The World’s Most Powerful Passports 2024

The latest rankings of the world's most powerful passports have been released, and surprisingly, the United States didn't crack the top five. But what exactly makes a passport "powerful"? It's all about ease of travel—specifically, how many countries you can visit without needing to obtain a visa in advance.

London-based residence and citizenship planning firm Henley & Partners compiles these rankings annually in what's known as the Henley Passport Index. Using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), they assess passport power based on the number of destinations a country's citizens can access visa-free or with visa-on-arrival privileges. This metric provides a clear picture of global mobility and diplomatic relations between nations.

In the latest Henley Passport Index update, Singapore has emerged as the frontrunner, distancing itself from the five nations it previously shared the top position with. This development marks a new milestone for Singapore, as its passport now grants visa-free access to an unprecedented 195 out of 227 global destinations.

France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain now occupy the second spot, offering their citizens visa-free entry to 192 locations. 

Related: 9 Surprising Passport Facts You Need to Know

Meanwhile, the United States continues its gradual descent, moving from seventh to eighth place with visa-free access to 186 locations. This represents a significant shift from a decade ago when the US was tied with the United Kingdom for the most powerful passport.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Afghanistan's passport remains the least powerful, granting access to only 26 countries without a visa—the lowest score in the index's 19-year history.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the passport index concept, notes, “The general trend over the past two decades has been towards greater travel freedom, with the global average number of destinations travelers are able to access visa-free nearly doubling from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024.” However, Kaelin also says, “The global mobility gap between those at the top and bottom of the index is now wider than it has ever been, with top-ranked Singapore able to access a record-breaking 169 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan”.