The Henley Passport Index 20th-anniversary report, published in July 2026, has ranked Singapore's passport as the most powerful in the world. Citizens of Singapore can travel visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival to 192 destinations globally, securing the top spot for the second consecutive year.
The report, compiled by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, tracks the travel freedoms associated with passports worldwide. According to CNN News, the latest findings highlight significant shifts in global mobility power over the past two decades.
UAE's Remarkable Rise in Passport Power
The United Arab Emirates has experienced the most dramatic improvement in passport strength since 2006. The UAE now shares second place with Japan and South Korea, each offering access to 188 destinations. This represents an addition of 153 visa-free destinations for UAE passport holders over 20 years, the largest gain of any country in the index.
Sweden holds third place with access to 187 destinations. Eleven European countries—including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Norway—share fourth place with a score of 186 each.
United States Falls to 10th Place
The United States, which ranked first in 2006 alongside Denmark and Finland, has dropped to joint 10th place, sharing that position with Iceland. American passport holders can now visit 180 destinations visa-free, up from 130 in 2006, but the country's relative standing has declined considerably. Because the Henley Index groups countries with equal scores into a single rank, 36 countries now sit above the US in the current standings.
Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners and creator of the index, commented on the findings: "Twenty years of data show that passport power is one of the clearest expressions of a country's geopolitical capital. The world's strongest passports belong to nations that other countries want as partners — for trade, investment, security, or cooperation. Mobility is ultimately a measure of the value other countries place on their relationship with you."
Passport Power and Global Peacefulness
The report also draws a link between passport strength and global peacefulness, comparing its findings with the Global Peace Index from the Institute for Economics and Peace, which also marks its 20th edition this year. Several top-ranking passport countries, including Singapore, Japan, Switzerland, Ireland, and New Zealand, also rank among the most peaceful nations on earth.
The US and Israel are noted as outliers, ranking 10th and 18th respectively on the Henley index despite placing 134th and 149th on the Global Peace Index. The report attributes their passport strength to accumulated diplomatic capital and international confidence in their institutions rather than peacefulness alone.
At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan remains the world's weakest passport in 2026, offering access to just 22 destinations—an 118-destination gap with Singapore at the top. Bolivia is the only country in the world to have recorded a net loss in visa-free access over 20 years, dropping by six destinations.
Top 10 Most Powerful Passports for 2026
The full list of the world's most powerful passports for 2026, according to the Henley Passport Index, is as follows:
- Singapore (192 destinations)
- Japan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates (188)
- Sweden (187)
- Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain (186)
- Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Switzerland (185)
- Hungary, Poland, United Kingdom (184)
- Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Latvia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Slovakia, Slovenia (183)
- Croatia, Estonia (182)
- Liechtenstein, Lithuania (181)
- Iceland, United States (180)
Nigeria's Passport Ranking Improves
Nigeria's passport ranking globally has improved in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, now allowing visa-free travel to 44 countries. However, African peers such as Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa maintain stronger rankings. Despite the improvement, restrictive entry requirements in Europe, North America, and Asia continue to limit Nigerians' global travel.
Nigeria's passport ranks 89th globally, with visa-free access to 44 destinations. Tighter visa rules from multiple countries reflect growing migration concerns, impacting Nigerian citizens' travel freedom. Long-term trends reveal declining international mobility since 2006, despite recent rank improvements.
