Posted: January 10, 2020 | Updated: January 12, 2024
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 Europe, North America and South East Asia.
Twenty-six European passports took the top 10 spots in the 2024 quarterly ranking. Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia offer the most powerful passports among Asian countries.
Singapore remained at top spot in the 2024 quarterly ranking sharing with France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain. South Korea moved up one spot together with Finland and Sweden.
The United Kingdom remained at fourth spot. Canada and United States remained unchanged at seventh spot, and Australia and New Zealand at sixth spot.
Henley Passport Index 2023 and 2024 is rated based on International Air Transport Association data for 199 passports.
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.
2024 |
|
2023 |
||||
|
Rank |
Country |
Access |
|
Rank |
Country |
Access |
|
1 |
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain |
194 |
1 |
Singapore |
193 |
|
|
2 |
Finland, South Korea, Sweden |
193 |
2 |
Japan |
191 |
|
|
3 |
Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands |
192 |
3 |
Finland, France, Germany Italy, South Korea, Spain, Sweden |
190 |
|
|
4 |
Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom |
191 |
4 |
Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, United Kingdom |
189 |
|
|
5 |
Greece, Malta, Switzerland |
190 |
5 |
Belgium, Malta, Norway, Portugal |
188 |
|
|
6 |
Czech Republic, New Zealand, Poland |
189 |
6 |
Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland |
187 |
|
|
7 |
Canada, Hungary, United States |
188 |
7 |
Canada, Czechia, Greece, Poland, United States |
186 |
|
|
8 |
Estonia, Lithuania |
187 |
8 |
Hungary |
185 |
|
|
9 |
Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia |
186 |
9 |
Lithuania |
184 |
|
|
10 |
Iceland |
185 |
10 |
Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia |
183 |
|
|
11 |
United Arab Emirates |
183 |
11 |
Iceland |
182 |
|
|
12 |
Cyprus, Liechtenstein and Malaysia |
182 |
12 |
Malaysia |
181 |
|
|
13 |
Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania |
179 |
13 |
Cyprus, Liechtenstein |
180 |
|
|
14 |
Monaco |
178 |
14 |
United Arab Emirates |
179 |
|
|
15 |
Chile |
177 |
15 |
Bulgaria, Monaco, Romania |
178 |
|
|
16 |
Argentina |
174 |
16 |
Croatia |
177 |
|
|
17 |
Brazil |
173 |
17 |
Chile |
175 |
|
|
18 |
San Marino |
172 |
18 |
San Marino |
174 |
|
|
19 |
Hong Kong (SAR China) |
171 |
19 |
Andorra |
171 |
|
|
20 |
Brunei |
168 |
20 |
Argentina, Brazil |
170 |
|
2024 Compared to 2023
Mexico went up one notch to 23rd spot. Israel moved up two spots to 21st. Taiwan dropped two spots ranking at 35, China at 62 and Philippines at 73, and India at 80 with Uzbekistan.
Worst 10 on the Ranking Index for 2024
| Rank | Country | Access |
| 1 | Afghanistan | 28 |
| 2 | Syria | 29 |
| 3 | Iraq | 31 |
| 4 | Pakistan | 34 |
| 5 | Yemen | 35 |
| 6 | Somalia | 36 |
| 7 | Libya, Nepal and Palestinian Territory | 40 |
| 8 | Bangladesh and North Korea | 42 |
| 9 | Eritrea and Sri Lanka | 43 |
| 10 | Iran, Lebanon, Nigeria and Sudan | 45 |
For more ranking details and methodology, Click here
