MOST POWERFUL PASSPORTS IN THE WORLD FOR 2024 Travel
The index annually ranks 199 passports of the world by the number of countries that their holders can travel to without requiring a visa.
The Passport index ranks passports according to the number of destinations that can be reached using a particular country's ordinary passport without the need of a prior visa ("visa-free"). The survey ranks 199 passports against 227 destinations countries, territories, and micro-states.
A. Can travel to 194 COUNTRIES
1. Union européenne
République française
🇫🇷
PASSEPORT
FRANCE (dashboard here)
2. EUROPÄISCHE UNION
BUNDESREPUBLIK
DEUTSCHLAND
🇩🇪
REISEPASS
PASSPORT
PASSEPORT
GERMANY (dashboard here)
3. UNIONE EUROPEA
REPUBBLICA ITALIANA
🇮🇹
PASSAPORTO
ITALY (dashboard here)
4.日本国
🇯🇵
JAPAN
PASSPORT
(dashboard here)
5. REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE
🇸🇬
PASSPORT
(dashboard here)
6. UNIÓN EUROPEA ESPAÑA
🇪🇸
PASAPORTE
SPAIN ( dashboard here)
B. Can travel to193 COUNTRIES
7. Euroopan unioni
Europeiska unionen
🇫🇮
SUOMI• FINLAND
Passi
Pass
FINLAND (dashboard here)
8. 대한탄국어진
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
🇰🇷
SOUTH KOREA (dashboard here)
9. EUROPEISKA UNIONEN
SVERIGE
PAS
SWEDEN 🇸🇪 (dashboard here)
C. Can travel to 192 COUNTRIES
10. EUROPÄISCHE UNION
REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH
🇦🇹
REISEPASS
PASSPORT
AUSTRIA (dashboard here)
11. DEN EUROPÆISKE UNION
DANMARK
🇩🇰
PAS
DENMARK ( dashboard here )
12. An tAontas Eorpach
European Union
EIRE IRELAND
🇮🇪
Pas
Passport
IRELAND (dashboard here)
13. EUROPESE UNIE
KONINKRIJK DER NEDERLANDEN
PASPOORT
🇳🇱
NETHERLANDS ( dashboard here )
World International Passport Index
A passport index is a ranking system that categorizes and ranks all international passports. The index assesses the strength of each passport and measures the extent of global mobility it offers to those who hold it. To achieve accurate rankings, passport indices employ well-defined methodologies and specific criteria to assign a distinct score to each passport. This score dictates the position of each passport on the ranking chart.
The ranking of a passport determines whether the holder must obtain a visa before entering another international country or territory. It’s important to note that not all passports are created equal. Some passports are powerful and offer extensive international mobility and travel freedom. Others restrict travel to a limited set of destinations, and holders are more likely to require a prior visa. This is where the significance of the passport index comes into play.
Table of contents
Passport Ranking 2024
The difference between Passport Ranking and Passport Index
Importance of Passport Index
Guide Passport Index
What sets Guide Passport Index apart?
The methodology of Guide Passport Index
The strength of passports and expanding international travel freedom
Passport Ranking 2024
🇸🇬
Singapore
1 Passport Rank
195 Visa Free Destinations
🇪🇸
Spain
2 Passport Rank
193 Visa Free Destinations
🇰🇷
South Korea
3 Passport Rank
192 Visa Free Destinations
🇯🇵
Japan
3 Passport Rank
192 Visa Free Destinations
🇮🇹
Italy
3 Passport Rank
192 Visa Free Destinations
🇩🇪
Germany
3 Passport Rank
192 Visa Free Destinations
🇫🇷
France
3 Passport Rank
192 Visa Free Destinations
🇨🇭
Switzerland
4 Passport Rank
191 Visa Free Destinations
🇸🇪
Sweden
4 Passport Rank
191 Visa Free Destinations
🇳🇱
Netherlands
4 Passport Rank
191 Visa Free Destinations
🇱🇺
Luxembourg
4 Passport Rank
191 Visa Free Destinations
🇫🇮
Finland
4 Passport Rank
191 Visa Free Destinations
🇦🇹
Austria
4 Passport Rank
191 Visa Free Destinations
🇬🇧
United Kingdom
5 Passport Rank
190 Visa Free Destinations
🇳🇴
Norway
5 Passport Rank
190 Visa Free Destinations
🇳🇿
New Zealand
5 Passport Rank
190 Visa Free Destinations
🇮🇪
Ireland
5 Passport Rank
190 Visa Free Destinations
🇩🇰
Denmark
5 Passport Rank
190 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇪
Belgium
5 Passport Rank
190 Visa Free Destinations
🇵🇹
Portugal
6 Passport Rank
189 Visa Free Destinations
Australia 🇦🇺
6 Passport Rank
189 Visa Free Destinations
🇺🇸
United States of America
7 Passport Rank
188 Visa Free Destinations
🇬🇷
Greece
7 Passport Rank
188 Visa Free Destinations
🇨🇦
Canada
7 Passport Rank
188 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇹
Malta
8 Passport Rank
187 Visa Free Destinations
🇭🇺
Hungary
8 Passport Rank
187 Visa Free Destinations
🇵🇱
Poland
9 Passport Rank
186 Visa Free Destinations
🇨🇿
Czech Republic
9 Passport Rank
186 Visa Free Destinations
🇱🇮
Liechtenstein
10 Passport Rank
185 Visa Free Destinations
