The World’s Most Powerful Passports in 2023

Exploring the World’s Top Passports

The ability to travel the world with ease is a dream for many, and a passport’s power plays a significant role in making this dream a reality. Each year, the Henley Passport Index ranks the world’s passports based on the number of destinations their holders can visit without obtaining a visa. The 2023 rankings are out, and we’re here to provide an overview of the world’s most powerful passports according to the latest index.

Henley Passport Index

The Henley Passport Index is a prestigious global ranking system that evaluates the strength of passports from around the world. Updated regularly, the index measures the number of visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations each passport provides access to, serving as a valuable tool for travelers, policymakers, and investors alike. Established in 2006 by Henley & Partners, a leading global citizenship and residence advisory firm, the index is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and additional in-house research. The Henley Passport Index is widely recognized as a reliable and authoritative source for understanding global passport strength and the freedom of movement each passport affords its citizens.

Top 10 Most Powerful Passports of 2023

#1: Japan: 193 Destinations

Topping the list for yet another year, the Japanese passport reigns supreme as the world’s most powerful passport. Holders of a Japanese passport can visit an impressive 193 destinations without the need for a visa, granting them unparalleled freedom to explore the globe.

#2: Singapore, South Korea: 192 Destinations

Sharing the second spot, Singapore and South Korea’s passports offer their holders visa-free access to 192 destinations. These countries’ strong diplomatic relations and thriving economies have contributed to their high rankings, enabling their citizens to travel the world with minimal restrictions.

#3:Germany, Spain: 190 Destinations

Germany and Spain share the third position in the 2023 Henley Passport Index, allowing their citizens visa-free access to 190 destinations. Both countries’ passports are highly valued due to their European Union membership, which grants them access to a multitude of countries without visa requirements.

#4: Finland, Italy, Luxembourg: 189 Destinations

Next on the list, we have Finland, Italy, and Luxembourg, with their passports granting visa-free travel to 189 destinations. These countries’ strong international ties and EU membership give their passport holders the freedom to explore numerous countries effortlessly.

#5: Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden: 188 Destinations

Coming in at fifth place, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden offer their citizens the opportunity to visit 188 destinations without a visa. These EU countries are known for their high quality of life and strong diplomatic relations, making their passports highly sought after by global travelers.

#6: France, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom: 187 Destinations

The passports of France, Ireland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom grant visa-free access to 187 destinations. As influential countries in Europe, their passports continue to be highly regarded, allowing their citizens to travel the world with ease.

#7: Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United States, Czech Republic: 186 Destinations

Sharing the seventh spot, the passports of Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United States, and the Czech Republic enable their holders to visit 186 destinations without a visa. These countries’ strong international ties and high global standing contribute to their passports’ impressive ranking.

#8: Australia, Canada, Greece, Malta: 185 Destinations

Australian, Canadian, Greek, and Maltese passports grant their holders visa-free access to 185 destinations. Their passports’ high rankings reflect these countries’ strong economies and international relationships, providing their citizens with numerous travel opportunities.

#9: Hungary, Poland: 184 Destinations

Ranking ninth, Hungary and Poland offer their citizens visa-free travel to 184 destinations. As EU members, their passports’ strength is a testament to the countries’ economic growth and international standing.

#10: Lithuania, Slovakia: 183 Destinations

Rounding out the top 10, Lithuania and Slovakia’s passports provide visa-free access to 183 destinations. These EU countries’ passports are increasingly powerful, reflecting their continued economic development and global connections.

Below are additional rankings from the 2023 Henley Passport Index:

