Most powerful passports for 2024: See them here
Going into the new year it is good to know which country has the most powerful passports (and which enable unrestricted entry) for 2024.
The world’s most powerful passports for 2024 have been revealed.
The global ranking indicates the number of countries citizens around the world can enter without too much red tape.
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PASSPORT INDEX
The list has been produced by the Henley Passport Index, which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (Iata).
It analyses how many countries a passport holder can enter without having to obtain visas.
POWERFUL PASSPORTS
For the first time, six countries share the top spot on the list.
Sitting in poll position are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore and Spain. Passport holders from these countries enjoy unrestricted entry to 194 countries.
Coming in second are Finland, South Korea and Sweden. Passports from these countries can enter 193 countries without hindrance.
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Four nations came in third, with unrestricted entry to 192 countries. Austria, Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands occupy the third position.
Coming in fourth position are Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal and the United Kingdom, whose passport holders may travel to 191 countries without much red tape.
Greece, Malta and Switzerland complete the top 5, each allowing entry to 190 countries.
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OTHER COUNTRIES
Australia maintains its position, in sixth place, with visa-free access to 189 countries.
Meanwhile, the USA continues to hold firm in seventh, with access to 188 countries visa-free. However, it is slightly off its 2014 ranking, when it came joint first with the UK.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS WITH POWERFUL PASSPORTS
Changing socio-political and economic factors have led to some significant changes for several countries, meaning that their nationals have increasingly more powerful passports.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been the biggest climber on the Henley Passport Index over the past decade, adding 106 destinations to its visa-free score since 2014.
This has resulted in a huge gain of 44 places in the ranking from 55th a few years ago, to 11th position this year, according to Daily Mail.
Ukraine and China are also among the top five countries with the most improved rankings over the past 10 years. Both nations have seen a gain of 21 places in the past year.
Ukraine is now in 32nd place with 148 visa-free destinations and China is 62nd on the ranking with access to 85 destinations without a prior visa, compared to just 44 in 2014.
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SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is not faring too badly. From having access to around 90 countries a few years ago, SA passport holders now have entry to over 100 countries.
South Africa came in at number 53 on Henley’s 2024 powerful passports list, with eased entry for 108 nations.