🇮🇸
Iceland
10 Passport Rank
185 Visa Free Destinations
🇸🇰
Slovakia
11 Passport Rank
184 Visa Free Destinations
🇱🇹
Lithuania
11 Passport Rank
184 Visa Free Destinations
🇪🇪
Estonia
11 PassportRank
184 Visa Free Destinations
🇦🇪 UAE
United Arab Emirates
12 Passport Rank
183 Visa Free Destinations
🇸🇮
Slovenia
12 Passport Rank
183 Visa Free Destinations
🇱🇻
Latvia
12 Passport Rank
183 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇾
Malaysia
13 Passport Rank
182 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇨
Monaco
14 Passport Rank
181 Visa Free Destinations
🇭🇷
Croatia
15 PassportRank
180 Visa Free Destinations
🇨🇾
Cyprus
16 Passport Rank
177 Visa Free Destinations
🇭🇰
Hong Kong
17 Passport Rank
176 Visa Free Destinations
🇷🇴
Romania
18 Passport Rank
175 Visa Free Destinations
🇨🇱
Chile
18 Passport Rank
175 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇬
Bulgaria
18 Passport Rank
175 Visa Free Destinations
🇸🇲
San Marino
19 Passport Rank
173 Visa Free Destinations
🇦🇩
Andorra
19 Passport Rank
173 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇷
Brazil
20 Passport Rank
172 Visa Free Destinations
🇦🇷
Argentina
20 Passport Rank
172 Visa Free Destinations
🇮🇱
Israel
21 Passport Rank
169 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇳
Brunei Dassusalam
22 PassportRank
168 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇧
Barbados
23 Passport Rank
166 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇸
Bahamas
24 Passport Rank
160 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇽
Mexico
25 Passport Rank
159 Visa Free Destinations
🇺🇾
Uruguay
26 Passport Rank
157 Visa Free Destinations
Seychelles flag
Seychelles
26 Passport Rank
157 Visa Free Destinations
🇻🇦
Vatican City
27 Passport Rank
156 Visa Free Destinations
Saint Kitts 🇰🇳 and Nevis flag
Saint Kitts and Nevis
27 Passport Rank
156 Visa Free Destinations
●Island sovereign state in the Caribbean.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines flag
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
28 Passport Rank
153 Visa Free Destinations
🇦🇬 and 🇦🇬
Antigua and Barbuda
28 Passport Rank
153 Visa Free Destinations
🇹🇹 and 🇹🇹
Trinidad and Tobago
29 Passport Rank
151 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇺
Mauritius
29 Passport Rank
151 Visa Free Destinations
🇨🇷
Costa Rica
29 Passport Rank
151 Visa Free Destinations
🇺🇦
Ukraine
30 Passport Rank
150 Visa Free Destinations
🇵🇾
Paraguay
30 Passport Rank
150 Visa Free Destinations
Macao flag
Macao
31 Passport Rank
147 Visa Free Destinations
🇵🇦
Panama
32 Passport Rank
146 Visa Free Destinations
🇱🇨
Saint Lucia
33 Passport Rank
145 Visa Free Destinations
🇬🇩
Grenada
34 Passport Rank
144 Visa Free Destinations
🇹🇼
Taiwan
35 Passport Rank
143 Visa Free Destinations
🇵🇪
Peru
35 Passport Rank
143 Visa Free Destinations
🇩🇲
Dominica
36 Passport Rank
142 Visa Free Destinations
🇷🇸
Serbia
37 Passport Rank
138 Visa Free Destinations
🇸🇻
El Salvador
38 Passport Rank
137 Visa Free Destinations
🇬🇹
Guatemala
39 Passport Rank
136 Visa Free Destinations
🇨🇴
Colombia
39 Passport Rank
136 Visa Free Destinations
🇭🇳
Honduras
40 Passport Rank
135 Visa Free Destinations
🇸🇧
Solomon Islands
41 Passport Rank
133 Visa Free Destinations
🇼🇸
Samoa
42 Passport Rank
132 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇰
North Macedonia
43 Passport Rank
130 Visa Free Destinations
🇳🇮
Nicaragua
44 Passport Rank
129 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇪
Montenegro
44 Passport Rank
129 Visa Free Destinations
🇹🇻
Tuvalu
45 Passport Rank
127 Visa Free Destinations
🇹🇴
Tonga
45 Passport Rank
127 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇭
Marshall Islands
45 Passport Rank
127 Visa Free Destinations
🇬🇪
Georgia
45 Passport Rank
127 Visa Free Destinations
🇵🇼
Palau
46 Passport Rank
125 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇦 and 🇧🇦
Bosnia and Herzegovina
46 Passport Rank
125 Visa Free Destinations
🇻🇪
Venezuela
47 Passport Rank
124 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇩
Moldova
47 PassportRank
124 Visa Free Destinations
🇰🇮
Kiribati
47 Passport Rank
124 Visa Free Destinations
🇫🇲
Micronesia
48 Passport Rank
122 Visa Free Destinations
🇦🇱
Albania
49 Passport Rank
121 Visa Free Destinations
🇹🇷
Turkey
50 Passport Rank
116 Visa Free Destinations
🇷🇺
Russia
50 Passport Rank
116 Visa Free Destinations
🇶🇦
Qatar
51 Passport Rank
106 Visa Free Destinations
🇿🇦
South Africa
52 Passport Rank
104 Visa Free Destinations
🇹🇱
Timor-Leste
53 Passport Rank
99 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇿
Belize
