According to the Henley Passport Index, the following countries have the most powerful passports, based on the number of countries to which they have visa-free access.
- Japan: 190
- Singapore: 189
- Germany, France, South Korea: 188
- Denmark, Finland, Italy, Sweden, Spain: 187
- Norway, United Kingdom, Austria, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, United States: 186
- Belgium, Switzerland, Ireland, Canada: 185
- Australia, Greece, Malta: 183
- New Zealand, Czech Republic: 182
- Iceland: 181
- Hungary, Slovenia, Malaysia: 180
Although not in the top ten, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have made the most rapid progress in strengthening their passports: China is now in 71st place—14 places higher than in the start of 2017—while the UAE has risen from 62nd place in 2006 to No. 21. Russia has fallen to 47th place, likely due in part to the global fallout from its annexation of Crimea, etc.
The two most powerful passports in the world. (Photo Credit: The Straits Times)
Other indexes have reached different results depending on the metrics.
Arton Capital’s Passport Index put Singapore and Germany on top, followed by Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, Italy, France, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, South Korea and the U.S.
The Nomad Passport Index—which ranks passports based on visa-free travel as well as international taxation, perception, dual citizenship, and personal freedom—lists the most desirable passports as coming from Sweden, Belgium, Spain and Italy (tied for third), and Ireland.
Source: CNN
