Singapore Now Has the World’s Most Powerful Passport: Report

It may be time to become a citizen of Singapore.

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The Southeast Asian country has the world’s most powerful passport, according to London-based immigration consultancy Henley & Partners . The Singaporean travel document now gives jet-setters visa-free entry to a record 195 global destinations, making it a valuable addition to any passport collection .

Henley uses data from the International Air Transport Association to rank 199 passports based on their access to 227 international locations. Six countries jointly held the top position in the 2024 Henley Passport Index at the beginning of the year, with France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Japan reigning supreme with Singapore. The five other countries are now in second place, offering hassle-free access to 192 destinations.

Seven nations have landed in third place for the first time. Citizens of Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden can travel to 191 places without a visa.

“The ability to travel visa-free to a wide array of destinations is no longer merely a convenience,” Henley CEO Juerg Steffen said in the July report . “It’s a powerful economic tool that can drive growth, foster international cooperation, and attract foreign investment.”

Interestingly, the U.K. and U.S., which topped the index in 2014, have dropped in the rankings over the past decade. The U.K. is now in fourth place with Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland, while the U.S. moved to eighth.

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Other nations have shifted about even more dramatically. The UAE is the biggest climber, rising an incredible 53 places since the index’s inception in 2006. The Middle Eastern country is ranked ninth, with the passport now unlocking 185 destinations. In contrast, Venezuela is the biggest faller, plummeting 17 places over the past decade to land in 42nd place.

Afghanistan’s passport remains the world’s weakest, allowing travelers to access only 26 destinations sans visa. That is the lowest score ever recorded in the history of the 19-year-old index.

“The global average number of destinations travelers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024,” added Henley chairman Dr. Christian H. Kaelin. “However, the global mobility gap between those at the top and bottom of the index is now wider than it has ever been, with top-ranked Singapore able to access a record-breaking 169 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan.”

You know which passport to get next, then.

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