The most powerful passports

How can we know the power of a passport? Companies that provide immigration services to individuals who wish to have a second passport have created passport indexes using several different criteria. However, there are countries that appear and rank consistently in the top ten most powerful passports in the world.

For travelers, it is very useful information. For businessmen and entrepreneurs, it is a measure of global mobility and economic opportunity.

Here are some examples of passport indexes and their findings

The Henley Passport Index measures visa-free access to 227 countries across the world.  Japanese citizens continue to have the most powerful passport: their holders and citizens can travel visa-free to 193 destinations out of 227.

South Koreans and Singaporeans are tied in second place: holders and citizens are able to travel visa-free to 192 countries.

Germany and Spain both hold third place with visa-free access to 190 destinations worldwide.

The United Kingdom passport holds the 6th place with visa-free access to 187 countries, while the United States holds the 7th places with visa-free access to 186 countries.

Global Citizen Solutions Global Passport Index

The Global Citizen Solutions Global Passport Index ranked the USA as 1st Germany 2nd Canada 3rd Netherlands 4th Denmark 5th Sweden 6th United Kingdom 7th Finland 8th Norway 9th and New Zealand 10th.

They used three indicators to measure the most powerful passports:

  • The Enhanced Mobility Index ranked the number of countries or territories that the passport provides access to and the desirability of these countries.
  • The Investment Index ranked the global competitiveness or market innovation present in each country, and gross national income per capita plus personal income.
  • The Quality of Life Index ranked how each country performed in terms of sustainable development, cost of living, protection of personal freedom, happiness of citizens, environmental performance and migrant acceptance.

Guide Consultants Passport Ranking Index ranking depends on the ease with which holders can travel to international destinations, in particular those who had visa-free access to more destinations. Singapore ranked as the most powerful passport in the world with visa-free access to 194 countries.

  • Singapore
  • Japan and South Korea
  • Finland, Germany, and Spain
  • Luxembourg, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Denmark
  • Austria, Portugal, UK, New Zealand, Ireland
  • USA, Canada, Switzerland, Norway
  • Belgium and Greece
  • Poland and Malta
  • Australia, Slovakia
  • Hungary, Czech Republic