If you enjoy spontaneous holidays or seamless business travel, your passport can be one of your most powerful assets. The Henley Passport Index—widely regarded as the world’s most authoritative passport ranking—has released its 2026 list, highlighting which nationalities enjoy the highest levels of global mobility. Compiled using airline and border-control data, the index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without obtaining a visa in advance.
A passport’s strength is measured by the number of countries its holders can enter either visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or through an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). The greater the number of such destinations, the higher the passport’s global mobility score—and its overall ranking.
Visa-free access has become increasingly important for modern travellers. It removes the need for embassy appointments, extensive paperwork, and processing fees, making last-minute trips and short-haul travel far easier. A strong passport reduces barriers, offers greater flexibility, and enables smoother cross-border movement—particularly valuable for professionals, students, and frequent international travellers.
The Henley Passport Index underscores how diplomatic relationships and international trust translate directly into travel freedom.
Rank 1: Singapore (192 destinations)For the third consecutive year, Singapore tops the index, offering access to 192 out of 227 destinations worldwide. Its ranking reflects strong diplomatic ties and reciprocal visa agreements. While Singapore lost visa-free access to Pakistan, Mauritania, Somalia and Bolivia over the past year, it gained access to Papua New Guinea, maintaining its position as a trusted global hub.
Rank 2: Japan and South Korea (188 destinations)Japan and South Korea share second place, supported by long-standing diplomatic relationships and strong bilateral agreements. Their passport holders benefit from smooth entry procedures across continents.
Rank 3: Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland (186 destinations)These European nations form a bloc in third place, benefiting from stable governance, strong economies, and participation in extensive visa-waiver frameworks.
Rank 4: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway (185 destinations)Joint fourth place is occupied by nine countries whose shared border policies and deep economic integration help sustain high levels of travel access.
Rank 5: Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United Arab Emirates (184 destinations)While the European nations benefit from Schengen privileges, the UAE stands out as a notable success story. Since 2006, it has added 149 visa-free destinations and climbed 57 positions, now outperforming many Western countries.
For global travellers, passport power goes beyond prestige—it determines freedom of movement, ease of travel, and access to opportunities across the world.
