Overall Rank: #157 out of 199 countries
Libya ranks #157 out of 199 countries and territories in the Globevisa Passport Ranking, placing it in the low-ranking category. Across the five core dimensions — Mobility (#186), Governance (#137), Security (#117), Education (#117), and Quality of Life (#143) — Libya performs strongest in security (#117), followed by education (#117). Its weakest dimension is mobility (#186).
Mobility: #186 (score 7/100), Governance: #137 (score 32/100), Security: #117 (score 42/100), Education: #117 (score 42/100), Quality of Life: #143 (score 29/100)
Libya ranks #157 globally in the 2026 Globevisa Passport Ranking, which evaluates 199 countries and territories worldwide. Unlike traditional passport indices that focus solely on visa-free destination counts, the Globevisa Passport Ranking provides a comprehensive structural assessment across five core dimensions: Mobility, Governance, Security, Education, and Quality of Life. Libya shows a relatively balanced profile across all dimensions. However, Governance (#137) and Quality of Life (#143) and Mobility (#186) represent structural areas of concern.
Country Overview: Libya is a conflict-affected North African state with severe political instability and highly restricted immigration pathways. / Limited mobility passport with restricted immigration pathways (Not currently recommended).
Identity Attributes: Not Recommended
Global Taxation: No (Territorial or Limited Taxation)
Cost of Living: Medium
Culture & Adaptation: Significant language barriers with limited English proficiency; high cultural distance due to strong tribal and religious norms; challenging adaptation for international residents due to ongoing political instability and conservative social mentality; most suitable for individuals with strong Arabic skills or experience in conflict-affected regions.
Employment & Development: Economy heavily reliant on oil and gas with emerging reconstruction needs; specialized opportunities for foreign experts in energy, construction, and humanitarian sectors; significant barriers due to political instability, security risks, and complex work permit regulations.
Holding a Libyan passport does not provide visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, or the United States, and formal visa applications are required for almost all major global destinations. Internationally, the passport is consistently ranked among the most restricted in terms of mobility, reflecting limited diplomatic reach and significant security-related vetting. Given the current geopolitical environment and ongoing internal instability, the document faces intense scrutiny, and any expansion of travel privileges or removal of visa requirements remains highly unlikely for the foreseeable future. Consequently, applicants should expect rigorous background checks and comprehensive documentation requirements when seeking travel authorizations to major Western regions.
Libya's immigration and investment landscape is considered relatively volatile, as the legal framework is heavily influenced by ongoing political instability and decentralized governance. While the Investment Law of 2010 remains the primary reference, the country lacks a formal investment migration program, leading to significant inconsistency in how residency and entry policies are applied in practice. Future applicants could face unexpected administrative hurdles or shifts in policy as the government seeks to navigate internal stabilization and potential international compliance pressures. Consequently, prospective investors should prepare for high levels of scrutiny and the possibility of evolving requirements in a fluid regulatory environment.
Libya is currently characterized by a fragile political landscape and a divided government, which results in a security environment that remains unpredictable and prone to localized instability. Safety conditions vary significantly by region, with urban centers like Tripoli and Benghazi subject to periodic clashes between armed groups, while remote border areas in the south carry elevated risks from extremist activity and smuggling networks. Institutional safeguards are primarily provided by a hybrid system of state-aligned armed groups and local police, but the lack of a unified national chain of command often limits the consistent enforcement of legal protections for personal and property security. Residents are advised to maintain a high level of vigilance and establish robust contingency plans given the ongoing institutional fragmentation and the absence of a comprehensive national settlement.