United States
- United Kingdomup to 180 days
- Franceup to 90 days
- Italyup to 90 days
- Spainup to 90 days
- Japanup to 90 days
United States vs Japan Passport Comparison
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...
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...
United States vs Japan Passport Comparison Overview (2026)
This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for United States vs Japan. Japan 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.
- 128 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
- The largest exclusive advantage is 11 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 | United States | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 179 | 187 |
| 2026 Ranking | 10 | 2 |
| Global Mobility Score | 88/100 | 83/100 |
| Openness Score | 85/100 | 95/100 |
| Continent | AMERICAS | ASIA |
| Schengen Member | Yes | Yes |
| Citizenship by Investment | No | No |
| Residency by Investment | Yes | No |
| Visa on Arrival | 35 | 36 |
| eTA Available | 10 | 14 |
| e-Visa Available | 25 | 20 |
| Visa Required | 21 | 17 |
Visa-Free Destinations
Japan
187
2026 Ranking
Global Mobility Score
United States
88/100
Japan
83/100
Openness Score
United States
85/100
Japan
95/100
Continent
United States
AMERICAS
Japan
ASIA
Schengen Member
Japan
Yes
Citizenship by Investment
Residency by Investment
Japan
No
Visa on Arrival
eTA Available
e-Visa Available
Visa Required
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
United States
United States 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
Japan
Japan provides exclusive visa-free access to 11 destinations not accessible with the other passports.
Key Insights
- • All compared passports share access to 128 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
128
Shared Destinations
7
Unique to United States
11
Unique to Japan
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
United States
7 unique destinations
JapanCanadaMarshall IslandsPalau IslandsPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsMalawi
Japan
11 unique destinations
ChinaBelarusBoliviaBrazilLaosParaguayUnited Arab EmiratesUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnam+1 more
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (128)
Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free
South KoreaAlbaniaAndorraAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustriaBahamasBarbadosBelgiumBelizeBermudaBonaire; St. Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBruneiBulgariaCayman IslandsChileColombiaCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCuracaoCyprusCzechiaDenmarkDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorEstoniaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench West IndiesGeorgiaGermanyGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuamGuatemala+78 more destinations
Historical Ranking Trends
Ranking Trends Over Time
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)
| Year | United States Rank | Japan Rank | United States Visa-free | Japan Visa-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 | 3 | 130 | 128 |
| 2007 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 | 4 | 155 | 154 |
| 2009 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 7 | 6 | 159 | 160 |
| 2011 | 5 | 4 | 169 | 170 |
| 2012 | 4 | 5 | 166 | 165 |
| 2013 | 2 | 4 | 172 | 170 |
| 2014 | 1 | 3 | 174 | 172 |
| 2015 | 2 | 3 | 172 | 171 |
| 2016 | 4 | 5 | 174 | 173 |
| 2017 | 5 | 5 | 172 | 172 |
| 2018 | 5 | 1 | 186 | 190 |
| 2019 | 6 | 1 | 184 | 190 |
| 2020 | 7 | 1 | 185 | 191 |
| 2021 | 7 | 1 | 185 | 192 |
| 2022 | 6 | 1 | 186 | 192 |
| 2023 | 7 | 1 | 186 | 193 |
| 2024 | 7 | 1 | 188 | 194 |
| 2025 | 9 | 2 | 186 | 193 |
| 2026 | 10 | 2 | 179 | 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.
Japan
- Singaporeup to 90 days
- Thailandup to 15 days
- South Koreaup to 90 days
- United Statesup to 90 days
- United Kingdomup to 180 days
Resources
Official Resources
Primary government and immigration sources for policy verification before travel.
United States
Japan
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