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
| 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
