The Japanese and Singaporean passports are the most powerful in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.
Japan and Singapore are the most powerful passports in the world,
overtaking Germany which previously held the top spot in the Henley
Passport Index. Japanese and Singaporean citizens now enjoy visa-free
access to 180 destinations worldwide.
Japan And Singapore Are The World’s Most Powerful Passports
Rise in rankings
The ranking of the two Asian countries went up when Uzbekistan lifted its
visa requirements for Japanese and Singaporean residents in February.
Furthermore, the Japanese and Singaporean passports also provide visa-free
access to the four major global economies of the world, namely India, China,
the EU, and the US.
Another notable development is that of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which
championed travel freedom in the Middle East, rising by 34 positions on the
Henley Passport Index over the last 10 years, and 11 places in the past year alone. UAE citizens can now gain access to 140 destinations worldwide.
China and Indonesia have also made great strides in improving the global
mobility of their citizens, each gaining access to 13 additional destinations
and climbing 11 and 10 positions on the index, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Philippines maintained its 75th rank out of 105 countries,
which means its passport holders may enter 63 countries without a visa.
Countries at the bottom of the Henley Passport Index
The countries that sit at the bottom of the Henley Passport Index are Syria,
Iraq, and Afghanistan, each still only able to access 30 or fewer destinations
visa-free.
According to Hugh Morshead, member of the Executive Committee of the leading
investment migration firm Henley & Partners, global citizenship is on the
rise, with more and more individuals seeking opportunities and experiences
beyond their countries of origin.
“Borders in certain key parts of the world may be tightening, but elsewhere
access is evolving. In terms of visa policies and regulations, every week we
are witnessing a growing number of countries — especially outside of the West
— opening up their borders to strategic partners as they seek to deepen
diplomatic relationships and tap into the immense economic value that tourism,
international commerce and migration can bring,” Morshead added.
Henley Passport Indes
Widely acknowledged as the original and most authoritative passport index, the
Henley Passport Index holds historical data across 13 years. The Henley
Passport Index ranks countries using data from the International Air Transport
Association (IATA), which keeps the world’s largest and most accurate database
of travel information, and supplemented by their own extensive research.
The Henley Passport Index is updated in real-time, as and when visa-policy
changes take effect. It includes both countries and territories in its dataset for a more robust and holistic view of global passport power.
