Singaporeans continue to hold the world’s most powerful passport, retaining the top position in the 2026 Henley Passport Index with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 192 out of 227 destinations worldwide.
The index, released on January 13, places Singapore firmly ahead of all other countries. Japan and South Korea ranked joint second, each offering access to 188 destinations. A group of European nations — Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland — followed in joint third place with 186 destinations.
Malaysia also performed strongly, ranking ninth globally and remaining the only Southeast Asian country besides Singapore in the top 10, with access to 180 destinations. The United States returned to the top 10 at tenth place, though Henley & Partners noted a long-term decline in visa-free access for both the US and the UK.
The United Arab Emirates emerged as one of the biggest success stories, climbing to fifth place after adding 149 visa-free destinations since 2006 through sustained diplomatic engagement. At the other end of the index, Afghanistan ranked last, with access to just 24 destinations.
Henley & Partners said the gap between the world’s strongest and weakest passports has widened sharply, highlighting growing global mobility inequality. The index is based on International Air Transport Association data and is published twice a year.
