Best Passports with Most Visa-Free Access to 227 Destinations for 2023

Global EAT - Best Passports with Most Visa-Free Access to 227 Destinations
A powerful passport offers greater freedom to travel and explore the world without the hassle of applying for a visa when visiting a country.  Depending on your destination, visa application can be complex, costly and time consuming. (Image: Freepik.com)

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.

Global EAT - Best Passports with Highest Visa-Free Access to 191 Countries
According to the Henley Passport Index 2023, Germany tied with Finland, France, Italy, South Korea, Spain and Sweden passport at third spot. (Image: stux/pixbay)

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

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