Asian countries continue to dominate the global passport rankings in 2026, with Singapore securing the top position as the world’s most powerful passport, according to the latest report from the Henley Passport Index.
The United Arab Emirates also recorded a major milestone, climbing to third place globally.
The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on a single criterion: the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The index is compiled using exclusive data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Most Powerful Passports in the World – 2026
1- Singapore
2- Japan / South Korea
3- Sweden / United Arab Emirates
4- Belgium / Denmark / Finland / France / Germany / Ireland
10- USA
Holders of the Singaporean passport can travel visa-free to 192 countries and territories out of 227 worldwide, the highest level of access recorded in the 2026 index, cementing Singapore’s position at the top of the global ranking.
Japan and South Korea follow closely behind Singapore, sharing second place with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 187 destinations, reflecting their continued diplomatic strength and global mobility.
The Henley Index assigns equal rankings to countries with identical scores. As a result, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates jointly occupy third place, each granting access to 186 destinations without a prior visa.
The UAE stands out as the fastest-rising passport in the history of the index, having added 149 visa-free destinations since 2006. The report attributes this exceptional progress to the country’s sustained diplomatic engagement and proactive visa-facilitation policies.
Fourth place was entirely European, with Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, and Ireland all scoring 185 destinations, highlighting Europe’s continued influence in global mobility rankings.
The United States re-entered the top ten strongest passports in 2026, ranking tenth with access to 179 destinations, after briefly dropping out of the group toward the end of 2025.
At the bottom of the ranking, three Arab countries recorded some of the weakest passport performances globally. The Yemeni passport allows visa-free access to 31 destinations, followed by Iraq with 29, and Syria with 26.
The Afghan passport ranked last worldwide, granting access to just 24 destinations without a prior visa, according to the index data.
Follow the latest news on Google News
