel.
South Korea
United States
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