South Korea vs United States Passport Comparison
South Korea
ASIA
United States
AMERICAS
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | South Korea | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 187 | 179 |
| 2026 Ranking | #3 | #9 |
| 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
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.
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 Analysis
Understanding the overlap and unique access each passport provides
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
South Korea
9 unique destinations
United States
9 unique destinations
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (126)
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
United States
Rank: #9
Visa-free: 186
Recent Historical Ranks
| Year | South Korea | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3 (192) | #9 (186) |
| 2024 | #2 (193) | #7 (188) |
| 2023 | #2 (192) | #7 (186) |
| 2022 | #2 (190) | #6 (186) |
| 2021 | #2 (190) | #7 (185) |
| 2020 | #3 (189) | #7 (185) |
| 2019 | #2 (188) | #6 (184) |
| 2018 | #3 (188) | #5 (186) |
| 2017 | #7 (170) | #5 (172) |
| 2016 | #6 (172) | #4 (174) |
Each cell shows rank and visa-free count for that year.