53 Passport Rank
99 Visa Free Destinations
🇰🇼
Kuwait
54 Passport Rank
98 Visa Free Destinations
🇪🇨
Ecuador
55 Passport Rank
94 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇻
Maldives
56 Passport Rank
91 Visa Free Destinations
🇻🇺
Vanuatu
57 Passport Rank
90 Visa Free Destinations
🇸🇦
Saudi Arabia
57 Passport Rank
90 Visa Free Destinations
🇫🇯
Fiji
58 Passport Rank
89 Visa Free Destinations
🇳🇷
Nauru
59 Passport Rank
88 Visa Free Destinations
🇬🇾
Guyana
59 Passport Rank
88 Visa Free Destinations
🇯🇲
Jamaica
60 Passport Rank
87 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇭
Bahrain
60 Passport Rank
87 Visa Free Destinations
🇴🇲
Oman
61 Passport Rank
85 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇼
Botswana
61 Passport Rank
85 Visa Free Destinations
🇵🇬
Papua New Guinea
62 Passport Rank
84 Visa Free Destinations
🇹🇭
Thailand
63 Passport Rank
83 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇾
Belarus
63 Passport Rank
83 Visa Free Destinations
🇨🇳
China
64 Passport Rank
81 Visa Free Destinations
🇰🇿
Kazakhstan
65 Passport Rank
80 Visa Free Destinations
🇮🇩
Indonesia
65 Passport Rank
80 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇴
Bolivia
65 Passport Rank
80 Visa Free Destinations
🇽🇰
Kosovo
66 Passport Rank
79 Visa Free Destinations
🇸🇷
Suriname
67 Passport Rank
78 Visa Free Destinations
🇳🇦
Namibia
67 Passport Rank
78 Visa Free Destinations
🇱🇸
Lesotho
68 Passport Rank
77 Visa Free Destinations
Eswatini flag
Eswatini
69 Passport Rank
75 Visa Free Destinations
🇹🇿
Tanzania
70 Passport Rank
73 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇼
Malawi
70 Passport Rank
73 Visa Free Destinations
🇰🇪
Kenya
71 Passport Rank
72 Visa Free Destinations
🇦🇿
Azerbaijan
71 Passport Rank
72 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇦
Morocco
72 Passport Rank
71 Visa Free Destinations
🇩🇴
Dominican Republic
72 Passport Rank
71 Visa Free Destinations
🇦🇲
Armenia
72 Passport Rank
71 Visa Free Destinations
🇹🇳
Tunisia
73 Passport Rank
70 Visa Free Destinations
🇿🇲
Zambia
74 Passport Rank
69 Visa Free Destinations
🇬🇲
Gambia
74 PassportRank
69 Visa Free Destinations
🇬🇭
Ghana
75 Passport Rank
68 Visa Free Destinations
Cape Verde flag
Cape Verde
76 Passport Rank
67 Visa Free Destinations
🇺🇬
Uganda
76 Passport Rank
67 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇳
Mongolia
76 Passport Rank
67 Visa Free Destinations
🇵🇭
Philippines
77 Passport Rank
65 Visa Free Destinations
🇿🇼
Zimbabwe
78 Passport Rank
64 Visa Free Destinations
🇸🇱
Sierra Leone
78 Passport Rank
64 Visa Free Destinations
🇰🇬
Kyrgyzstan
78 Passport Rank
64 Visa Free Destinations
Sao Tome and Principe
79 Passport Rank
63 Visa Free Destinations
🇷🇼
Rwanda
79 Passport Rank
63 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇯
Benin
79 Passport Rank
63 Visa Free Destinations
🇺🇿
Uzbekistan
80 Passport Rank
62 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇿
Mozambique
81 Passport Rank
61 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇬
Madagascar
81 Passport Rank
61 Visa Free Destinations
🇨🇺
Cuba
81 Passport Rank
61 Visa Free Destinations
🇬🇦
Gabon
82 Passport Rank
60 Visa Free Destinations
🇹🇬
Togo
83 Passport Rank
59 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇫
Burkina Faso
83 Passport Rank
59 Visa Free Destinations
🇹🇯
Tajikistan
84 Passport Rank
58 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇷
Mauritania
84 PassportRank
58 Visa Free Destinations
🇳🇪
Niger
85 Passport Rank
57 Visa Free Destinations
🇮🇳
India
85 Passport Rank
57 Visa Free Destinations
🇬🇳
Guinea
85 Passport Rank
57 Visa Free Destinations
🇨🇮
Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
86 Passport Rank
56 Visa Free Destinations
🇬🇶
Equatorial Guinea
86 Passport Rank
56 Visa Free Destinations
🇸🇳
Senegal
87 Passport Rank
55 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇱
Mali
87 Passport Rank
55 Visa Free Destinations
🇰🇲
Comoros
88 Passport Rank
54 Visa Free Destinations
🇹🇩
Chad
88 Passport Rank
54 Visa Free Destinations
🇰🇭
Cambodia
88 Passport Rank
54 Visa Free Destinations
🇩🇿
Algeria
88 Passport Rank
54 Visa Free Destinations
Guinea-Bissau
89 Passport Rank
53 Visa Free Destinations
The national flag of the Central African Republic was applied on 1st December, 1958. Its designed was finalized by the famous designer Barthélemy Boganda, the first President of the independent area of Oubangui-Chari, who had a belief that “France and Africa must goal together.” Therefore, he mixed the red, white and blue of the French tri-color and the Pan-African colors red, green and yellow for its final flag.
