In terms of the most powerful, or useful, passports in the world, six nations tie at the top.
In the 2024 Henley Passport Index, six nations share the crown for the most potent passports. In a world where movement is key, passport politics regularly take center stage and in a future defined by location, the impact of climate change and conflicts over resources, we’re entering a world where being visa-free and able to travel is the ultimate status symbol.
The Magnificent Six
In a passport performance for the ages, six nations step into the limelight, sharing the spotlight as the world's most powerful passports, according to Henley, a British nationality and residence advisory firm that first published its list in 2006. The elite passports represent a European rendezvous with France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and a dynamic duo from Asia—Singapore and Japan—at the top table. All six have visa-free entry to 194 destinations and currently define the global jet-setting standard.
The Methodology
Passports are ranked according to the number of destinations they can access without a visa or e-visa, relying on data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). The index includes 199 passports and considers the ease of access to 227 destinations, according to Henley.
Waning Power
Amusingly enough, the self-appointed most important country in the world, the US, finds itself waltzing into 7th place, hobnobbing with Hungary and Canada. While boasting access to 188 that’s just not enough. A journey from passport glory to humbling rank, the US navigates a tale of shifting international clout and its ranking has been stagnant since 2020. Twenty-five countries ranked higher than the US on the index.
Last Place
Afghanistan took last place on the index, with visa-free entry to only 28 countries. Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen are the bottom five countries, with 29, 31, 34, and 35 visa-free destinations, respectively.
The Top 10
Here are the countries occupying the top 10 spots:
1.
France, Germany,
Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain
194 destinations
2.
Finland, South
Korea, and Sweden
193 destinations
3.
Austria, Denmark,
Ireland, and the Netherlands
192 destinations
4.
Belgium, Luxembourg,
Norway, Portugal, and the UK
191 destinations
5.
Greece, Malta, and
Switzerland
190 destinations
6.
Australia, Czech
Republic, New Zealand, and Poland
189 destinations
7.
Canada, Hungary, and
the US
188 destinations
8.
Estonia and Lithuania
187 destinations
9.
Latvia, Slovakia,
and Slovenia
186 destinations
10. Iceland
185 destinations
