South Sudan's passport has been ranked 50th among 54 African countries and 170th globally, according to a report by Passport Reports. The ranking, updated on October 18, measures the number of foreign destinations South Sudanese passport holders can access without obtaining a visa in advance or through simplified entry procedures. The country's mobility score fell from 52 in 2025 to 38 in 2026, representing facilitated access to 19.2% of the 198 destinations assessed.
The report shows that 17 destinations allow South Sudanese citizens to travel visa-free, while another 17 offer visas on arrival or similar arrangements. Four destinations allow entry through electronic travel authorisation, while 160 require an advance visa. Within Africa, South Sudanese passport holders can travel visa-free to nine countries: Benin, Botswana, Burundi, The Gambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda.
In addition to the nine visa-free countries, eight African countries offer visas on arrival or similar arrangements: Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone. Three countries, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Seychelles, require electronic travel authorisation. However, some destinations require additional procedures, such as arrival cards or online registration, even when a visa is not required.
The report also ranks South Sudan 50th among African Union countries, 57th among countries where English is an official language, 17th in its OPEC+ comparison, and 117th among G77 countries. The platform separately ranks South Sudan 142nd in its welcoming-country index, which measures how easily foreign passport holders can enter the country.
Passport Reports presents a hypothetical scenario in which all 29 Schengen destinations grant visa-free entry to South Sudanese passport holders. Under that assumption, the country's mobility score would rise from 38 to 67, and its global ranking would improve to 109th, with other entry requirements unchanged. The scenario is a calculation, not a change in existing Schengen visa policy.
Passport Reports is a research and publishing platform that presents passport strength and travel options for 199 countries in 34 languages. The ranking is based on the number of destinations accessible visa-free, through visas on arrival or similar arrangements, and through electronic travel authorisation. The platform uses the number of visa-free destinations and other entry categories to determine positions when countries have equal scores.
The report's findings reflect the index's published results for 2025 and 2026, but do not establish the specific factors behind the change in South Sudan's ranking. The country's global ranking declined from 166th in 2025 to 170th in 2026.
Key points
- South Sudan's passport ranks 50th in Africa and 170th globally.
- The country's mobility score fell from 52 in 2025 to 38 in 2026.
- South Sudanese passport holders can travel visa-free to 17 destinations.
