ExploPassport comparison · 2026 data
South Korean passport vs German passport: which is stronger?
The South Korean passport is stronger: it reaches 164 destinations without an embassy visit, 1 more than the German passport (163).
Side by side
| Measure | South Korean passport | German passport |
|---|---|---|
| World rank | 2 of 197 | 4 of 197 |
| Without an embassy visit | 164 | 163 |
| Visa-free | 114 | 124 |
| Visa on arrival | 41 | 31 |
| eTA | 9 | 8 |
| e-Visa | 17 | 18 |
| Visa required | 15 | 15 |
Counts are out of the other 196 sovereign countries. “Without an embassy visit” is visa-free, visa on arrival and eTA together.
Places the South Korean passport can enter without an embassy visit and the German passport cannot 3
Places the German passport can enter without an embassy visit and the South Korean passport cannot 2
What both can enter
160 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 South Korean passport or the German passport?
The South Korean passport is stronger: it reaches 164 destinations without an embassy visit, 1 more than the German passport (163). The South Korean passport ranks 2 of 197 and the German passport ranks 4.
How many countries can the South Korean passport and the German passport enter without an embassy visit?
The South Korean passport: 164 (114 visa-free, 41 on arrival, 9 eTA). The German passport: 163 (124 visa-free, 31 on arrival, 8 eTA). Both count the 196 other sovereign countries.
Where can one passport go that the other cannot?
The South Korean passport can enter 3 countries without an embassy visit that the German passport cannot, among them India, Azerbaijan and Russia. The German passport can enter 2 countries without an embassy visit that the South Korean passport cannot, among them Burkina Faso and Somalia. Both passports can enter 160 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.
Entry rules · 4 min readHow to check visa requirements before you book a tripA step-by-step way to check entry rules for your passport: what to look up, which sources to trust, and the details people only discover at the airport.- Free toolWhere can I go?Every country your passport opens, sorted by how easy it is.
- 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.
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.