As of the beginning of 2024, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain hold the world most powerful passports, granting visa-free access to 194 global destinations, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. The rankings are determined by data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Traditionally dominated by Japan and Singapore for the past five years, this quarter’s index sees a shift with European nations ascending in the rankings. Finland and Sweden, along with South Korea, are tied for the second position, offering visa-free entry to 193 destinations. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands secure the third spot, providing passport holders access to 192 destinations.
India’s passport holds the 80th position on the list, allowing citizens to travel to 62 countries without a visa. This includes popular tourist destinations such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. India shares its rank with Uzbekistan, while neighboring Pakistan is positioned at 101st place.
Christian H Kaelin, the chairman of Henley & Partners and the mind behind the passport index, has drawn attention to the growing global mobility gap among countries. Despite a general trend toward expanded travel freedom over the last two decades, the discrepancy between the highest and lowest rankings on the index has now reached an unprecedented level. the world most powerful
Mr. Kaelin pointed out that there has been a substantial increase in the average number of destinations accessible to travelers without a visa. This number has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024, showcasing the evolving landscape of global mobility.
He emphasized that the top-ranked countries now enjoy the privilege of traveling to an astonishing 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which occupies the bottom spot on the list, with access to just 28 countries without a visa. Syria, with visa-free access to only 29 destinations, holds the second-lowest position, followed by Iraq with 31 and Pakistan with 34.