Ranked: world’s most powerful passports 2026

Once again, Singapore tops the list of the world’s most powerful passports. We take a look at the other winners, losers and movers

I was feeling cocky as I queued up for my Chinese visa. I had checked and rechecked the requirements and had all my documents to hand: my passport, a photocopy of my passport, a spare photo just in case, the form that had taken me an hour to fill in online, my flight details, and my tour and hotel confirmation. I had also signed and dated the form – in both places – unlike all the (clearly inferior!) applicants in front of me. 

Shutterstock Getting a Chinese visa isn’t easy for Brits

After two hours in the visa office, I finally managed to file my paperwork. As a Brit, I had clearly got used to being welcomed abroad with open arms. The UK has one of the world’s most powerful passports and, as such, I can enter most countries visa free or with a visa on arrival. 

After my humbling at the China visa office, I read with interest the latest ranking of the world’s most powerful passports.

What are the world’s most powerful passports?

Singapore is the world’s most powerful passport, according to the Henley Passport Index which uses exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) to cross-check 199 passports against 227 countries and territories. 

Majonit/Shutterstock Singapore tops the world’s most powerful passports

For each travel destination, if no visa is required or a visa-on-arrival is available, the passport in question receives a score of 1. If a visa or other form of government approval is required before departure, the passport receives a score of 0. The scores for each passport are added up to produce its total score (i.e. the number of destinations to which it grants access without a prior visa). This is then ranked against all other passports to create the index. 

Interesting insights

The UAE has recorded the strongest long-term rise of any country on the Henley Passport Index, climbing an unprecedented 57 places over the past two decades to rank 5th globally in 2026. The UAE passport now allows visa-free access to 187 destinations.

The UK drops one place into 6th despite its score remaining stable at 190. It is joined by Hungary, Malaysia and Poland.

The US continues its decade-long slide down the index, dropping one place to 10th position, with visa-free access to 179 destinations.

The UK and the US jointly held 1st place on the index in 2015. 

Bolivia is the only country on the index to have seen an overall decline in visa-free access over the past 20 years, losing 5 visa-free destinations and falling 32 places to rank at 58th in 2026.

Sergii Figurnyi/Shutterstock The US continues its decade-long slide down the index

Afghanistan offers visa-free access to only 24 countries – the lowest score in the history of the 20-year-old index.

World’s most powerful passport: full ranking

This article is updated annually with the latest IATA data.

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Lead image: Tang Yan Song/Shutterstock