According to the latest Henley Passport Index, released in October 2024, Singapore holds the top position as the world’s most powerful passport, offering its citizens visa-free access to 195 countries.
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain share the second position, granting visa-free entry to 192 countries. Eight countries—Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden—rank third, allowing their citizens access to 191 countries without a visa. Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom follow closely, offering visa-free entry to 190 countries.
Australia and Portugal rank fifth, providing access to 189 countries. Meanwhile, the United States, the world’s largest economy, ranks eighth, with visa-free access to 186 countries.
India ranks 83rd, granting its citizens access to 58 countries, while Sri Lanka ranks 94th, allowing visa-free entry to 44 countries.
The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on visa-free access, international agreements, and diplomatic relations. Asian countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Japan consistently lead the index, reflecting their strong global diplomatic ties.
In contrast, some of the least powerful passports are held by citizens of Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, and Pakistan.
—With agency inputs