According to its formal information, red represents the blood of the people of the country that were shed to get freedom, and the blood that they would spill to protect their country. Blue symbolizes the sky and independence. White symbolizes serenity, and pride. Green symbolizes hope, and faith. Yellow symbolizes patience.
There are four equivalent horizontal strips. The top strip is blue in color, then a white color, then green color, and finally a yellow color.
The flag colors of this France speaking country are a mixture of the France and Pan-African color with the red, white, and red from the France tricolor and the red, yellow and green from the Pan-African color.
The red straight red stripe on the flag of Central Africa Republic is synonymous with the red blood significance that Africans and European people have to respect each other. The yellow star of freedom represents a good chance. The flag is a ratio of the flag is 2:3.
The Presidential flag of Central Africa Republic is an almost square flag with a gold edge on the three free sides. The airplane marks of its Air Force are a roundel which starts with a red strip with the yellow star enforced upon it. Then there are three external strips of white, green and yellow.
The green strip is a bit smaller than the yellow or white strip. In 1976 a new flag was suggested that had only green, yellow, and white color.
Central African Republic
89 Passport Rank
53 Visa Free Destinations
🇯🇴
Jordan
90
Passport
Rank
52
Visa Free Destinations
🇪🇬
Egypt
90
Passport
Rank
52
Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇹
Bhutan
90 Passport Rank
52 Visa Free Destinations
🇦🇴
Angola
91 Passport Rank
51 Visa Free Destinations
🇻🇳
Vietnam
92 Passport Rank
50 Visa Free Destinations
🇨🇩
Congo
92
Passport
Rank
50
Visa Free Destinations
🇹🇲
Turkmenistan
93
Passport
Rank
49
Visa Free Destinations
🇭🇹
Haiti
93 Passport Rank
49 Visa Free Destinations
🇨🇲
Cameroon
93
Passport
Rank
49
Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇮
Burundi
93
Passport
Rank
49
Visa Free Destinations
🇱🇷
Liberia
94 Passport Rank
48 Visa Free Destinations
🇱🇦
Laos
94 Passport Rank
48 Visa Free Destinations
🇩🇯
Djibouti
94 Passport Rank
48 Visa Free Destinations
🇨🇩
Congo Democratic Republic
95 Passport Rank
45 Visa Free Destinations
🇳🇬
Nigeria
95 Passport Rank
45 Visa Free Destinations
🇱🇧
Lebanon
95 Passport Rank
45 Visa Free Destinations
🇮🇷
Iran
96 Passport Rank
44 Visa Free Destinations
🇪🇹
Ethiopia
96 Passport Rank
44 Visa Free Destinations
🇲🇲
Myanmar
97 Passport Rank
43 Visa Free Destinations
🇱🇰
Sri Lanka
97 Passport Rank
43 Visa Free Destinations
South Sudan 🇸🇸
South Sudan
97 Passport Rank
43 Visa Free Destinations
🇸🇩
Sudan
98 Passport Rank
41 Visa Free Destinations
North Korea
99 Passport Rank
39 Visa Free Destinations
🇱🇾
Libya
99 Passport Rank
39 Visa Free Destinations
🇪🇷
Eritrea
99 Passport Rank
39 Visa Free Destinations
🇳🇵
Nepal
100 Passport Rank
38 Visa Free Destinations
🇧🇩
Bangladesh
101 Passport Rank
37 Visa Free Destinations
🇵🇸
Palestinian Territories
102 Passport Rank
35 Visa Free Destinations
🇸🇴
Somalia
102 Passport Rank
35 Visa Free Destinations
🇾🇪
Yemen
103 Passport Rank
34 Visa Free Destinations
🇵🇰
Pakistan
104 Passport Rank
33 Visa Free Destinations
🇮🇶
Iraq
105 Passport Rank
31 Visa Free Destinations
🇸🇾
Syria
106
Passport
Rank
27 Visa Free Destinations
🇦🇫
Afghanistan
107 Passport Rank
26 Visa Free Destination
Singapore Passport 2024 Ranking #1
Singapore
The Singaporean passport is
currently ranked 1st among
global passports, according
to the Guide Passport
Ranking Index. The
Singapore passport ranking
is due to the degree of
global entry it guarantees to
Singaporean passport
holders, who may travel visa-free to 195
countries, but who otherwise need a visa
to access 34 countries globally.
