2023: SEE THE TOP 10 PASSPORTS IN THE WORLD (IN TERMS OF TRAVEL FREEDOM) 

Did you know that the most powerful passport in the world, in terms of travel freedom, is the Japanese passport, which allows the holder to enter 193 different countries and territories without having to get a visa in advance?

All sovereign states issue passports to their citizens, which are documents essential to travel to other countries. However, many destinations also require visitors to have a visa to enter. In some cases, a country’s visa policy may allow travelers of certain nationalities to visit without a visa for a period of time. This is usually due to agreements between the two countries in question. In these situations, the traveler’s passport is all that is needed.

The more countries that a traveler can access visa-free, the more powerful their passport. The Henley Passport Index (HPI) ranks passports according to the number of destinations holders can enter without applying for a visa in advance (including both embassy visas and online visas). The HPI ranks a passport highly if it allows the holder to visit many countries with any of the following entry criteria: passport only, electronic travel authorization (eTA) / online visa waiver, and visa on arrival.

In 2023, the most powerful passport in the world in terms of travel freedom is the Japanese passport, according to the HPI. A passport issued by Japan allows the holder to enter 193 different countries and territories without having to get a visa in advance. Singapore and South Korea are tied for 2nd place. Passports issued by these countries grant visa-free travel to 192 destinations around the globe.

European Union (EU) countries make up the bulk of the top-ranked passports. German and Spanish passports share 3rd place (190 destinations), while Finnish, Italian, and Luxembourgish passports tie for 4th (189 destinations). Austrian, Danish, Dutch, and Swedish passports are co-ranked 5th (188). French, Irish, Portuguese, and British are currently ranked 6th in the world, with 187 visa-free destinations. 

The top 10 passports in the world also include those issued by the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. There are relatively few countries with visa requirements for Americans. US passport holders can visit 186 destinations visa-free. Similarly, there are few visa requirements for British citizens, with no visa required in advance for 187 countries and territories. Meanwhile, Australian and Canadian passports are tied as the 8th strongest passports in the world, allowing access to 185 destinations without a visa.

On the other hand, Afghanistan has the weakest passport in the world by travel freedom. The HPI places Afghanistan at the bottom of its list, in 109th place. A passport issued by Afghanistan allows the holder to enter only 27 countries and territories without applying for a visa in advance. Of these, many still require the traveler to apply for a visa on arrival.

Iraqi passports are only just above those issued by Afghanistan in the HPI rankings, allowing entry to 29 destinations without getting a visa prior to the trip. Syria, Pakistan, and Yemen round out the bottom 5 in 2023, with 30, 32, and 34 visa-free destinations, respectively.

In summary, the top 10 most powerful passports in 2023 are those issued by Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Germany, Spain, Italy, Finland, Luxembourg, Austria, and Denmark. However, since many of these are tied for position, the top 10 positions have been listed in the table below. They have been ranked in descending order according to the number of destinations passport holders can enter without applying for a visa before traveling. The data presented below is based on the current HPI ranking for each passport.

Source:

https://www.handyvisas.com/news/worlds-most-powerful-passports/