Every year, Henley & Partners publishes the Henley Passport Index — a ranking of passports worldwide based on the number of countries their holders can access without a prior visa. The index draws on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and covers 199 passports across 227 travel destinations.
Here’s a simple breakdown of who’s sitting at the top, who’s at the bottom, and where some notable countries fall in between.
The World’s 10 Most Powerful Passports
1. Singapore — 192 destinations
Singapore holds the crown again. With access to 192 countries visa-free or visa-on-arrival, Singaporean passport holders can visit virtually the entire world without advance paperwork. It’s a remarkable achievement for a small city-state.
2. Japan, South Korea & United Arab Emirates — 187 destinations
Three countries share second place this year. Japan has long been a powerhouse in passport rankings. South Korea continues its impressive climb. And the UAE’s rise over the past decade has been one of the biggest stories in passport diplomacy — it now sits alongside East Asian heavyweights.
3. Sweden — 186 destinations
Sweden takes third, with its passport opening doors to 186 countries. Scandinavian passports consistently rank among the strongest in the world.
4. Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain & Switzerland — 185 destinations
A full dozen countries share fourth place, all with access to 185 destinations. The European Union’s diplomatic reach and mutual agreements make EU passports some of the most versatile travel documents on the planet.
5. Austria, Greece, Malta & Portugal — 184 destinations
Rounding out the top five, these four countries offer access to 184 countries — still an extraordinary level of global mobility.
A Few Notable Countries in the Middle
Not everyone is near the top or the bottom. Here’s where some well-known passports land:
- United Kingdom — 6th place, 183 destinations (post-Brexit, still very strong)
- Australia & Canada — 7th place, 182 destinations
- United States — 10th place, 179 destinations (a slight dip from previous years)
- Brazil & Argentina — 15th place, 168 destinations
- China — 55th place, 82 destinations
- Qatar — 45th place, 111 destinations
- Kuwait — 47th place – 96 destinations
- Saudi Arabia — 51st place, 87 destinations — a notable rise for the Kingdom, reflecting its growing diplomatic ties
- Oman — 54th place, 84 destinations
- Philippines — 69th place, 65 destinations
- India — 77th place, 56 destinations — one of the more sobering reminders that passport strength is closely tied to geopolitics and bilateral agreements
- Russia — 44th place, 113 destinations (sanctions and geopolitical tensions have affected this)
The World’s 10 Least Powerful Passports
At the other end of the scale, these passport holders face significant restrictions on where they can travel freely.
101. Afghanistan — 23 destinations
Afghanistan holds the weakest passport in the world in 2026, with access to just 23 countries. Decades of conflict and political isolation have left its passport holders with extremely limited travel options.
100. Syria — 26 destinations
Syria’s ongoing humanitarian crisis is reflected in its passport ranking. With access to only 26 countries, Syrian passport holders face severe restrictions.
99. Iraq — 29 destinations
Iraq sits just above Syria, with 29 visa-free destinations — another passport deeply affected by regional instability.
98. Pakistan & Yemen — 31 destinations
Both countries share 98th place, with access to just 31 destinations. Yemen’s civil war and Pakistan’s complex diplomatic relationships contribute to the limited reach of these passports.
97. Somalia — 32 destinations
Somalia remains near the bottom, with access to 32 countries.
96. Nepal & North Korea — 35 destinations
Nepal, despite being a popular travel destination itself, offers its citizens access to only 35 countries. North Korea, given its extreme isolation, is equally restricted.
95. Bangladesh — 36 destinations
Bangladesh comes in at 95th, with 36 destinations accessible.
94. Iran, Eritrea & Palestinian Territory — 38 destinations
These three share 94th place, each with access to just 38 countries — a reflection of sanctions, political tensions, and ongoing conflicts.
93. Libya & Sri Lanka — 39 destinations
Rounding out the bottom tier, Libya and Sri Lanka each allow visa-free access to 39 countries.
What Does All This Mean?
Passport strength is determined by the number of bilateral visa-free agreements a country holds with others. The 2026 index shows that this varies considerably across the world, with some passports offering near-unrestricted global travel and others allowing access to only a small number of destinations.
Data sourced from the Henley & Partners Global Passport Index 2026.