National passports are ranked according
to how many countries a holder can access
visa-free. The Singapore passport ranking
therefore reflects the number of visa-free
countries accessible to Singaporean
passport holders. Visa-free countries
include those where entry is possible
without a visa, and with a visa on arrival
/ electronic travel authorization (eTA).
The Difference
Passport Index and Passport Ranking are often used interchangeably, but they mean fundamentally different things. On the one hand, passport ranking refers to the assessment and categorization of international passports based on their strength and the extent of visa-free travel they offer. On the other hand, a passport index is composed of data generated by passport rankings and can be used to research and compare passport rankings.
While passport rankings provide a straightforward classification based on the number of countries accessible to a holder without a visa, a passport index is a comprehensive, interactive dataset compiled based on passport strength. The index enables individuals to discern visa requirements for their passport when planning to travel to any destination. It is immensely valuable for travelers seeking to understand visa-free entry options and for media outlets and researchers interested in making passport comparisons to identify the world’s most powerful and least powerful passports. Passport indices also empower foreign policy decision-makers and officials in the tourism sector to make well-informed decisions.
Importance of Passport Index
The passport index plays an important role in assessing and recording the power of each country’s passport. It is a key resource for those who want to understand the diplomatic, economic, and geopolitical influence or standing of a nation on the global stage. The index indicates the strength of a nation’s bilateral relationships and its ability to negotiate visa-free agreements with other countries. It also reflects a country’s diplomatic influence and economic opportunities.
Furthermore, the passport index is a vital tool for citizens to understand where their country stands regarding freedom of international travel. It can guide travelers and those aiming to relocate toward the destinations that most align with their goals. For anyone engaged in international business, the Index can help identify places with the best economic opportunities. Those with stronger passports will be less inclined to seek visa or immigration schemes than those with lower-ranked passports.
Guide Passport Index
Guide Passport Index is an interactive passport ranking resource that classifies all global passports based on their strength. Passports are ranked by the number of destinations their holders can travel to visa-free or by obtaining a visa-on-arrival or an electronic travel authorization (eTA). It provides the most precise and up-to-date passport rankings, making it accessible to ordinary users and experts. Moreover, it delivers a wealth of information about passports and visa policies.
Guide Passport Index enjoys worldwide recognition and has been adopted by numerous reputable entities and websites globally. Thousands of users rely on it daily to access the latest passport-related information and visa policies. This high level of trust among diverse user groups and organizations is attributed to its meticulous and professional approach to sourcing information directly from reliable official sources. Guide Passport Index is regularly updated with new data, primarily from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the most comprehensive global reference for visa policies. Furthermore, the accuracy of all information and any updates derived from government websites, foreign ministries, embassies, consulates, tourism authorities, and other reliable official sources for Guide Passport Index are carefully verified.
What sets Guide Passport Index apart?
Guide Passport Index is the primary source of information concerning passports and visa policies for all users. It has many useful applications for individual travelers and entities such as travel agencies, hospitality groups, media outlets, or governmental entities. Some of the key advantages of Guide Passport Index include:
Comprehensive Coverage
Guide Passport index stands out due to its extensive coverage of countries and territories. It ranks 199 passports, including all countries and territories that issue their own passports. It also provides visa-related information for 229 different travel destinations for each passport. This enables users to explore the full global mobility of their passports and understand visa requirements for destinations worldwide, regardless of their popularity. Whether you are looking for information about a passport from a major nation or a less-known country, Guide Passport Index offers insightful data about visa-free destinations and visa requirements.
Latest Visa and Travel Information
Visa policies are always in flux, reflecting alterations in passport rankings, the number of visa-free destinations, and visa requirements. For instance, in 2022, Japan's passport held the top position as the world's most powerful passport, but the situation changed in the following year, making Singapore's passport the strongest in the world for 2023. Singapores passport continues to hold the top position in 2024.
Keeping our users well-informed with the latest data is a top priority for us. Guide Passport Index is unique in its commitment to providing the most up-to-date data without compromising accuracy. We continually monitor visa policies, changes in entry requirements, and diplomatic relations between countries to ensure our users have access to the most recent information. This dynamic approach guarantees that Guide Passport Index remains up-to-date and trustworthy.
Detailed Visa Requirements
What distinguishes Guide Passport Index is the depth of information and details provided for each destination. By searching visa requirements for any passport, users can determine whether their intended destination requires a prior visa. More specifically, they can find out if they can travel visa-free, use an electronic travel authorization (eTA), or obtain a visa upon arrival. If a visa is required for a destination, users will also see whether the required visa is a sticker visa or an electronic visa that can be obtained online. This is just some of the in-depth information provided by Guide Passport Index.
