Passports: Unlocking The World's Most Travel Destinations

The Henley Passport Index ranks countries according to the number of destinations their citizens can travel to without a visa. As of 2024, the top spot is held by Singapore, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 195 countries. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain are close behind, with access to 192 countries. The United States, meanwhile, offers visa-free travel to 186 countries. Interestingly, the gap between the top and bottom-ranked countries has widened, with Afghanistan at the bottom, able to access only 28 countries without a visa.

Singapore: most powerful passport in the world

The Singapore passport is one of the most powerful passports in the world. In 2024, it was ranked the most powerful passport, with visa-free or visa on arrival access to 195 countries and territories according to the Henley Passport Index. This is the second year running that Singapore has topped the list.

The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports of the world by the number of countries that their holders can travel to without requiring a visa. The number of countries that a specific passport can access becomes its visa-free "score". The index takes into account several factors, including whether the passport holder is an adult citizen, the purpose and duration of the trip, and whether the passport holder meets basic requirements for entry, such as holding a hotel reservation or having sufficient funds.

The Singapore passport is valid for 10 years and is issued exclusively by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The passport is red in colour, with the words "Republic of Singapore" inscribed at the top of the front cover, along with the coat of arms of Singapore.

Singapore's dominance of the Henley Passport Index reflects the country's strong diplomatic relations and high regard in the international community. The country's developed and high-income status also contributes to the strength of its passport. Singapore citizens who intend to travel as tourists are eligible to use the automated border control systems (eGates) when arriving in or departing from various countries, including Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to its visa-free access, the Singapore passport is also a popular target for counterfeiters due to the relatively liberal visa requirements for Singaporeans and the tendency for immigration officials to clear Singapore passport holders more quickly. The ICA has adopted several measures to foil forgers, including adding digital photos and special ink, as well as converting to a biometric passport.

France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain: joint second place

As of 16 July 2024, the passports of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain jointly rank second in terms of travel freedom. Their citizens can travel visa-free or with a visa on arrival to 192 countries and territories. This is the highest visa-free score among all European Union member states.

French passport holders can travel to 68 countries and territories without a visa, and they need an eVisa or visa on arrival for 90 and 30 destinations, respectively. French citizens can enter the Caribbean Netherlands with only an ID card.

German passport holders can enter 192 countries and territories without a visa or with a visa on arrival. German citizens were recently granted visa-free access to China, Angola, and Zambia, among others.

Italian passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 161 countries and territories, with extensive global mobility. They need an eVisa for 22 countries and a visa for 15 others. Italian citizens can enter the Caribbean Netherlands with only an ID card.

Japanese passport holders can access 192 countries and territories without a visa or with a visa on arrival. They can enter the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand with a digital entry permit. Japanese citizens can also live, work, and study in Japan without restrictions.

Spanish passport holders can travel to 192 countries and territories without a visa or with a visa on arrival.

Afghanistan: least powerful passport

The Henley Passport Index ranks countries according to the number of destinations their citizens can travel to without requiring a visa. The index ranks 199 passports by the number of destinations that can be reached using a particular country's ordinary passport without the need for a prior visa ("visa-free"). The score for each country is the number of countries its citizens can enter without a visa.

The Afghan passport has been labelled the weakest passport in the world, with its citizens only able to visit 27 or 28 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance. This gives Afghan citizens access to just 12% of countries in the world without a visa. In comparison, citizens of the top-ranked countries, such as Singapore, can travel to 195 countries, or 85% of the world, without a visa.

The Henley Passport Index ranks Afghanistan 107th, with access to 28 destinations. Syria and Iraq ranked only slightly higher, with access to 29 and 31 destinations, respectively. The gap between the top and bottom-ranked countries has widened in recent years.

The Henley Passport Index has been tracking the world's most powerful passports for the past 19 years. The latest report shows a continuing trend of upward global mobility. The average number of visa-free destinations travellers can access has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024.

The Henley Passport Index: global ranking of countries

The Henley Passport Index is an annual ranking of countries according to the travel freedom allowed by their ordinary passports for their citizens. The index ranks 199 passports of the world by the number of countries their holders can travel to without requiring a visa. The number of countries that a specific passport can access becomes its visa-free "score". The data is obtained from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)'s Timatic documentation requirements database, which is the largest and most accurate travel information database.

The Henley Passport Index ranks passports according to the number of destinations that can be reached using a particular country's ordinary passport without the need for a prior visa. The survey ranks 199 passports against 227 destination countries, territories, and micro-states. The index considers mobility data based on national GDPs and the percentage of global wealth that the country's passport could provide access to.

The 2024 Henley Passport Index shows that the Singaporean passport is the most powerful in the world, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 195 countries and territories. This is followed by the Japanese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish passports, which offer holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 192 countries. The Austrian, Finnish, Irish, Luxembourgish, Dutch, South Korean, and Swedish passports are ranked third, each offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 191 countries and territories.

The Afghan passport has been labelled the weakest passport in the world, with its nationals only able to visit 28 destinations visa-free. This is followed by the Syrian passport, which allows visa-free travel to 29 destinations, and the Iraqi passport, which allows visa-free travel to 31 destinations.

Visa-free access: the ability to enter without a visa

The Henley Passport Index is a global ranking of countries according to the travel freedom allowed by those countries' ordinary passports for their citizens. The index ranks passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without requiring a visa or with a visa on arrival. The number of countries that a specific passport can access becomes its visa-free "score". The index ranks 199 passports against 227 destinations.

As of 2024, the top passports in terms of visa-free access are:

Singapore

With visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 195 countries, Singapore has the most powerful passport in the world. This equates to roughly 85% of the world and has seen Singapore dominate the number one spot of the Henley Passport Index for the past five years.

France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain

These countries are in joint second place, with visa-free access to 192 or 194 destinations. France has been in the top 10 for the past decade, while Japan has been at the top of the list for the last six years.

Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden

These countries are in third place, with visa-free access to 191 or 193 destinations.

Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom

These countries offer their citizens visa-free access to 190 destinations.

At the other end of the scale, Afghanistan is currently last in the rankings, with access to just 28 destinations. Syria and Iraq ranked only slightly higher, with access to 29 and 31 destinations, respectively.

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