A new year brings a fresh update to global travel freedom, and the first quarterly release of the Henley Passport Index for 2026 is officially out. Compared with the October rankings, several countries have climbed, slipped, or reclaimed their positions—showing just how fluid passport power can be.

How passport power is measured

The rankings are determined by the number of destinations a passport holder can access without needing a visa in advance. The more countries you can enter freely, the higher your passport ranks.

Singapore remains firmly on top.

Once again, Singapore has claimed the number-one position. In 2026, Singaporean passport holders enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 192 destinations, placing the country well ahead of the rest of the world.

Asia dominates the top tier.

Just behind Singapore are Japan and South Korea, tied for second place. Both passports allow entry to 188 countries, with Japan moving up from third place since the last index update.

European passports surge upward.

Several European nations have seen impressive gains. Sweden has made one of the biggest moves, jumping three places to share third position alongside Luxembourg, Denmark, Spain, and Switzerland.

The United Kingdom has also edged upward, improving from eighth to seventh place—little progress, but a positive sign for British travelers.

Photo: unsplash.com/@cardmapr

The United States returns to the top 10

After dropping out of the top tier in October, the United States has regained ground and now sits alone in tenth place, restoring its spot among the world’s most powerful passports.

The world’s most powerful passports in 2026

1. Singapore
2. Japan, South Korea
3. Luxembourg, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden
4. Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway
5. Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates
6. Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Malta, New Zealand, Poland
7. Australia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, United Kingdom
8. Canada, Iceland, Lithuania
9. Malaysia
10. United States

For travelers interested in the full picture, the complete 101-country ranking can be explored directly on the Henley Passport Index website.