The 28 Most Powerful Passports in the World

By Travel + Leisure Staff

April 08, 2018

Credit: ullstein bild/Getty Images

If you’re looking to gain entry to more countries around the globe, you better hope you hail from an Asian nation.

According to the 2019 Henley Passport Index, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea have the world’s most powerful passports. That means people who hold a passport from one of those nations can enter more countries without visas or prior travel approval.

Related:How to Get a New Passport as Quickly as Possible

Each year, the Henley Passport Index ranks the world's passports to see who is really able to travel the most. The ranking, Henley explained, is based on “exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information, and it is enhanced by extensive, ongoing research by the Henley & Partners Research Department.”

On the list, several countries may end up in a tie due to the global access they provide their passport holders. To get into the top 28, a country must rank at least as the ninth most powerful. Here are the current 28 most powerful passports in the world.

Start Slideshow

1 of 28

9. New Zealand (tied in ninth place)

Credit: wnjay_wootthisak/Getty Images

Passport holders from New Zealand can gain entry to 180 countries without a visa.

2 of 28

9. Lithuania (tied in ninth place)

Credit: Angel Villalba/Getty Images

Passport holders from Lithuania can gain entry to 180 countries without a visa.

3 of 28

9. Iceland (tied in ninth place)

Credit: darekm101/Getty Images

Passport holders from Iceland can gain entry to 180 countries without a visa.

4 of 28

9. Australia (tied in ninth place)

Credit: Siwawut/Getty Images

Tied in ninth place is Australia's passport, which allows its holders to enter 180 nations without a visa.

5 of 28

8. Czech Republic

Credit: iStockphoto/Getty Images

A passport from the Czech Republic will get you into 181 nations sans visa.

6 of 28

7. Malta

Credit: iStockphoto/Getty Images

A passport from Malta allows travelers into 182 countries around the globe.

7 of 28

6. United States (tied in sixth place)

Credit: Sylvain Sonnet/Getty Images

The United States comes in at sixth place. Its passport allows citizens to travel to 183 nations without a visa.

8 of 28

6. United Kingdom (tied in sixth place)

Credit: ChrisHepburn/Getty Images

Tied for sixth place is the United Kingdom’s passport, which allows entry to 183 countries without applying for a visa.

9 of 28

6. Norway (tied for sixth place)

Credit: cookelma/Getty Images

A Norweigan passport will get you into 183 nations without a visa.

10 of 28

6. Ireland (tied in sixth place)

Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Another sixth-place finisher is Ireland’s passport, which allows citizens to travel to 183 nations without a visa.

11 of 28

6. Greece (tied in sixth place)

Credit: Slow Images/Getty Images

Like the United Kingdom and the United States, a Greek passport will get you into 183 nations without a visa.

12 of 28

6. Canada (tied in sixth place)

Credit: Yves Marcoux/Getty Images

Canada’s passport allows its citizens to travel to 183 nations without a visa.

13 of 28

6. Belgium (tied in sixth place)

Credit: Jorg Greuel/Getty Images

Belgium’s passport ties at sixth place. The passport allows citizens to travel to 183 nations without a visa.

14 of 28

5. Switzerland (tied in fifth place)

Credit: Didier Marti/Getty Images

Have a Swiss passport? You can get into 184 countries without applying for a visa.

15 of 28

5. Portugal (tied in fifth place)

Credit: SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images

Tied at fifth, a passport from Portugal will get you into 184 nations without a visa.

16 of 28

5. Netherlands (tied in fifth place)

Credit: AleksandarGeorgiev/Getty Images

Tied at fifth, a passport from the Netherlands will get you into 184 nations without a visa.

17 of 28

5. Austria (tied in fifth place)

Credit: spastonov/Getty Images

Austrian passport holders can go to 184 nations without a visa.

18 of 28

4. Sweden (tied in fourth place)

Credit: SergiyN/Getty Images

Tied in fourth place is Sweden, whose citizens can enter 185 countries without a visa.

19 of 28

4. Spain (tied in fourth place)

Credit: Manfred Gottschalk/Getty Images

Passport holders from Spain can travel to 185 countries without a visa.

20 of 28

4. France (tied in fourth place)

Credit: Bruno De Hogues/Getty Images

Passport holders from France can gain entry to 185 countries without a visa.

21 of 28

3. Luxembourg (tied in third place)

Credit: tibu/Getty Images

Tied in third place, a Luxembourg passport will gain you entry to 186 nations.

22 of 28

3. Italy (tied in third place)

Credit: Francesco Iacobelli/Getty Images

Passport holders from Italy can enter 186 countries without a visa.

23 of 28

3. Denmark (tied in third place)

Credit: Visions Of Our Land/Getty Images

Denmark allows its passport holders to enter 186 countries sans visa.

24 of 28

2. South Korea (tied in second place)

Credit: LeoPatrizi/Getty Images

A passport from South Korea allows for entry into 187 countries without a visa.

25 of 28

2. Germany (tied in second place)

Credit: querbeet/Getty Images

A passport from Germany allows for entry into 187 countries without a visa.

26 of 28

2. Finland (tied in second place)

Credit: bluejayphoto/Getty Images

Passport holders from Finland can gain entry to 187 countries without a visa.

27 of 28

1. Singapore (tied in first place)

Credit: Justin Seah/Getty Images

A passport from Singapore allows for entry into 189 countries without a visa.

28 of 28

1. Japan (tied in first place)

Credit: Frank Deim/Getty Images

A passport from Japan allows for entry into 189 countries without a visa.

Replay gallery

Up Next

By Travel + Leisure Staff

Account

Account

The 28 Most Powerful Passports in the World

1 of 28

9. New Zealand (tied in ninth place)

1 of 28

2 of 28

9. Lithuania (tied in ninth place)

2 of 28

3 of 28

9. Iceland (tied in ninth place)

3 of 28

4 of 28

9. Australia (tied in ninth place)

4 of 28

5 of 28

8. Czech Republic

5 of 28

6 of 28

7. Malta

6 of 28

7 of 28

6. United States (tied in sixth place)

7 of 28

8 of 28

6. United Kingdom (tied in sixth place)

8 of 28

9 of 28

6. Norway (tied for sixth place)

9 of 28

10 of 28

6. Ireland (tied in sixth place)

10 of 28

11 of 28

6. Greece (tied in sixth place)

11 of 28

12 of 28

6. Canada (tied in sixth place)

12 of 28

13 of 28

6. Belgium (tied in sixth place)

13 of 28

14 of 28

5. Switzerland (tied in fifth place)

14 of 28

15 of 28

5. Portugal (tied in fifth place)

15 of 28

16 of 28

5. Netherlands (tied in fifth place)

16 of 28

17 of 28

5. Austria (tied in fifth place)

17 of 28

18 of 28

4. Sweden (tied in fourth place)

18 of 28

19 of 28

4. Spain (tied in fourth place)

19 of 28

20 of 28

4. France (tied in fourth place)

20 of 28

21 of 28

3. Luxembourg (tied in third place)

21 of 28

22 of 28

3. Italy (tied in third place)

22 of 28

23 of 28

3. Denmark (tied in third place)

23 of 28

24 of 28

2. South Korea (tied in second place)

24 of 28

25 of 28

2. Germany (tied in second place)

25 of 28

26 of 28

2. Finland (tied in second place)