User-Friendly Interface
Guide Passport Index boasts an easy-to-use interface that allows users with all levels of experience to access the information they seek, explore travel destinations, compare different passports, and utilize different functions with ease. Users can customize their experience effortlessly through the index’s interactive features for straightforward navigation between different sections. The clarity of the methodology ensures the presented information is comprehensible for all user groups. In contrast, other methodologies may introduce complexities such as sub-factors like economic and political factors in passport rankings, which can complicate the user experience.
The methodology of Guide Passport Index
The methodology of Guide Passport Index ranks passports by evaluating the scope of visa-free travel regardless of economic or political factors impacting the country or the popularity of the destination for travelers. This approach ensures that all countries and territories are considered with objectivity and neutrality concerning the passports they issue and their status as travel destinations. Our precise methodology provides clear data for assessing the strength of passports based on the scope of international visa-free travel they offer to their holders.
Guide passport Index relies exclusively on official information sources, such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and relevant government websites, among other trusted sources for visa policy-related information. The methodology adopted by Guide Passport Index can be summarized in the following steps:
Analyzing the visa requirements imposed by 229 destinations worldwide, including those with independent travel policies or common policies with other countries or territories, on holders of regular passports from 199 countries and territories with independently issued Therefore, the Index includes 199 passports, and for each of them, the maximum number of travel destinations is 229.
These 229 destinations are categorized into five groups according to visa requirements imposed on holders of the specific passport:
Visa-free access
Visa on arrival
Electronic travel authorization (eTA)
Visa online
Visa required
The total sum of destinations included in the first three categories (visa-free access, visa on arrival, and eTA) is calculated for each passport. This total represents the number of visa-free destinations for that passport.
All 199 passports included in Guide Passport Index are ranked in descending order based on the number of visa-free destinations each passport allows. In other words, passports that grant access to a larger number of visa-free destinations will be ranked higher (as the stronger passports) than those that permit travel to fewer visa-free destinations (the weaker passports).
The ranking of all passports is updated regularly according to changes in visa policies that affect the number of visa-free destinations for a passport.
The strength of passports and expanding international travel freedom
Different countries’ passports vary significantly in terms of their strength and the esteem they hold among travelers and travel authorities. This variation can be attributed to various factors that may directly or indirectly influence a passport’s ranking. These factors include diplomatic relations between countries, and their degree of openness, along with economic, political, and security considerations.
The primary determinant of a country’s passport ranking is the visa exemption agreements it holds with other countries. The strength of any passport is decided according to the extent of visa-free travel it offers its holders. This measure is based on the number of countries and territories worldwide that allow holders of that passport to travel to them without requiring a pre-arranged visa. In general, the strength of a passport and its placement on Guide Passport Index improve as the number of visa-free destinations accessible to its holders increases.
Challenges of Low-Ranking Passports
Individuals holding passports with lower rankings in the index will encounter greater challenges when attempting to travel to most destinations worldwide. There are a limited number of visa-free destinations available to them. Nevertheless, various strategies exist for individuals seeking to expand their international travel freedom. One of the most noteworthy options is pursuing a second, more powerful passport. This can be accomplished directly by applying for a citizenship by investment program (CBI), which provides applicants with a second citizenship and passport. Or it can be done indirectly through a golden visa program, which grants applicants renewable permanent or temporary residency, often with the potential to transition to full citizenship in specific countries, subject to conditions. Golden visa programs also bestow individuals with a certain degree of travel freedom. For example, European golden visa programs enable visa-free travel within the Schengen Area without acquiring a second passport.
Calculating Visa-Free Destinations for Dual Citizens
When obtaining a second passport, determining the number of visa-free destinations accessible to dual citizens can be complex. To illustrate this, we will consider an individual with a passport from their home country that offers visa-free entry to 40 destinations. To enhance their international travel freedom, this individual decides to pursue second citizenship through an investment program, securing a passport from the second country that grants visa-free access to 150 destinations. At this point, the individual holds two passports, theoretically providing access to 190 travel destinations. However, let's also assume there are 30 destinations in common for both passports. When calculating the total visa-free destinations for this individual, we need to subtract the number of common destinations to prevent duplication. In this scenario, the total count of visa-free destinations becomes 160.
2024 Henley Passport Index
As of 16 July 2024, the Singaporean 🇸🇬 passport offers holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a total of 195 countries and territories, followed by the Japanese 🇯🇵 , French 🇫🇷 , German 🇩🇪 , Italian 🇮🇹 , and Spanish 🇪🇸 passports offer holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a total of 192 countries followed by the Austrian, Finnish, Irish, Luxembourgish, Dutch, South Korean and Swedish passports, each offering 191 visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries and territories to its holders.
These rankings were subsequently followed by the Belgian, Danish, New Zealand, Norwegian, Swiss, and British passports, each offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 190 countries and territories.
The 2024 Henley Passport Index shows a worldwide improvement in the access to visa-free travel. Also the gap between the top and the bottom ranked countries has widened.
Asian countries like Japan and Singapore have dominated the top position in the Index for the last five years.
