While the document is one of the most important, nothing is as great as having a powerful one. It decides which countries you can get into visa free. Every year, the Henley Passport Index publishes its list of the world’s most powerful passports, and recently they just released the 2023 report. For globe-trotters, such information is powerful as it reveals which countries they can directly access stress free. The index ranks passports based on how many destinations one can get in without the need of a visa, writes Harriet James
1. Japan
For the fifth time, Japan topped the index as the nation whose passport is most powerful.
Holders of this passport can visit 193 of 227 countries visa free, which is 85 per cent of the countries in the world. However, despite having this privilege, the irony is that most Japanese, according to reports, don’t travel beyond their neighbouring Asian countries such as Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Macau. Nikkei Asian Review reveals that approximately 23 per cent of Japanese citizens have a passport, which is the lowest statistic among G7 states.
2. Singapore and South Korea
Singapore and South Korea hold joint second place on the Henley Passport Index (HPI). The two Asian tigers allow travel to 192 countries without the need for a visa in advance. The two passports are, therefore, considered one of the most desirable passports in the world with the highest mobility score. The holders have visa-free access and visas on arrival to destinations such as Brazil, the European Union, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and United States.
3. Germany and Spain
The two European countries tie in the third position on the HPI, as the passports from both countries permit them to travel to 190 countries without getting a visa in advance. German passports are valid for 10 years for adults and six years for citizens under 24 years. Having a German passport means that one can also, work, live, and study in one of the world’s most inexpensive countries for higher education.
One can also travel to any neighbouring country in the European Union (EU) to do the same. What’s more, having Spanish or German citizenship makes you an EU citizen, which means that you will have all the benefits added to having that passport including free movement across Europe.
4. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg
These three European countries are tied at the fourth position because their passports permit their citizens to travel to 189 countries without a visa in advance. Of course, any of these passports would also make you a EU citizen.
5. Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden
These four European countries are ranked in joint fifth place on the HPI. Their passports allow holders to travel freely to 188 countries and the best part of it is that all them offer EU citizenship.
6. France, Ireland, Portugal, UK
In position six we have three EU countries, plus the world’s only ex-EU country – the UK thanks to Brexit. While these four passports look equal at first glance according to HPI, the UK may still have one of the world’s most powerful passports. However, it’s vastly inferior to the other three since although the UK passport still grants you easy travel around the world, it no longer gives you the rights to live, work, study, retire, and do business freely across the 30 countries of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland.
7. Belgium, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, US
The US passport tied in seventh place with Belgium, the Czech Republic, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland. Although the Henley Passport Index states that it expects the US to remain solidly at number seven on the list, last year’s Global Citizen Solutions Global Passport Index named the US passport the world’s most powerful based on its ranking of investment, quality of life and enhanced mobility indices in 2022. All of the countries offer citizens visa-free visits to 186 countries.
8. Australia, Canada, Greece, Malta
Ranking jointly at position eight on the HPI is this diverse mix of EU and Commonwealth countries. All of their passports allow travel to 185 countries without a visa in advance. But only the Czech Republic, Greece, and Malta provide EU rights for their citizens.
9. Hungary
The central European country of Hungary holds ninth position all on its own. With the Hungarian passport, one can travel without a visa in advance to 183 countries. The better part is of course the EU citizenship, giving you full access to all countries in the zone. Known as the first communist bloc nation and one of the oldest countries in Europe, Hungary boasts a rich cultural heritage that links the gap between European charm and historical Soviet influence.
10. Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia
This is the final group of countries in this list of the 30 most powerful passports in the world and they are all from the EU. Holders of a Lithuanian, Polish, or Slovakian passport can travel to 182 countries without arranging a visa in advance and their citizens of these three countries also benefit from full EU rights that go beyond travel.
