Japan vs South Korea Passport Comparison 2026
Complete side-by-side comparison of visa-free access, country details, exclusive destinations, and investment programs.
The Japan passport provides access to 1 more destinations than the South Korea passport.
Visa Access Breakdown
Stacked comparison of visa categories across all 2 passports
Country Facts Comparison
| Detail |  Japan |  South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Global Rank | #5 | #22 |
| Mobility Score | 173 | 172 |
| Visa Free | 114 | 114 |
| Visa on Arrival | 47 | 46 |
| eTA | 12 | 12 |
| eVisa | 12 | 14 |
| Visa Required | 13 | 12 |
| Capital | Unknown | Unknown |
| Population | 0 | 0 |
| Area (km²) | 0 | 0 |
| Currency | Unknown (XXX) | Unknown (XXX) |
| Languages | Unknown | Unknown |
| Calling Code | +0 | +0 |
| Driving Side | right | right |
| Passport Color | Dark Red | Navy Blue |
| Dual Citizenship | Not allowed | Restricted |
| Continent | Asia | Asia |
| Region | Unknown | Unknown |
Exclusive Easy-Access Destinations
Countries with visa-free, VoA, or eTA access for one passport but not the other
Only Japan (2)
Iran15dSouth Korea90dOnly South Korea (1)
Japan90dCommon Easy-Access Destinations (171)
Countries accessible without a visa by both Japan and South Korea passport holders
Albania
Andorra
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burundi
Cambodia
Canada
Cape Verde
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
DR Congo
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zambia
ZimbabweAll Visa Differences by Destination
Every destination where the two passports have different visa requirements
3 destinations with different access
| Destination | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Iran | Visa Free 15d | eVisa |
 Liberia | Visa Required | eVisa |
| Russia | VoA 30d | Visa Free 60d |
Regional Access Comparison
Visa-free + VoA + eTA destinations grouped by continent
| Continent | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | 0 | 0 |
| Asia | 173 | 172 |
| Africa | 0 | 0 |
| North America | 0 | 0 |
| South America | 0 | 0 |
| Oceania | 0 | 0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which passport is stronger, Japan or South Korea?
The Japan passport is stronger with a mobility score of 173 (rank #5), providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 173 destinations worldwide.
How many countries can Japan passport holders visit visa-free?
Japan passport holders can visit 114 countries visa-free, 47 with visa on arrival, and 12 with eTA, for a total mobility score of 173.
What is the difference between Japan and South Korea passports?
The Japan passport has a mobility score of 173 (rank #5) while the South Korea passport scores 172 (rank #22). That's a difference of 1 destinations. Japan has exclusive easy access to 2 destinations that South Korea doesn't.
Can Japan passport holders travel to all countries South Korea can?
No. South Korea passport holders have easy access (visa-free/VoA/eTA) to 1 destinations that require a visa for Japan holders, including Japan.