Singapore Leads Global Passport Rankings, US Slips to Eighth Place

Singapore holds the title for the world’s most powerful passport, granting visa-free access to 192 destinations out of 227, according to the latest Henley Passport Index from Henley & Partners. This marks the first time in five years that Japan lost its top position.

Germany, Italy, and Spain are in second place with access to 190 destinations, while Japan, Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea, and Sweden rank third with 189 destinations. The United Kingdom has improved to fourth place, while the United States has slipped to eighth. The index highlights the growing mobility gap between the top and bottom positions, with Singapore having 165 more visa-free destinations than Afghanistan. The United Arab Emirates has significantly improved its ranking over the past decade, climbing to 12th place. The index reflects the trend toward increased travel freedom, with the average number of visa-free destinations doubling from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2023. The data is sourced from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).