Henley Passport Index 2026: Singapore Leads, UK and US Passports Decline

Passports serve as vital sovereign documents that grant their holders freedom of movement and international influence, reflecting a country's strength and political as well as economic status on the global stage.
In this context, the Henley Passport Index for 2026 has released its annual ranking, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), analyzing the ability of 199 passports to access 227 destinations worldwide without prior visa requirements.

Singapore Maintains Top Position

For the third consecutive year, Singapore's passport has retained its global leading position, allowing access to 192 countries without a visa, further confirming the growing influence of Southeast Asian nations.

Japan and South Korea Secure Second Place

Japan and South Korea rank second, providing visa-free access to 188 countries, underscoring Asia's strong presence in the upper ranks.

European Dominance in Third Place
Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland share third place, with their passports allowing access to 186 countries, thereby affirming Europe's advanced position on the global travel freedom map.

United Arab Emirates Among the Top Ten

A group of European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway, occupies the fourth position.
The fifth place is held by Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates, granting access to 184 countries, which reflects the progressive status of the Emirati passport worldwide.

UK and US Experience Notable Declines

The ranking shows a significant drop for the United Kingdom and the United States:
The UK has fallen to seventh place, with its passport allowing access to 182 countries without a visa, down from fifth place in 2025 and fourth in 2024, clearly reflecting the impact of Brexit.
The United States has also dropped to tenth place, with access to 179 countries, down from ninth in 2025 and seventh in 2023 and 2024.

Remaining Top Ten Positions

The top ten passports for 2026 also include:
Sixth place: Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Malta, New Zealand, Poland (183 countries).
Eighth place: Canada, Iceland, Lithuania (181 countries).
Ninth place: Malaysia (180 countries).

Asia and Europe at the Forefront

The Henley Passport Index 2026 demonstrates the ongoing dominance of Asian and European passports in global travel freedom, while traditional Western powers face increasing challenges in maintaining the flexibility of their passports and their international influence in a rapidly changing world.