2023 rank	Passport issuing country	Visa-free destinations
1	Japan	193
	Singapore	193
2	South Korea	192
3	Germany	191
	Spain	191
4	Finland	190
	Italy	190
	Luxembourg	190
5	Austria	189
	Denmark	189
	Netherlands	189
	Sweden	189
6	France	188
	Ireland	188
	Portugal	188
	United Kingdom	188
7	Belgium	187
	Czech Republic	187
	New Zealand	187
	Norway	187
	Switzerland	187
	United States	187
8	Australia	186
	Canada	186
	Greece	186
	Malta	186
9	Hungary	185
	Poland	185
10	Lithuania	184
	Slovakia	184
11	Latvia	183
	Slovenia	183
12	Estonia	182
13	Iceland	181
14	Malaysia	180
15	Liechtenstein	179
16	United Arab Emirates	178
	Cyprus	178
17	Romania	176
18	Chile	175
	Monaco	175
	Croatia	175
	Bulgaria	175
19	Hong Kong	172
20	Argentina	171
	Brazil	171
21	San Marino	170
22	Andorra	169
23	Brunei	167
24	Barbados	162
25	Israel	160
	Mexico	160
26	Saint Kitts and Nevis	156
27	Bahamas	155
28	Vatican City	154
29	Seychelles	153
	Uruguay	153
30	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	151
60	Antigua and Barbuda	150
	Trinidad and Tobago	150
62	Costa Rica	150
63	Saint Lucia	147
64	Grenada	146
	Mauritius	146
66	Dominica	145
	Taiwan	145
68	Macau	144
	Ukraine	144
	Panama	144
71	Paraguay	142
72	Peru	136
	Serbia	136
74	Colombia	133
	Guatemala	133
	Honduras	133
77	El Salvador	132
	Samoa	132
	Solomon Islands	132
80	Tonga	130
81	Venezuela	129
82	Nicaragua	128
	Tuvalu	128
84	North Macedonia	125
85	Kiribati	124
	Montenegro	124
87	Marshall Islands	123
87	Moldova	121
89	Palau	120
90	Russia	118
	Bosnia and Herzegovina	118
	Micronesia	118
93	Georgia	116
94	Albania	115
95	Turkey	110
96	South Africa	106
97	Belize	103
98	Qatar	100
99	Vanuatu	98
100	Kuwait	97
101	East Timor	94
102	Ecuador	92
103	Nauru	90
104	Maldives	89
105	Fiji	88
	Guyana	88
107	Botswana	87
	Jamaica	87
	Bahrain	87
110	Papua New Guinea	83
111	Oman	82
	Saudi Arabia	82
113	Bolivia	80
	China	80
114	Namibia	79
115	Thailand	78
	Belarus	78
117	Lesotho	77
118	Suriname	76
	Kazakhstan	76
120	Eswatini	75
121	Malawi	74
122	Kenya	73
123	Tanzania	72
124	Indonesia	71
	Zambia	71
126	Tunisia	70
	Azerbaijan	70
	Dominican Republic	70
129	Gambia	69
130	Philippines	67
	Uganda	67
132	Armenia	66
	Cape Verde	66
	Zimbabwe	66
135	Cuba	65
	Ghana	65
	Morocco	65
138	Kyrgyzstan	64
	Sierra Leone	64
140	Mozambique	62
	Mongolia	62
142	Benin	61
	Rwanda	61
144	Tajikistan	60
	São Tomé and Príncipe	60
146	India	59
	Mauritania	59
	Uzbekistan	59
149	Burkina Faso	58
150	Gabon	57
	Senegal	57
	Ivory Coast	57
153	Equatorial Guinea	56
	Madagascar	56
	Guinea	56
156	Togo	55
	Vietnam	55
158	Mali	54
	Cambodia	54
160	Algeria	53
	Bhutan	53
	Chad	53
	Comoros	53
	Egypt	53
	Jordan	53
	Niger	53
	Turkmenistan	53
168	Central African Republic	52
	Guinea-Bissau	52
170	Angola	51
	Cameroon	51
172	Burundi	50
	Laos	50
174	Liberia	49
	Congo	49
	Haiti	49
177	Djibouti	48
178	Myanmar	47
179	Ethiopia	46
	Nigeria	46
181	Eritrea	44
	South Sudan	44
183	Iran	43
184	DR Congo	42
	Lebanon	42
	Sri Lanka	42
	Sudan	42
188	Bangladesh	41
	Kosovo	41
	Libya	41
191	North Korea	40
192	Nepal	38
	Palestine	38
194	Somalia	35
195	Yemen	34
196	Pakistan	32
197	Syria	30
198	Iraq	29
199	Afghanistan	27

Conclusion

The 2023 Henley Passport Index rankings highlight the power and influence of a nation’s passport. A strong passport opens doors to numerous travel opportunities, granting its holders the freedom to explore.