New Zealand Passport

The New Zealander passport sits comfortably in the top tier in 2026, ranking 7th globally with access to 182 destinations. Oceania passports can look deceptively small on the map but useful on Pacific and Commonwealth routes. It is slightly below its 2006 position of 6th. Access has widened meaningfully, from 125 destinations then to 182 now. The wider scoring backs that up: 33 for global strength and 92 for openness. The useful part is the visa-free base: 136 destinations, including Japan, South Korea, and Albania. Visa on arrival adds another 39 options, with examples like Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Bahrain. The caveat is the usual one: even strong passports still run into airline and border checks, so the 6-month validity buffer matters. Rules change, so travellers should still confirm the final entry requirement with the relevant embassy or government site before travel.