Do you know which is the most powerful passport in the world? Passport represents international mobility and global access. The power of passport is measured by the number of countries its holders can visit without getting a visa in advance. Every year Henley publishes the list of most powerful passports in the world based on the visa free travel for their citizens. The blog explains about the most powerful passport in the world in 2026.
Global Passport Index
Passport index is a global ranking of countries based on the travel freedom their passports provide. It measures how many destinations a passport holder can travel to without visa. The Henley Passport Index is one of the most widely cited rankings. It includes 199 passports and 227 travel destinations with information about their global access and mobility. It has collaborated with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and also it is based on official data from their global database.
According to the 2026 global rankings, Singapore passport is the most powerful passport in the world. The second most powerful passports are of Japan and South Korea country.
Top 10 powerful passports in the world
Following are the top 10 powerful passports in the world:
| Overall Rank | Country | Score |
| 1 | Singapore | 192 |
| 2 | Japan | 187 |
| South Korea | ||
| 3 | Sweden | 186 |
| United Arab Emirates | ||
| 4 | Denmark | 185 |
| Belgium | ||
| Finland | ||
| France | ||
| Germany | ||
| Ireland | ||
| Italy | ||
| Luxembourg | ||
| Netherlands | ||
| Norway | ||
| Spain | ||
| Switzerland | ||
| 5 | Austria | 184 |
| Portugal | ||
| Greece | ||
| Malta | ||
| 6 | Hungary | 183 |
| Malaysia | ||
| New Zealand | ||
| Poland | ||
| Slovakia | ||
| Slovenia | ||
| 7 | Australia | 182 |
| Latvia | ||
| Estonia | ||
| Croatia | ||
| Czechia | ||
| United Kingdom | ||
| 8 | Canada | 181 |
| Liechtenstein | ||
| Lithuania | ||
| 9 | Iceland | 180 |
| 10 | United States | 179 |
Least powerful passports
Following is the list of the least powerful passport in the world:
| Overall Rank (from Top) | Country | Visa Score |
|---|---|---|
| 92 | Eritrea | 38 |
| 93 | Bangladesh | 37 |
| 94 | North Korea | 36 |
| 95 | Nepal | 35 |
| 96 | Somalia | 33 |
| 97 | Pakistan | 32 |
| 98 | Yemen | 31 |
| 99 | Iraq | 29 |
| 100 | Syria | 26 |
| 101 | Afghanistan | 24 |
How many types of passports are there in India?
Is it mandatory to change address in the Indian passport
How to reschedule passport appointment
FAQs
How often are passport rankings updated?
Major indexes like the Henley Passport Index are updated quarterly to reflect changes in visa policies and international agreements.
Can passport rankings improve over time?
Yes. If a country signs new visa free agreements or improves diplomatic relations, its ranking can rise.
Why do European countries rank so high?
European countries have good Henley passport index as many European nations benefit from strong diplomatic networks, Schengen area access, stable political environments and economic partnerships.
What factors affect global mobility trends?
- International relations
- Trade agreements
- Security policies
- Global conflicts
- Public health events
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