Your passport is one of the most valuable documents you own - and not all passports are created equal. The Henley Passport Index scores all 199 passports by how many of the world's 227 destinations their holders can enter without arranging a visa in advance. In 2026 the gap between the strongest and weakest passport has never been wider: a record 169 destinations. Use the interactive tool below to search, sort and compare every passport, then read the analysis underneath.
Search & sort the full 2026 ranking
| Rank ↕ | Passport ↕ | Visa-free ↕ | Region ↕ |
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Compare two passports
Explore every passport in detail
Open any country below for a full, regularly-updated breakdown of where that passport goes visa-free, visa-on-arrival, with an eTA, or needs a visa in advance (based on the openly-licensed Passport Index dataset):
Afghanistan · Albania · Algeria · Andorra · Angola · Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Armenia · Australia · Austria · Azerbaijan · Bahamas · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Barbados · Belarus · Belgium · Belize · Benin · Bhutan · Bolivia · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Botswana · Brazil · Brunei · Bulgaria · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cambodia · Cameroon · Canada · Cape Verde · Central African Republic · Chad · Chile · China · Colombia · Comoros · Congo · Costa Rica · Cote d'Ivoire · Croatia · Cuba · Cyprus · Czech Republic · DR Congo · Denmark · Djibouti · Dominica · Dominican Republic · Ecuador · Egypt · El Salvador · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Estonia · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Federated States of Micronesia · Fiji · Finland · France · Gabon · Gambia · Georgia · Germany · Ghana · Greece · Grenada · Guatemala · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · Hong Kong · Hungary · Iceland · India · Indonesia · Iran · Iraq · Ireland · Israel · Italy · Jamaica · Japan · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Kenya · Kiribati · Kosovo · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Latvia · Lebanon · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Macau · Madagascar · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Mali · Malta · Marshall Islands · Mauritania · Mauritius · Mexico · Moldova · Monaco · Mongolia · Montenegro · Morocco · Mozambique · Myanmar · Namibia · Nauru · Nepal · Netherlands · New Zealand · Nicaragua · Niger · Nigeria · North Korea · North Macedonia · Norway · Oman · Pakistan · Palau · Palestine · Panama · Papua New Guinea · Paraguay · Peru · Philippines · Poland · Portugal · Qatar · Romania · Russia · Rwanda · Saint Kitts and Nevis · Saint Lucia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Samoa · San Marino · Sao Tome and Principe · Saudi Arabia · Senegal · Serbia · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Singapore · Slovakia · Slovenia · Solomon Islands · Somalia · South Africa · South Korea · South Sudan · Spain · Sri Lanka · Sudan · Suriname · Sweden · Switzerland · Syria · Taiwan · Tajikistan · Tanzania · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Togo · Tonga · Trinidad and Tobago · Tunisia · Turkey · Turkmenistan · Tuvalu · Uganda · Ukraine · United Arab Emirates · United Kingdom · United States · Uruguay · Uzbekistan · Vanuatu · Vatican City · Venezuela · Vietnam · Yemen · Zambia · Zimbabwe
How passport power is measured
The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports using exclusive International Air Transport Association (IATA) data. A passport earns one point for every destination its holder can enter without a prior visa - visa-free entry, a visa on arrival, a visitor permit, or an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) issued on arrival. Destinations that require a visa or government approval before you travel score zero.
Biggest movers and key trends
- The UAE's rise is the standout story - up 57 places and 149 destinations since 2006, now joint-2nd (187).
- The United States keeps sliding - once #1, now 10th (179) after shedding seven destinations year over year.
- The United Kingdom mirrors that decline, down to 6th (183) from the top spot a decade ago.
- Asia leads the top: Singapore, Japan and South Korea anchor the summit with the UAE; a block of EU passports fills ranks 3-9.
- Economic size does not equal mobility: China (55th, 82) and India (77th, 56) rank far below their economic weight.
Henley vs Arton: why you will see two different number-one passports
If you have seen the UAE called the world's most powerful passport, that is Arton Capital's Passport Index, which uses a real-time mobility score (UAE #1). Henley counts visa-free destinations from annual IATA data (Singapore #1). Neither is wrong - they measure slightly different things. This page uses Henley.
How to get a more powerful passport
You cannot change your country's ranking, but you can change which passport you carry: citizenship by descent, naturalisation after long-term residence, or a citizenship- or residence-by-investment programme (common in the Caribbean and parts of Europe). A second top-tier passport can lift your visa-free access by 100-plus destinations.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the most powerful passport in 2026?
On the Henley Passport Index 2026, Singapore is the strongest passport, with visa-free access to 192 of 227 destinations. On Arton Capital's Passport Index the United Arab Emirates ranks first, because the two indexes use different methodologies.
How is passport strength measured?
Henley uses IATA Timatic data and counts the destinations a holder can enter without a prior visa - visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival, visitor permits and electronic travel authorisations (eTAs) granted on arrival. Destinations requiring a visa before departure score zero.
Why do passport rankings differ between indexes?
They count access differently. Henley counts destinations reachable without a prior visa (Singapore #1); Arton Capital's Passport Index uses a real-time mobility score combining visa-free and visa-on-arrival access (UAE #1).
Can you legally hold two passports?
Many countries permit dual or multiple citizenship, so you can hold two passports and travel on whichever gives better access. Some countries restrict or prohibit it, so it depends on the laws involved.
How can you get a more powerful passport?
By acquiring a second citizenship through descent, long-term naturalisation, or a citizenship- or residence-by-investment programme. Countries raise their ranking by negotiating reciprocal visa-waiver agreements.
How often is the ranking updated?
Henley publishes a major ranking each January with periodic updates; Arton Capital's index updates in real time as visa policies change.
Source: Henley Passport Index, 2026 edition (IATA Timatic data; 199 passports across 227 destinations), cross-checked against Arton Capital's Passport Index 2026. Rankings change as visa policies update - last reviewed June 2026.