United Kingdom vs Ireland Passport Comparison
United Kingdom
EUROPE
Ireland
EUROPE
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | United Kingdom | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 182 | 185 |
| 2026 Ranking | #5 | #4 |
| Global Mobility Score | 20/100 | 94/100 |
| Openness Score | 87/100 | 88/100 |
| Continent | EUROPE | EUROPE |
| Schengen Member | Yes | Yes |
| Citizenship by Investment | No | No |
| Residency by Investment | Yes | No |
| Visa on Arrival | 32 | 33 |
| eTA Available | 13 | 16 |
| e-Visa Available | 22 | 24 |
| Visa Required | 20 | 15 |
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
Ireland
With 185 visa-free destinations, Ireland offers the most global mobility among the compared passports.
Schengen Area Access
United Kingdom
United Kingdom is a Schengen Area member, providing free movement across 27 European countries.
Residency by Investment
United Kingdom
United Kingdom offers a Residency by Investment program for those seeking alternative pathways.
Most Unique Access
United Kingdom
United Kingdom 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 185 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
United Kingdom
6 unique destinations
Ireland
5 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
United Kingdom
Rank: #5
Visa-free: 190
Ireland
Rank: #4
Visa-free: 191
Recent Historical Ranks
| Year | United Kingdom | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5 (190) | #4 (191) |
| 2024 | #4 (191) | #3 (192) |
| 2023 | #6 (187) | #6 (187) |
| 2022 | #6 (186) | #5 (187) |
| 2021 | #7 (185) | #5 (187) |
| 2020 | #7 (185) | #6 (186) |
| 2019 | #6 (184) | #6 (184) |
| 2018 | #5 (186) | #6 (185) |
| 2017 | #4 (173) | #5 (172) |
| 2016 | #3 (175) | #6 (172) |
Each cell shows rank and visa-free count for that year.