ExploPassport comparison · 2026 data
Polish passport vs British passport: which is stronger?
The Polish passport and the British passport are level: each reaches 160 destinations without an embassy visit.
Side by side
| Measure | Polish passport | British passport |
|---|---|---|
| World rank | 20 of 197 | 20 of 197 |
| Without an embassy visit | 160 | 160 |
| Visa-free | 119 | 116 |
| Visa on arrival | 33 | 36 |
| eTA | 8 | 8 |
| e-Visa | 20 | 17 |
| Visa required | 16 | 19 |
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 British passport cannot 3
Places the British passport can enter without an embassy visit and the Polish passport cannot 3
What both can enter
156 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 British passport?
The Polish passport and the British passport are level: each reaches 160 destinations without an embassy visit. The Polish passport ranks 20 of 197 and the British passport ranks 20.
How many countries can the Polish passport and the British passport enter without an embassy visit?
The Polish passport: 160 (119 visa-free, 33 on arrival, 8 eTA). The British passport: 160 (116 visa-free, 36 on arrival, 8 eTA). Both count the 196 other sovereign countries.
Where can one passport go that the other cannot?
The Polish passport can enter 3 countries without an embassy visit that the British passport cannot, among them China, Honduras and Iran. The British passport can enter 3 countries without an embassy visit that the Polish passport cannot, among them Vietnam, Guyana and Lesotho. Both passports can enter 156 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.
Go deeper
Keep exploring
Entry rules · 4 min readHow strong is your passport? What visa-free scores tell youWe counted how many countries each of 197 passports can enter without an embassy visit. The spread is huge, and the number is still not the whole story.
Entry rules · 3 min readDual citizenship: which passport should you travel with?With two passports you can choose the easier entry, but the rules are not always simple. How to pick, when to show which and the mistakes to avoid.
Maps · 4 min readFewer passport stamps? How to keep a travel recordAutomatic gates and digital entry systems mean many trips leave no stamp. Here is how to rebuild and keep a reliable record of where you have been.- Email alertsVisa rule change alertsOne short email when an entry rule changes for your passport.
- Free toolPassport validity checkerIs your passport valid for long enough for this trip?
- Free toolWhere can I go?Every country your passport opens, sorted by how easy it is.
Plan the trips your passport opens up
Explo is a free app: light up the countries you have visited, save the ones you dream about, and check visa rules, weather and holidays before you go.
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.