Unveiling the 2023 Henley Passport Index – Assessing Global Passport Power
Every year, the list of influential passports worldwide is published to provide information about the countries with the most and least freedom of movement in terms of visa-free arrangements and restrictions.
The latest Henley Passport Index for 2023 shows minimal changes in the top 10 most powerful passports compared to the previous ranking. Read on to discover the rankings for this year:
Singapore has now taken the lead as the holder of the most powerful passport, ranking first in the Henley Passport Index. Singaporean citizens can visit 192 destinations out of 227 worldwide without needing a visa.
World’s top 20 powerful passports in 2023
- Singapore
- Germany, Italy, Spain
- Austria, Finland, France, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, Sweden (tied)
- Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, UK (tied)
- Belgium, Czech Republic, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland (tied)
- Australia, Hungary, Poland (tied)
- Canada, Greece (tied)
- Lithuania, United States (tied)
- Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (tied)
- Estonia, Iceland (tied)
- Liechtenstein, Malaysia (tied)
- Cyprus, United Arab Emirates (tied)
- Bulgaria, Monaco, Romania (tied)
- Croatia
- Chile
- San Marino
- Andorra, Hong Kong SAR (tied)
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Barbados
World’s 10 least powerful passports in 2023
- Afghanistan
- Iraq
- Syria
- Pakistan
- Somalia, Yemen (tied)
- Palestinian Territory, Nepal (tied)
- North Korea
- Bangladesh
- Libya, Sri Lanka (tied)
- Kosovo
What is the Henley Passport Index?
The Henley Passport Index is an authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a visa. The index uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and research from Henley & Partners to create the rankings.
In the 2023 Henley Passport Index, minor changes have occurred in the top 10 most powerful passports compared to the previous ranking. Singapore now holds the top position, with unrestricted access to 192 destinations out of 227 worldwide. Germany, Italy, and Spain are tied for second place with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 190, while Austria, Finland, France, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, and Sweden are joint third with access to 189 destinations without a visa.
The UAE has climbed to the 12th rank from the previous 15th spot, marking the highest position achieved by the Arab world’s second-largest economy since the index’s inception in 2006. Other GCC state nationals will also enjoy visa-free travel across the UK due to the UK’s new ETA scheme starting this year.
What is the methodology of passport ranking?
The Henley Passport Index evaluates passports based on visa-free travel opportunities and the welcoming nature of countries to international visitors.
For each destination, if no visa is required for passport holders from a country or territory, a score with a value of 1 is given.
A score of 1 is also assigned if passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) without pre-departure government approval due to visa-waiver programs.
A score of 0 is given if a visa is required or if a passport holder needs government-approved electronic visa (e-Visa) before departure.
A score of 0 is also assigned if pre-departure government approval is needed for a visa on arrival, which is not considered “visa-free.”
For example, Singapore holds the top spot on the index with a record-high visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 192, meaning Singaporean passport holders can visit 192 countries without prior visa requirements. The tie between several countries with the same score, like Belgium, Czech Republic, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, and Switzerland, all ranked fifth, indicates they have a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 187.
What does it mean to have a powerful passport ranking?
Having a powerful passport ranking implies having fewer limitations, such as not requiring visas for leisure travel. A powerful passport provides more flexibility in travel, as many countries allow entry without visas or visa fees. For example, European passport holders can freely travel to any Euro Zone nation without a visa.