ExploPassport comparison · 2026 data
Polish passport vs Russian passport: which is stronger?
The Polish passport is stronger: it reaches 160 destinations without an embassy visit, 45 more than the Russian passport (115).
Side by side
| Measure | Polish passport | Russian passport |
|---|---|---|
| World rank | 20 of 197 | 74 of 197 |
| Without an embassy visit | 160 | 115 |
| Visa-free | 119 | 76 |
| Visa on arrival | 33 | 33 |
| eTA | 8 | 6 |
| e-Visa | 20 | 19 |
| Visa required | 16 | 62 |
Counts are out of the other 196 sovereign countries. “Without an embassy visit” is visa-free, visa on arrival and eTA together.
Places the Polish passport can enter without an embassy visit and the Russian passport cannot 51
Places the Russian passport can enter without an embassy visit and the Polish passport cannot 6
What both can enter
109 countries are open to both passports without an embassy visit. The two home countries are not counted in these lists.
Compare with another passport
Questions
Which is stronger, the Polish passport or the Russian passport?
The Polish passport is stronger: it reaches 160 destinations without an embassy visit, 45 more than the Russian passport (115). The Polish passport ranks 20 of 197 and the Russian passport ranks 74.
How many countries can the Polish passport and the Russian passport enter without an embassy visit?
The Polish passport: 160 (119 visa-free, 33 on arrival, 8 eTA). The Russian passport: 115 (76 visa-free, 33 on arrival, 6 eTA). Both count the 196 other sovereign countries.
Where can one passport go that the other cannot?
The Polish passport can enter 51 countries without an embassy visit that the Russian passport cannot, among them Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Portugal and United Kingdom. The Russian passport can enter 6 countries without an embassy visit that the Polish passport cannot, among them Vietnam, Myanmar, Cuba, Azerbaijan, Guyana and Nauru. Both passports can enter 109 of the same countries without an embassy visit. The two home countries are left out of these counts.
How is passport strength measured here?
We count the other 196 sovereign countries a passport can enter with visa-free entry, a visa on arrival or an eTA. An e-Visa counts as a visa. The data is the open Passport Index dataset, last updated 18 February 2026. Other indexes count differently, so their rankings can differ, and rules change often, so check the official source before you book.
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Get ExploEntry rules come from the open Passport Index dataset by Ilya Ilyankou (MIT), last updated 18 February 2026. Governments change rules often, so treat this as a guide and check with the embassy or the official immigration site before you book.