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These Are the Most Powerful Passports in 2024
According to a global report released every January, it has become an annual tradition for travelers to compare the power of their passports.
This year, there’s a six-way tie for the top spot.
Granting its citizens visa-free access to 194 countries, the most powerful passports in 2024 are from Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain, France, and Germany.
These numbers come from the latest Henley Passport Index, an annual report that ranks the most powerful passports in the world based on the number of destinations travelers can visit without a visa or any other additional documentation.
This year, the index analyzed 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.
Second place went to South Korea, Sweden, and Finland, with 193 countries available for visa-free travel. At the same time, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands share third place by offering access to 192 destinations.
Other countries in the top five include Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom—all tied for fourth place—and Greece, Malta, and Switzerland, coming in fifth.
Although U.S. travelers are often considered among the most powerful passport holders, the U.S. holds the 7th position, with access to 188 countries. They share this spot with Hungary and their neighbors to the north, Canada.
“The average number of destinations travelers can access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024,” said Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, chairperson of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, in a press release.
“However, as we enter the new year, the top-ranked countries can now travel to a staggering 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which sits at the bottom of the ranking with access to just 28 countries without a visa.”
Despite having compiled a comprehensive list of visa requirements for different passport holders, Henley & Partners still recommend that travelers verify this information before traveling as regulations change often.
To check the complete rankings of the Henley Passport Index, click here.
Jessica is a freelance journalist on a quest to see and experience everything our gorgeous planet offers and share her experiences with her fellow travelers. Jessica has written for several world-class Travel Magazines.
