Best Passports with Most Visa-Free Access to 227 Destinations

Global EAT - Best Passports with Highest Visa-Free Access to 191 Countries
The German passport tied with Spanish passport is ranked the number three best passports on the Henley Passport Index 2023. (stux/pixbay)

Posted: January 10, 2020 | Updated: January 10, 2023

Holding the best passports or passport to travel is a privilege. How many countries can you enter without a visa or advance visa application?  

Best passports to command visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 227 global destinations are those from Asia and Western Europe. 

The top three spots continue to be dominated by Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Germany and Spain two years in a row.  Henley Passport Index 2022 and 2023 is rated based on International Air Transport Association data for 199 passports.

The United Kingdom ranked sixth on the index.  New Zealand tied with United States at seventh. Sitting at eighth spot is Australia and Canada. 

Passports are one of the most important identifications for travellers. The pocket-sized document can aid or impede travellers from crossing international borders.

Top 20 on the Ranking Index

Access refers access to the number of destinations.

2023

 

2022

Rank

Country

Access

 

Rank

Country

Access

1

Japan

193

 

1

Japan

193

2

Singapore, South Korea

192

 

2

Singapore and South Korea

192

3

Germany, Spain

190

 

3

Germany and Spain

190

4

Finland, Italy  Luxembourg

189

 

4

Finland, Italy and Luxembourg

189

5

Austria, Denmark, Netherlands

188

 

5

Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden

188

6

Sweden, France,  Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom

187

 

6

France, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom

187

7

Belgium, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United States

186

 

7

Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United States

186

8

Australia, Canada, Greece, Malta

185

 

8

Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Greece, Malta

185

9

Hungary, Poland

184

 

9

Hungary

183

10

Lithuania, Slovakia

183

 

10

Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia

182

11

Latvia, Slovenia

182

 

11

Estonia, Latvia and Slovenia

181

12

Estonia

181

 

12

Iceland

180

13

Iceland

180

 

13

Malaysia

179

14

Malaysia

179

 

14

Liechtenstein

178

15

Liechtenstein, United Arab Emirates

178

 

15

Cyprus and United Arab Emirates

176

16

Cyprus

177

 

16

Chile, Monaco and Romania

174

17

Romania

175

 

17

Bulgaria and Croatia

173

18

Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Monaco

174

 

18

Hong Kong (SAR China)

171

19

Hong Kong (SAR China)

171

 

19

Argentina and Brazil

170

20

Argentina, Brazil

170

 

20

San Marino

169

Mexico and Israel shared the 25th spot, a decline in one rank compared to 2022.  Taiwan is ranked at 35,  China at 66 with Bolivia, Philippines at 78, and India at 85.

Worst 10 on the Ranking Index for 2022 and 2023

RankCountryAccess
1Afghanistan27
2Iraq29
3Syria30
4Pakistan32
5Yemen34
6Somalia35
7Nepal and Palestinian Territory38
8North Korea40
9Bangladesh, Kosovo and Libya41
10Congo (Dem. Rep.), Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Sudan42

For more ranking details and methodology, Click here