In a groundbreaking shift, six nations—France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain—have jointly claimed the prestigious title of possessing the world’s most powerful passports in 2024. The Henley Passport Index reveals that all six countries offer unparalleled visa-free access to a remarkable 194 nations with their respective passports.

This marks a significant change from 2023, when Japan stood alone in the top spot, granting access to 193 countries. The annual Henley Passport Index is a globally recognized report, measuring the flexibility of visa-free travel and serves as a valuable resource for international travelers.

The index evaluates the number of countries a traveler can visit without the need for a visa or additional documentation. Notably, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen ranked 100th or higher, holding the least restrictive passports.

American travelers can take pride in the global recognition of their passport, which ties with Canada and Hungary for the 7th spot, offering access to 188 different countries. Despite challenges in the passport landscape, the United States passport continues to be a valuable asset for global travel.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, and the inventor of the passport index, emphasizes the evolving landscape, stating, “The average number of destinations travelers can access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024.” The top-ranked countries now enjoy a staggering 166 more visa-free destinations than Afghanistan, positioned at the bottom of the ranking with access to just 28 countries without a visa.

A notable highlight in the passport index reveals the United Arab Emirates (UAE) experiencing the highest jump in the last decade. Since 2014, the UAE passport has added an impressive 106 visa-free countries. The report encourages travelers to stay informed about visa requirements, as they may change.

While delays in obtaining or renewing passports were experienced during the pandemic, as of December 2023, wait times have returned to normal, pre-pandemic levels, offering a smoother process for travelers. Explore the world with confidence and the passport power of the magnificent six!

Rank	Passport	Visa-free score
1	France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain	194
2	Finland, South Korea, Sweden	193
3	Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands	192
4	Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom	191
5	Greece, Malta, Switzerland	190
6	Australia, Czechia, New Zealand, Poland	189
7	Canada, Hungary, United States	188
8	Estonia, Lithuania	187
9	Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia	186
10	Iceland	185
11	United Arab Emirates	183
12	Cyprus, Liechtenstein, Malaysia	182
13	Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania	179
14	Monaco	178
15	Chile	177
16	Argentina	174
17	Brazil	173
18	San Marino	172
19	Andorra, Hong Kong (SAR China)	171
20	Brunei	168
21	Israel	166
22	Barbados	165
23	Mexico	161
24	Bahamas	158
25	St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Vatican City	157
26	Seychelles, Uruguay	156
27	Antigua and Barbuda	153
28	Costa Rica	152
29	Trinidad and Tobago	151
30	Mauritius	150
31	Panama	149
32	Grenada, St. Lucia, Ukraine	148
33	Paraguay	146
34	Dominica, Macao (SAR China)	144
35	Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)	143
36	Peru	142
37	Serbia	138
38	Guatemala	137
39	El Salvador	136
40	Colombia, Honduras	135
41	Solomon Islands	134
42	Samoa	132
43	Nicaragua, Tonga	130
44	Tuvalu	128
45	North Macedonia	127
46	Marshall Islands, Montenegro, Venezuela	126
47	Kiribati	124
48	Albania, Micronesia, Palau Islands	123
49	Moldova	122
50	Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia	121
51	Russian Federation	119
52	Türkiye	118
53	Qatar, South Africa	108
54	Belize	104
55	Kuwait	102
56	Timor-Leste	96
57	Ecuador	95
58	Maldives, Vanuatu	94
59	Bahrain, Botswana, Fiji, Guyana	91
60	Jamaica, Nauru, Oman	90
61	Saudi Arabia	89
62	China, Papua New Guinea	85
63	Bolivia, Thailand	82
64	Belarus, Suriname	81
65	Lesotho, Namibia	80
66	Indonesia, Kazakhstan, eSwatini	78
67	Kenya, Malawi	76
68	Dominican Republic, Kosovo	74
69	Tanzania	73
70	Azerbaijan	72
71	Morocco, Tunisia, Zambia	71
72	The Gambia	70
73	Cape Verde Islands, Philippines, Uganda	69
74	Armenia	68
75	Sierra Leone	67
76	Ghana, Rwanda, Zimbabwe	66
77	Kyrgyzstan	65
78	Cuba	64
79	Benin, Mongolia, Mozambique	63
80	India, Uzbekistan	62
81	Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe, Tajikistan	61
82	Burkina Faso, Madagascar	60
83	Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritania, Togo	59
84	Equatorial Guinea, Senegal	58
85	Niger	57
86	Algeria, Cambodia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali	56
87	Bhutan, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoro Islands, Egypt, Haiti, Jordan, Vietnam	55
88	Angola, Cameroon	53
89	Congo (Rep.), Turkmenistan	52
90	Burundi, Laos, Liberia	51
91	Djibouti	50
92	Myanmar	48
93	Ethiopia	47
94	Congo (Dem. Rep.), South Sudan	46
95	Iran, Lebanon, Nigeria, Sudan	45
96	Eritrea, Sri Lanka	43
97	Bangladesh, North Korea	42
98	Libya, Nepal, Palestinian Territory	40
99	Somalia	36
100	Yemen	35
101	Pakistan	34
102	Iraq	31
103	Syria	29
104	Afghanistan	28