The Afghan passport has once again been labelled by the index as the least powerful passport in the world, with its nationals only able to visit 28 destinations visa-free.
This was followed by the Syrian passport at 29 destinations, the Iraqi passport at 31 destinations and the Pakistani and Yemini passports at 34 destinations.
Among African countries, the Somali passport is the weakest passport according to the index.
2023 Passport Ranking
As of 8 December 2023, the 🇸🇬 Singaporean passport offered holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a total of 195 countries and territories, followed by the Japanese with 193 and the Finnish, French, German, Italian, South Korean, Spanish and Swedish passports, each offering 190 visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries and territories to its holders. These rankings were subsequently followed by the Austrian, Danish, Irish, Luxembourgeois and British passports, each offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 189 countries and territories.
An Afghan passport had once again been labelled by the index as the least powerful passport in the world, with its nationals only able to visit 27 destinations visa-free. This was followed by the Iraqi passport at 29 destinations and the Syrian passport at 30 destinations.
2022 Passport Ranking
As of 2022, a Japanese passport offered its holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a total of 193 countries and territories, with South Korean and Singapore passports each offering 192 visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries and territories to their holders. An American passport offered its holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 186 countries and territories, with the British passport offering 187 visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries and territories to their holders. Canadian and Australian passports each offered their holders visa-free access to 185 countries and territories.
An Afghan passport had once again been labelled by the index as the least powerful passport in the world, with its nationals only able to visit 27 destinations visa-free.
2021 Passport Ranking
As the Omicron variant sweeps across the globe, we examine the 2021 Passport Index results and the trajectory of World Openness.
It’s been a turbulent two years for global mobility. In just the past month alone, news of the Omicron variant has flooded news feeds, grounded thousands of flights and impacted many families’ holidays.
Despite the setbacks, global mobility has regained substantial ground this year. This year, Passport Index data paints a picture of a world in recovery, bolstered by growing access to vaccines and an inherent desire to move, meet and connect across the globe.
“The Passport Index and World Openness Score not only offer the only real-time barometer of global mobility but also reflect COVID-19 management,” says Armand Arton, the CEO of Arton Capital. “Looking at the data, we can see that the success stories of 2021 have high vaccine access and uptake. Meanwhile, countries that are still combatting COVID-19 may remain stationary in the rankings for some time.”
Here are 8 of the significant takeaways from our 2021 year-end results:
- The world’s most powerful passport
The United Arab Emirates nabbed the coveted title of “World’s Most Powerful Passport” in 2021, based on the Passport Index. Boasting a mobility score of 160, the Emirati passport grants widespread visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a large swathe of the world. It’s an impressive comeback from last year when the Gulf country ranked 14th in the world, mainly due to COVID-19 border closures.
The UAE was the global leader in passport mobility in 2019 when the passport enabled visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 179 nations worldwide. Since then, the country’s leadership has remained committed to rebuilding – and expanding – those strong international relationships.
As the host of the Expo 2020 Dubai (which runs through March 2022), the UAE improved its passport power by subsidizing country pavilions for lower-income nations in exchange for visa-free agreements. The result? The most inclusive world’s fair in history, a record visitor turnout, and the UAE’s rapid ascent in the passport rankings. The UAE is not only the highest-ranking Arab country on the Passport Index but also the only one in the top 10.
- A three-way tie for second place
Germany, Finland, and Italy have tied for the world’s second most powerful passports in 2021 – each with a mobility score of 152. It’s great news for Italy, which ranked No. 4 in 2020, while Finland held steady in the same position for the second straight year.
Germany, however, relinquished the top spot. After plunging in passport power from 172 to 111 in early 2020, Germany rebounded enough by the end of last year to snag the coveted No. 1 position in 2020. And while the EU nation continued to improve its mobility this year, it wasn’t quite enough. The UAE outpaced Germany by securing 43 new visa-free agreements compared with Germany’s 18.
- Around the world in third
Seven countries share the position of third-strongest passport: Austria, Denmark, Luxembourg, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden, and Switzerland. The mobility scores of each country in this broad pool shows a sharp, V-shaped curve that peaks in 2019 around 171-172, dips to roughly 78-80 in 2020, then rapidly increases to 151 in 2021. While still 20 points short of pre-pandemic numbers, the sharp uptick – and wide geographic spread from the EU to Asia and Oceania – reflects the resurgence of visa-free agreements around the world as vaccine availability improves and border restrictions ease.
- Australia finally cracks the top five
Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Australia tied for 4th place with a mobility score of 150. Australia’s ascendance is particularly notable since the antipodean country has historically fallen just shy of the top 5, ranking 6th in 2019 and 7th in 2020. The results come as a surprise, given that the Pacific nation kept its borders tightly shut for much of the past two years, only recently reopening to some fully vaccinated travelers at the end of 2021. Even so, Australia has made a dramatic comeback with 94 visa-free agreements and 51 visa-on-arrival agreements in place.
