Most Powerful Passports in the World
The 2024 Henley Passport Index is here, detailing the world’s most powerful passports as well as those at the other end of the spectrum. If you have a United States passport, you’re still ranked 7th in the world, with access to 188 destinations without requiring a visa in advance.
But don’t feel bad. It has been a decade since the UK and the US jointly held 1st place on the index in 2014.
Since then it has usually been Asian countries holding the top spots. for 2024, an unprecedented six countries share the number 1 ranking. Four EU member states — France, Germany, Italy, and Spain — join Japan and Singapore in boasting the most powerful passports in the world, with their citizens able to visit 194 destinations out of 227 around the globe visa-free.
The two Asian nations have dominated 1st place on the index (which ranks all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa) for the past five years.
Going down the list, South Korea joins Finland and Sweden in 2nd place with visa-free travel to 193 destinations, and another four EU nations — Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and Netherlands — share 3rd place with access to 192. The rest of the Top 10 is largely dominated by European countries, with the UK climbing up two ranks to 4th place with visa-free access to 191 destinations compared to just 188 a year ago. Australia and New Zealand passport holders both improve their ranking to sit in 6th place with 189 visa-free destinations, and then the US comes in 7th.
The UAE remains the biggest climber on the Henley Passport Index over the past decade, adding an impressive 106 destinations to its visa-free score since 2014, resulting in a massive leap of 44 places in the ranking from 55th to 11th.
Ukraine and China are also among countries with the most improved rankings over the past 10 years (a net total gain of 21 places each), and both have climbed a further two ranks in the past year. Ukraine is now in 32nd place with 148 visa-free destinations and China is 62nd on the ranking with access to 85 destinations without a prior visa (compared to just 44 in 2014).
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First place countries have visa-free access to only six countries more than seventh place Canada and the US.
Besides the number of countries that visa free travel is allowed is what countries that require visas. For US passports, countries that require visas that might hinder travel somewhat often or more include:
Brazil (e-visa to be required)***
People’s Republic of China***
Egypt (visa on arrival)
Ghana***
India (e-visa)
Indonesia (visa on arrival)***
Jordan (visa on arrival)
Kenya (electronic travel authorization)
Nauru
New Zealand (electronic travel authority)
Timor Leste (visa on arrival)
The countries marked as *** are visa free for Singaporeans so they have slightly better access but not much.