First-ever, six countries shared the top spot for the most powerful passports
Some passports still offer more advantages than others when accessing different destinations without a visa. This comes at the very moment when the world of travel has changed dramatically in the past few years, with the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, and environmental issues affecting the mobility and freedom of people across the globe.
The 2024 Henley Passport Index uses official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It reveals a record-breaking achievement with six countries sharing the top spot for the most powerful passports. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, and Singapore lead the ranking, offering citizens visa-free access to 194 of 227 global destinations. This is the highest number of countries that have ever shared the first place in the index’s history.
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The second place is Sweden, Finland, and South Korea. These passports grant entry to 193 destinations without a visa.
The third place is occupied by four countries: Austria, Ireland, Denmark, and the Netherlands. These passports allow access to 192 destinations without a visa.
The UK and the US used to dominate the index in the past but now are in fourth and seventh place with visa-free entry to 191 and 188 destinations, respectively.
The UAE is the only Middle Eastern country that reached the 11th place and has climbed 50 places in the passports index since 2010, and it’s thanks to its diplomatic efforts and economic diversification.
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The Henley Passport Index is based on the number of destinations that a passport holder can access without a prior visa but does not take into account other factors such as the duration of stay, and the type of visa to mention a few.
The index is updated regularly to reflect the changes in the global visa policies.
The index helps travelers, investors, and policymakers to understand global mobility. And the opportunities and challenges it presents.
As the world recovers from the pandemic and reopens its borders, the value of powerful passports will be more evident than ever.
Which countries do you think will climb up the ranks to be the most powerful passports?