5. The US passport bounces back
Rounding out the top rankings, seven European countries – Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Poland – and, perhaps most unexpectedly, the United States, have all tied for 5th most powerful passport in 2021. Before 2020, the US consistently ranked No. 3 or 4 globally, peaking in 2019 with a mobility score of 171.
After imposing pandemic-related travel bans on several countries last year – many of which reciprocated – the American passport plummeted to 19th in the world, behind Uruguay, Singapore and Vatican City. The US passport still lags well behind 2019 levels, but jumped 14 spots in 2021 alone (a feat shared only by the UAE), so there is reason to believe 2022 will bring greater mobility for Americans.
- Croatia travels visa-free to the US
In September, Croatia became the second Balkan country (after Slovenia in 1997) to join the US Visa Waiver Program, enabling passport holders from roughly 40 participating nations to travel to the US for business and tourism without a visa for a visa up to 90 days at a time.
According to the US Embassy in Croatia, countries must meet requirements related to “counterterrorism, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, document security, and border management” to participate in the program.
Not only does the country’s approval signal a closer economic and security relationship between the Balkan nation and the US, but it also means a much faster and smoother travel experience for Croatian passport holders. Instead of lining up to apply for a visa at an embassy, Croatian citizens can now fill in an online pre-departure form via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization in a matter of minutes.
Overall, Croatia’s mobility score has seen a sharp recovery this year, increasing from a low of 106 in mid-2020 to 145 in 2021. And the country’s ranking has surpassed pre-pandemic times: In 2019, Croatia ranked No. 10 in terms of passport power but moved up to 9th place in 2020 and held steady in 2021.
- World Openness Score jumps nearly 20%
Looking at the trajectory of global mobility, the World Openness Score (WOS) paints a clear picture of overarching trends by calculating the total visa waivers around the world in real-time.
When tracking began in 2015, the WOS score climbed roughly 6% per year on average from 17,904 that first year to an all-time high score of 21,360 in 2019. The WOS fell off a cliff during COVID-19, tumbling a staggering 65% to a low of 12,944.
Since the beginning of 2021, the WOS has made encouraging strides, growing 19.7% to end the year with a score of 18,441 – roughly the same level as 2017. With the WOS climbing dramatically for the second year in a row, there is reason to believe global mobility is well on its way to a full recovery.
- Blue passports reign supreme
In 2021, blue passports dominated. Out of 199 countries tracked by the Passport Index, 83 have a blue passport cover, including the US, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Barbados, Bhutan, Dominica, El Salvador and more. By comparison, 67 countries have a red passport; 42, green; and 7, black.
While it varies widely by country and culture, blue passports often symbolize the “new world”, free markets and the ocean. Red covers tend to be associated with Communist countries or Christian history, while green is often the color of choice among Muslim countries because it has religious signficance. As the rarest color, black tends to symbolize local culture or politics and, on a practical level, hides wear and tear.
The color blue clocked yet another vote of confidence this year when South Korea changed its passport jacket from green to blue in December 2021. But it’s not just the travel document’s color that has seen an update. The new South Korean passport will also feature more than a dozen security features, expanded pages, sturdier polycarbonate pages, and 20 national treasure illustrations (up from two in the previous design).
Color aside, South Korea’s passport remains one of the world’s strongest, ranking third on the Passport Index in 2021. With a mobility score of 151, South Koreans can visit a total of 99 countries visa-free and another 46 visa-on-arrival.
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Methodology
- Passports of 193 United Nations member countries and 6 territories (ROC Taiwan, Macao (SAR China), Hong Kong (SAR China), Kosovo, Palestinian Territory and the Vatican) for a total of 199 are considered. Territories annexed to other countries such as Norfolk Island (Australia), French Polynesia (France), British Virgin Islands (Britain), etc. who do not issue their own passports are excluded and not considered as destinations.
- Data is based on official information provided by governments, updated in real-time with intelligence obtained through crowdsourcing and enhanced with proprietary research from highly credible sources.
- To determine the individual rank of each passport, a three-tier method is applied:
- Mobility Score (MS) – includes visa-free (VF), visa on arrival (VOA), eTA and eVisa (if issued within 3 days)
- VF portion of their score vs VOA
- United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index 2018 (UNDP HDI) is used as a tie breaker. The UNDP HDI is a significant measure on the country’s perception abroad.
- The Passport Index’s proprietary World Openness Score tool offers a real-time barometer of the global ease of travel by taking into account all active visa waivers and restrictions in the world. The higher the number, the more open the world is for travel.
2020 Passport Ranking
Country- 2020 rank; 2020 access; 2019
rank; 2010 rank; 2006 rank.
Japan- 1; 191; 1; 6; 3.
Singapore- 2; 190;1;1; 8.
Germany- 3; 189; 2; 5; 2.
South Korea- 3; 189; 2; 13; 11.
Finland- 4; 188; 2; 4; 1.
Italy- 4; 188; 3; 5; 3.
Luxembourg- 4; 188; 3; 4; 3.
Spain- 4; 188; 4; 6; 4.
Austria- 5; 187; 5; 8; 6.
Denmark- 5; 187; 3; 2; 1.
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