Posted: January 10, 2020 | Updated: November 11, 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 North America, Asia, Western Europe. Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia offer the most powerful passports among Asian countries.
Singapore took top spot in 2023 beating Japan by 1 point. South Korea dropped to third spot sharing with Finland, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
The United Kingdom went up two spots ranking fourth on the 2023 index. Canada was up one spot tying with United States at seventh. Australia went up two ranks tying with New Zealand and Switzerland at sixth spot.
Henley Passport Index 2022 and 2023 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.
2023 |
|
2022 |
||||
|
Rank |
Country |
Access |
|
Rank |
Country |
Access |
|
1 |
Singapore |
193 |
1 |
Japan |
193 |
|
|
2 |
Japan |
191 |
2 |
Singapore and South Korea |
192 |
|
|
3 |
Finland, France, Germany Italy, South Korea, Spain, Sweden |
190 |
3 |
Germany and Spain |
190 |
|
|
4 |
Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, United Kingdom |
189 |
4 |
Finland, Italy and Luxembourg |
189 |
|
|
5 |
Belgium, Malta, Norway, Portugal |
188 |
5 |
Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden |
188 |
|
|
6 |
Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland |
187 |
6 |
France, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom |
187 |
|
|
7 |
Canada, Czechia, Greece, Poland, United States |
186 |
7 |
Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United States |
186 |
|
|
8 |
Hungary |
185 |
8 |
Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Greece, Malta |
185 |
|
|
9 |
Lithuania |
184 |
9 |
Hungary |
183 |
|
|
10 |
Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia |
183 |
10 |
Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia |
182 |
|
|
11 |
Iceland |
182 |
11 |
Estonia, Latvia and Slovenia |
181 |
|
|
12 |
Malaysia |
181 |
12 |
Iceland |
180 |
|
|
13 |
Cyprus, Liechtenstein |
180 |
13 |
Malaysia |
179 |
|
|
14 |
United Arab Emirates |
179 |
14 |
Liechtenstein |
178 |
|
|
15 |
Bulgaria, Monaco, Romania |
178 |
15 |
Cyprus and United Arab Emirates |
176 |
|
|
16 |
Croatia |
177 |
16 |
Chile, Monaco and Romania |
174 |
|
|
17 |
Chile |
175 |
17 |
Bulgaria and Croatia |
173 |
|
|
18 |
San Marino |
174 |
18 |
Hong Kong (SAR China) |
171 |
|
|
19 |
Andorra |
171 |
19 |
Argentina and Brazil |
170 |
|
|
20 |
Argentina, Brazil |
170 |
20 |
San Marino |
169 |
|
2023 Compared to 2022
Mexico remained at 24th spot. Israel moved up one spot to 23rd. Taiwan went up two spots ranking at 33, China at 66 and Philippines at 79, and India at 86.
Worst 10 on the Ranking Index for 2023
| Rank | Country | Access |
| 1 | Afghanistan | 27 |
| 2 | Iraq | 29 |
| 3 | Syria | 30 |
| 4 | Pakistan | 32 |
| 5 | Yemen | 34 |
| 6 | Somalia | 35 |
| 7 | Nepal and Palestinian Territory | 38 |
| 8 | North Korea | 40 |
| 9 | Bangladesh, Kosovo and Libya | 41 |
| 10 | Congo (Dem. Rep.), Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Sudan | 42 |
For more ranking details and methodology, Click here
