Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    • Travel Guides
    • Flight Deals
    • Travel Deals
    • Ways to Save
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Disney Vacations
    • Festivals + Events
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Buses + Trains
    • Ground Transportation
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow us

  1. Home
  2. Culture + Design
  3. The 28 Most Powerful Passports in the World

The 28 Most Powerful Passports in the World

By Travel + Leisure Staff
April 08, 2018
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
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

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

1 of 28

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

9. Lithuania (tied in ninth place)

Credit: Angel Villalba/Getty Images

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

2 of 28

3 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

9. Iceland (tied in ninth place)

Credit: darekm101/Getty Images

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

3 of 28

Advertisement

4 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

4 of 28

5 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

8. Czech Republic

Credit: iStockphoto/Getty Images

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

5 of 28

6 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

7. Malta

Credit: iStockphoto/Getty Images

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

6 of 28

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

7 of 28

8 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

8 of 28

9 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

6. Norway (tied for sixth place)

Credit: cookelma/Getty Images

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

9 of 28

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

10 of 28

11 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

11 of 28

12 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

12 of 28

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

13 of 28

14 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

14 of 28

15 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

15 of 28

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

16 of 28

17 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

5. Austria (tied in fifth place)

Credit: spastonov/Getty Images

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

17 of 28

18 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

18 of 28

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

4. Spain (tied in fourth place)

Credit: Manfred Gottschalk/Getty Images

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

19 of 28

20 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

20 of 28

21 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

3. Luxembourg (tied in third place)

Credit: tibu/Getty Images

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

21 of 28

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

3. Italy (tied in third place)

Credit: Francesco Iacobelli/Getty Images

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

22 of 28

23 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

3. Denmark (tied in third place)

Credit: Visions Of Our Land/Getty Images

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

23 of 28

24 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

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.

24 of 28

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

2. Germany (tied in second place)

Credit: querbeet/Getty Images

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

25 of 28

26 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

2. Finland (tied in second place)

Credit: bluejayphoto/Getty Images

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

26 of 28

27 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

1. Singapore (tied in first place)

Credit: Justin Seah/Getty Images

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

27 of 28

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 28

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

1. Japan (tied in first place)

Credit: Frank Deim/Getty Images

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

28 of 28

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Travel + Leisure Staff

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 28 9. New Zealand (tied in ninth place)
2 of 28 9. Lithuania (tied in ninth place)
3 of 28 9. Iceland (tied in ninth place)
4 of 28 9. Australia (tied in ninth place)
5 of 28 8. Czech Republic
6 of 28 7. Malta
7 of 28 6. United States (tied in sixth place)
8 of 28 6. United Kingdom (tied in sixth place)
9 of 28 6. Norway (tied for sixth place)
10 of 28 6. Ireland (tied in sixth place)
11 of 28 6. Greece (tied in sixth place)
12 of 28 6. Canada (tied in sixth place)
13 of 28 6. Belgium (tied in sixth place)
14 of 28 5. Switzerland (tied in fifth place)
15 of 28 5. Portugal (tied in fifth place)
16 of 28 5. Netherlands (tied in fifth place)
17 of 28 5. Austria (tied in fifth place)
18 of 28 4. Sweden (tied in fourth place)
19 of 28 4. Spain (tied in fourth place)
20 of 28 4. France (tied in fourth place)
21 of 28 3. Luxembourg (tied in third place)
22 of 28 3. Italy (tied in third place)
23 of 28 3. Denmark (tied in third place)
24 of 28 2. South Korea (tied in second place)
25 of 28 2. Germany (tied in second place)
26 of 28 2. Finland (tied in second place)
27 of 28 1. Singapore (tied in first place)
28 of 28 1. Japan (tied in first place)

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright