In the dynamic realm of passport power and global travel, the Henley Passport Index 2023 brings forth a noteworthy shift as for the first time in five years, Japan’s reign as the world’s most powerful passport got toppled.
According to Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the visionary behind the passport index concept and Chairman of Henley & Partners, only eight countries globally have experienced a decline in visa-free access compared to a decade ago. In contrast, many other nations have achieved remarkable success in enhancing travel freedom for their citizens.
“Far more than just a travel document that defines our freedom of movement, a strong passport also provides significant financial freedoms in terms of international investment and business opportunities. Global connectivity and access have become indispensable features of wealth creation and preservation, and its value will only grow as geopolitical volatility and regional instability increase,” he said.
Singapore’s passport is now the most powerful in the world
Singapore now took the prestigious lead in the latest Henley Passport Index 2023 rankings bringing an end to Japan’s domination as the world’s most powerful passport after a five-year reign.
Singapore’s rise to the pinnacle of passport power is marked by its remarkable gain of visa-free access to an additional 25 countries in the past 10 years. This progress has propelled Singapore five places higher in the ranking.
Singaporean passport holders revel in visa-free access to an impressive 192 travel destinations among the 227 countries worldwide.
List of most powerful passports in 2023
Listed below are the top 10 most powerful passports, led by Singapore. With Japan slipping to third place, three European nations share the second spot, boasting visa-free access to 190 destinations: Germany, Italy, and Spain.
| Rank | Country | No. of visa-free destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 192 |
| 2 | Germany | 190 |
| 2 | Italy | 190 |
| 2 | Spain | 190 |
| 3 | Austria | 189 |
| 3 | Finland | 189 |
| 3 | France | 189 |
| 3 | Japan | 189 |
| 3 | Luxembourg | 189 |
| 3 | South Korea | 189 |
| 3 | Sweden | 189 |
Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands and the United Kingdom passports ranked fourth with 188 visa-free destinations. The UK made significant progress, ascending from sixth to fourth place for the first time since 2017. The list of countries ranked fifth include Belgium, Switzerland, New Zealand and Norway. Sxxith on the list is Australia.
Canada and Greece have been ranked seventh while the United States passport continued its decade-long decline, slipping two more spots to eighth place. It has experienced the smallest increase in visa-free access among all countries over the past ten years.
“The UAE has added an impressive 107 destinations to its visa-free score since 2013, resulting in a massive leap of 44 places in the ranking over the past 10 years from 56th to 12th position. This is almost double the next biggest climber, Colombia, which has enjoyed a jump of 28 places in the ranking to sit in 37th spot. Ukraine and China are also among the Top 10 countries with the most improved rankings over the past decade,” said Dr. Christian H. Kaelin.