Singapore reclaims top spot as the world’s strongest passport

Singapore has reclaimed its reputation as the world’s most powerful passport, beating out countries like France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain. According to the latest Henley Passport Index, Singaporeans can boast visa-free access to an astonishing 195 countries – the highest of any country.

This significant achievement underlines Singapore’s strategic advantage as a global tourism hub, offering its citizens unrivaled travel freedom. Singapore now displaces previous top-ranked European nations and Japan, which now share the second spot with visa-free access to 192 destinations.

For the first time, seven countries including Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea and Sweden occupy the third position, each offering access to 191 destinations without a visa.

The Henley Passport Index, based on data from the International Air Transport Association, evaluates the visa-free access of 199 passports to 227 travel destinations. The index is an important economic tool to help stimulate growth, promote international cooperation and attract foreign investment.

The United States continues its decline in the rankings, dropping to eighth place with access to 186 destinations. The UK also saw a decline, now ranking fourth with access to 190 destinations, sharing the spot with Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland.

Afghanistan’s passport currently ranks lowest on the index, allowing its citizens to visit just 26 countries without a visa. This is the lowest ever in the index, reflecting the growing inequality in travel opportunities between countries around the world.

It is also worth noting that the United Arab Emirates has entered the top 10 countries for the first time with visa-free access to 185 destinations. This is a clear example of the dynamic changes in global mobility and the increasing value of powerful passports in today’s interconnected world.

The index reflects a steady increase in global travel freedom over the past two decades. The average number of countries accessible without a visa has almost doubled, from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024.

Singapore’s high ranking provides citizens with significant benefits, and the city-state is positioned as an ideal platform for international business and investment. Its strategic location and strong passport make the country an attractive base for entrepreneurs looking to grow their small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with easy access to global markets.