ExploPassport comparison · 2026 data
Polish passport vs American passport: which is stronger?
The Polish passport is stronger: it reaches 160 destinations without an embassy visit, 3 more than the American passport (157).
Side by side
| Measure | Polish passport | American passport |
|---|---|---|
| World rank | 20 of 197 | 32 of 197 |
| Without an embassy visit | 160 | 157 |
| Visa-free | 119 | 114 |
| Visa on arrival | 33 | 36 |
| eTA | 8 | 7 |
| e-Visa | 20 | 20 |
| 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 American passport cannot 5
Places the American passport can enter without an embassy visit and the Polish passport cannot 2
What both can enter
154 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 American passport?
The Polish passport is stronger: it reaches 160 destinations without an embassy visit, 3 more than the American passport (157). The Polish passport ranks 20 of 197 and the American passport ranks 32.
How many countries can the Polish passport and the American passport enter without an embassy visit?
The Polish passport: 160 (119 visa-free, 33 on arrival, 8 eTA). The American passport: 157 (114 visa-free, 36 on arrival, 7 eTA). Both count the 196 other sovereign countries.
Where can one passport go that the other cannot?
The Polish passport can enter 5 countries without an embassy visit that the American passport cannot, among them China, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Iran and Venezuela. The American passport can enter 2 countries without an embassy visit that the Polish passport cannot, among them Guyana and Lesotho. Both passports can enter 154 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 · 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.
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 · 4 min readVisa-free, visa on arrival, e-visa, eTA: what each meansFive entry rules look alike but work very differently. Learn what visa-free, visa on arrival, eTA, e-visa and visa required mean, and when you need to act.- Free toolPassport validity checkerIs your passport valid for long enough for this trip?
- Email alertsVisa rule change alertsOne short email when an entry rule changes for your passport.
- 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.