The South Korea passport currently ranks in 32nd place according to the Global Passport Index 2026. It provides visa-free access to 110 countries.
This makes it one of the most desirable passports in the world with a very high investment score.
South Korea passport holders have visa-free and visa-on-arrival access to countries such as United States, Germany, France, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Monaco, and Macau, allowing almost instant travel worldwide. South Korea passport holders do however require a visa to enter about 8 destinations such as Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Algeria, Eritrea, Ghana, Gambia, and Nauru.
The Enhanced Mobility Index carries the most weight (50%) and is based on the travel benefits that each passport gives the holder, while also taking into account the level of “attractiveness” of the destination country based on its quality of life.
The number of points attributed to the country is the sum of the weight of Visa Requirements required to enter a country or territory multiplied by the weight of the country’s “attractiveness” (this is based on four tiers to assess the quality of life - 1, ¾, ½ or ⅓ depending on the country).
The Investment Index is used to provide a general assessment of the economy as an option for investment and other business decisions. Prosperous nations with a dynamic economy are favored, while the level of personal taxation is also taken into account. It is worth 25% of the overall calculation.
The sum is calculated using three indicators - Global Competitiveness, also known as Market Innovation (weighted at 50%), GNI per Capita (weighted at 25%), and Personal / Individual Tax rates (weighted at 25%). Global Competitiveness is weighted higher as it comprises a number of relevant factors.
The third index covers six main components relating to the quality of life in the country. Other areas were considered, such as healthcare, education, and personal safety. However, it was felt that these were already covered in the selected indicators (such as in the Sustainable Development Goals) or that there were limited reliable sources for the information. The Quality of Living Index is worth 25% of the overall calculation.
The indicators were weighted as follows: Sustainable Development: 30% Cost of Living: 20% Freedom in the World: 20% Happiness Score: 10% Environmental Performance:10% Migrant Acceptance: 10%.
The rationale for these weights is that Sustainable Development combines several aspects relevant to the quality of living. The Cost of Living and level of freedom are considered important aspects of the Global Index Methodology. The final three indicators are given less weight as they are not central to the index, but are still relevant as they carry information not found elsewhere.
To measure sustainable development, the SDG Index was used which combines 84 variables to track progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (Source: Sustainable Development Report, 2020)
To measure environmental performance, the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) was used. This combines 32 variables that measure 11 issue categories relating to the environment, such as ecosystem vitality and environmental health (Source: Yale University, 2020)
To measure the level of freedom in the country, the Freedom in the World (FIW) Index was used. This covers 25 variables under two broad areas - political rights and civil liberties freedoms (Source: Freedom House, 2021).
To measure the level of happiness in the country, the Happiness Score was used which covers subjective well-being based on Gallup surveys of World Happiness (Source: World Happiness Report, 2021).
To measure the cost of living, the Cost of Living Index covers consumer goods, including groceries, restaurants, transportation, utility costs etc., and is calculated with New York City as a reference (Source: Numbeo, 2021).
To measure migrant acceptance, the Migrant Acceptance Index was used, which covers the perception of immigrants in each country (Source: Gallup World Poll).
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The enhanced mobility index carries the most weight (50%) and takes into account the travel benefits for the holder, alongside the desirability of the country, based on its quality of life.
The investment index is worth 25% of the overall calculation. This index is a general assessment of the economy as an option for investment and other business decisions. Prosperous nations that have dynamic economies are favored and personal taxation is also taken into account."
The Quality of living index is worth 25% of the overall calculation. This index covers six main components relating to the quality of life - sustainable development, cost of living, level of happiness, personal freedoms, environmental performance, and migrants’ acceptance."
The Enhanced Mobility score goes beyond simply counting the number of countries or territories that you have access to (from visa-free to restricted access) and also measures the desirability of each destination based on the quality of life. The Enhanced Mobility Score is worth 50% of the Global Passport Index.
The enhanced mobility index carries the most weight (50%) and takes into account the travel benefits for the holder, alongside the desirability of the country, based on its quality of life.
The enhanced mobility index carries the most weight (50%) and takes into account the travel benefits for the holder, alongside the desirability of the country, based on its quality of life.
