How powerful (or not) is your passport in 2024?
Read on, for your laissez-passer status
Passports out! An unprecedented six countries – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, and Singapore – occupy the top spot in the 2024 Henley Passport Index, a ranking system based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association.
The six nations now possess the most powerful passports globally, providing visa-free access to an extraordinary 194 out of 227 destinations worldwide, according to the latest ranking issued by the London-headquartered Henly & Partners – the global leader in residence and citizenship by investment. The firm also operates the world’s leading government advisory practice for investment migration.
The broadening
According to Dr Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, who conceived the passport index concept, while the overall pattern throughout the 19-year history of the ranking has leaned towards increased travel freedom, the current global mobility gap between individuals at the highest and lowest positions in the index is now broader than ever before.
Kaelin added: “The average number of destinations travellers can access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024. However, in the new year, the top-ranked countries can now travel to a staggering 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which sits at the bottom of the ranking with access to just 28 countries without a visa.”
Rung two
South Korea joins Finland and Sweden in second place, enjoying visa-free access to 193 destinations. Following closely, four EU nations—Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands—share the third spot, each with access to 192 destinations.
The United Kingdom ranks second to secure the fourth position, boasting visa-free access to 191 destinations. Australia and New Zealand find themselves in sixth place with 189 visa-free destinations. The United States retains its seventh position with access to 188 destinations, maintaining a consistent performance over the last decade.
Prolific riser
The United Arab Emirates stands out as the most significant climber over the past decade, soaring 44 places from 55th to 11th, with an impressive addition of 106 destinations to its visa-free score since 2014.
Ukraine and China have emerged as top performers in the past decade, each gaining 21 places in the rankings. Ukraine now sits in 32nd place with 148 visa-free destinations, while China is in 62nd place with access to 85 destinations.
In the GCC region
This is the ranking of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations in 2024 (Passport rank + country name + visa-free travel to total number of global destinations):
11 = United Arab Emirates 183
53 = Qatar 108
55 = Kuwait 102
59 = Bahrain 91
60 = Oman 90
61 = Saudi Arabia 89
Henley & Partners’ new research explores the relationship between visa-free access, economic progress, and investment migration programs. The data reveals a strong correlation, with countries offering investment migration programs experiencing increased economic performance.
Former Chief Economist at Lloyds Bank, Prof. Trevor Williams, underscores the link between economic performance and openness to international travel, trade, and investment. He emphasises the potential for economic progress in developing countries through increased transparency.
In Africa
Award-winning author and journalist Justice Malala highlights the transformative impact of Kenya and Rwanda’s visa-free policies on African mobility. Their bold move aligns with the African Union’s push for free movement, fostering economic and political connections.
Dr Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, emphasises the positive impact of investment migration on a nation’s passport power and economic progress. He notes that these programmes enhance sovereign equity without compromising strategic objectives.
The Henley Passport Index began tracking global travel freedoms 19 years ago, and in 2024, it remains a comprehensive tool reflecting the evolving landscape of global mobility. As geopolitical and economic shifts continue, the index serves as a barometer for nations seeking to enhance their citizens’ travel freedom and economic opportunities.
Featured image: The Henley Passport Index began tracking global travel freedoms 19 years ago. Image: ConvertKit
2024 Henley Passport Index (Passport rank + country name + visa-free travel to total number of global destinations):
1 = France 194
1 = Germany 194
1 = Italy 194
1 = Japan 194
1 = Singapore 194
1 = Spain 194
2 = Finland 193
2 = South Korea 193
2 = Sweden 193
3 = Austria 192
3 = Denmark 192
3 = Ireland 192
3 = Netherlands 192
4 = Belgium 191
4 = Luxembourg 191
4 = Norway 191
4 = Portugal 191
4 = United Kingdom 191
5 = Greece 190
5 = Malta 190
5 = Switzerland 190
6 = Australia 189
6 = Czech Republic 189
6 = New Zealand 189
6 = Poland 189
7 = Canada 188
7 = Hungary 188
7 = United States 188
8 = Estonia 187
8 = Lithuania 187
9 = Latvia 186
9 = Slovakia 186
9 = Slovenia 186
10 = Iceland 185
11 = United Arab Emirates 183
12 = Cyprus 182
12 = Liechtenstein 182
12 = Malaysia 182
13 = Bulgaria 179
13 = Croatia 179
13 = Romania 179
14 = Monaco 178
15 = Chile 177
16 = Argentina 174
17 = Brazil 173
18 = San Marino 172
19 = Andorra 171
19 = Hong Kong (SAR China) 171
20 = Brunei 168
21 = Israel 166
22 = Barbados 165
23 = Mexico 161
24 = Bahamas 158
25 = St Kitts and Nevis 157
25 = St Vincent and the Grenadines 157
25 = Vatican City 157
26 = Seychelles 156
26 = Uruguay 156
27 = Antigua and Barbuda 153
28 = Costa Rica 152
29 = Trinidad and Tobago 151
30 = Mauritius 150
31 = Panama 149
32 = Grenada 148
32 = St Lucia 148
32 = Ukraine 148
33 = Paraguay 146
34 = Dominica 144
34 = Macao (SAR China) 144
35 = Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) 143
36 = Peru 142
37 = Serbia 138
38 = Guatemala 137
39 = El Salvador 136
40 = Colombia 135
40 = Honduras 135
41 = Solomon Islands 134
42 = Samoa 132
43 = Nicaragua 130
43 = Tonga 130
44 = Tuvalu 128
45 = North Macedonia 127
46 = Marshall Islands 126
46 = Montenegro 126
46 = Venezuela 126
47 = Kiribati 124
48 = Albania 123
48 = Micronesia 123
48 = Palau Islands 123
49 = Moldova 122
50 = Bosnia and Herzegovina 121
50 = Georgia 121
51 = Russian Federation 119
52 = Turkey 118
53 = Qatar 108
53 = South Africa 108
54 = Belize 104
55 = Kuwait 102
56 = Timor-Leste 96
57 = Ecuador 95
58 = Maldives 94
58 = Vanuatu 94
59 = Bahrain 91
59 = Botswana 91
59 = Fiji 91
59 = Guyana 91
60 = Jamaica 90
60 = Nauru 90
60 = Oman 90
61 = Saudi Arabia 89
62 = China 85
62 = Papua New Guinea 85
63 = Bolivia 82
63 = Thailand 82
64 = Belarus 81
64 = Suriname 81
65 = Lesotho 80
65 = Namibia 80
66 = Eswatini 78
66 = Indonesia 78
66 = Kazakhstan 78
67 = Kenya 76
67 = Malawi 76
68 = Dominican Republic 74
68 = Kosovo 74
69 = Tanzania 73
70 = Azerbaijan 72
71 = Morocco 71
71 = Tunisia 71
71 = Zambia 71
72 = The Gambia 70
73 = Cape Verde Islands 69
73 = Philippines 69
73 = Uganda 69
74 = Armenia 68
75 = Sierra Leone 67
76 = Ghana 66
76 = Rwanda 66
76 = Zimbabwe 66
77 = Kyrgyzstan 65
78 = Cuba 64
79 = Benin 63
79 = Mongolia 63
79 = Mozambique 63
80 = India 62
80 = Uzbekistan 62
81 = Gabon 61
81 = Sao Tome and Principe 61
81 = Tajikistan 61
82 = Burkina Faso 60
82 = Madagascar 60
83 = Cote d’Ivoire 59
83 = Guinea 59
83 = Mauritania 59
83 = Togo 59
84 = Equatorial Guinea 58
84 = Senegal 58
85 = Niger 57
86 = Algeria 56
86 = Cambodia 56
86 = Guinea-Bissau 56
86 = Mali 56
87 = Bhutan 55
87 = Central African Republic 55
87 = Chad 55
87 = Comoro Islands 55
87 = Egypt 55
87 = Haiti 55
87 = Jordan 55
87 = Vietnam 55
88 = Angola 53
88 = Cameroon 53
89 = Congo (Rep.) 52
89 = Turkmenistan 52
90 = Burundi 51
90 = Laos 51
90 = Liberia 51
91 = Djibouti 50
92 = Myanmar 48
93 = Ethiopia 47
94 = Congo (Dem. Rep.) 46
94 = South Sudan 46
95 = Iran 45
95 = Lebanon 45
95 = Nigeria 45
95 = Sudan 45
96 = Eritrea 43
96 = Sri Lanka 43
97 = Bangladesh 42
97 = North Korea 42
98 = Libya 40
98 = Nepal 40
98 = Palestinian Territory 40
99 = Somalia 36
100 = Yemen 35
101 = Pakistan 34
102 = Iraq 31
103 = Syria 29
104 = Afghanistan 28
Last Updated on 10 months by Arnold Pinto
