Henley & Partners has published a new rating based on the passport mobility index, that is, the ability of citizens to travel without visas. In 2024, Singapore received the title of leader. Find out more about which countries have taken the leading positions in the Henley & Partners ranking
Henley & Partners publishes an annual Passport Index study that evaluates visa-free travel opportunities for holders of various passports. Since 2006, the company has been analyzing data from the International Air Transport Association to determine which passports provide the greatest freedom of movement.
In 2022, Japan and Singapore topped the ranking, allowing their citizens visa-free entry to 192 countries. The following year, Japan took first place with access to 193 countries, while Singapore and South Korea shared second place with 192 countries.
In 2024, Singapore returned to the top spot with visa-free travel to 195 countries, making its passport the most powerful in the world in terms of mobility. This allows Singaporean citizens to be the most privileged travelers. Singapore was followed in second place by France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain, each of which provides access to 192 countries without visas.
How do Henley & Partners develop a passport index?
The global consulting firm Henley & Partners uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to create a passport ranking of 199 countries around the world. The index, which has been in existence for 19 years and is updated quarterly, evaluates passports by the number of visa-free destinations.
Countries receive one point for each destination that their citizens can visit without a visa, or for a visa on arrival, residence permit, or electronic Entry Permit (ETA). Destinations where a visa or a government-approved e-visa is required before departure are not counted.
According to Dr. Christian H. Kelin, chairman of Henley & Partners, the global average number of countries to which one can travel without a visa has almost doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024. However, the gap in global mobility between countries at the top and bottom of the index is widening. For example, citizens of Singapore, which tops the ranking, have access to 195 visa-free destinations, while citizens of Afghanistan can visit only 26 countries without visas.
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The most powerful passports in the world according to the Henley & Partners rating
Singapore has once again become the leader in the passport rankings, providing its citizens with visa-free access to 195 destinations around the world. European countries France, Germany, Italy and Spain, along with Japan, took second place, providing visa-free access to 192 countries. The third place is taken by a group of seven countries, including Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea and Sweden, each of which has access to 191 destinations.
The United Kingdom, along with Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland, ranks fourth with access to 190 visa-free destinations. This downgrade, together with the United States, which now occupies the eighth position, is significant, since ten years ago both countries shared the first place.
For the first time, the United Arab Emirates entered the top 10, adding 152 destinations since the index was founded in 2006 and reaching 185 visa-free points. Dr. Jurg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, attributes the success of the UAE to the government’s focused efforts to transform the country into a global hub for business, tourism and investment.
Which countries have the least influential passports?
Afghanistan remains in last place in the ranking, having lost access to another destination in the last six months. Currently, citizens of the country led by the Taliban have visa-free access to only 26 countries, which is the lowest figure in the history of the Henley index.
Venezuela has also suffered a significant drop in the ranking, dropping from 25th to 42nd place over the past decade. The South American country is experiencing an economic and political crisis caused by falling oil prices and chronic corruption. There is hope that the presidential elections on July 28 may change the situation.
Yemen, Nigeria, Syria and Bangladesh also worsened their positions in the ranking. At the same time, China and Ukraine are among the top 10 countries that have significantly improved their positions in the index over the past decade.
Let’s remind you! Malta is a small country in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, which has become one of the most desirable countries to live in thanks to the investment citizenship program. Read more about the reasons for the uniqueness of the Maltese passport.
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