Culture + Design The 28 Most Powerful Passports in the World By Travel + Leisure Editors Travel + Leisure Editors Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on April 8, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: 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. How to Get a New Passport as Quickly as Possible 01 of 28 9. New Zealand (tied in ninth place) wnjay_wootthisak/Getty Images Passport holders from New Zealand can gain entry to 180 countries without a visa. 02 of 28 9. Lithuania (tied in ninth place) Angel Villalba/Getty Images Passport holders from Lithuania can gain entry to 180 countries without a visa. 03 of 28 9. Iceland (tied in ninth place) darekm101/Getty Images Passport holders from Iceland can gain entry to 180 countries without a visa. 04 of 28 9. Australia (tied in ninth place) Siwawut/Getty Images Tied in ninth place is Australia's passport, which allows its holders to enter 180 nations without a visa. 05 of 28 8. Czech Republic iStockphoto/Getty Images A passport from the Czech Republic will get you into 181 nations sans visa. 06 of 28 7. Malta iStockphoto/Getty Images A passport from Malta allows travelers into 182 countries around the globe. 07 of 28 6. United States (tied in sixth place) Sylvain Sonnet/Getty Images The United States comes in at sixth place. Its passport allows citizens to travel to 183 nations without a visa. 08 of 28 6. United Kingdom (tied in sixth place) ChrisHepburn/Getty Images Tied for sixth place is the United Kingdom’s passport, which allows entry to 183 countries without applying for a visa. 09 of 28 6. Norway (tied for sixth place) cookelma/Getty Images A Norweigan passport will get you into 183 nations without a visa. 10 of 28 6. Ireland (tied in sixth place) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) spastonov/Getty Images Austrian passport holders can go to 184 nations without a visa. 18 of 28 4. Sweden (tied in fourth place) 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) 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) 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) 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) Francesco Iacobelli/Getty Images Passport holders from Italy can enter 186 countries without a visa. 23 of 28 3. Denmark (tied in third place) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) Frank Deim/Getty Images A passport from Japan allows for entry into 189 countries without a visa. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit