Henley & Partners recently released its 2026 Global Passport Ranking report, the only one of its kind based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority.

In a year where economies and politics consistently shift, so, too, do the power of passports. One consistency, however, is Singapore, ranked as the most powerful passport for the third consecutive year. Singapore passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 192 countries.

Tied for second are Japan and South Korea, both of which provide passport holders with access to 188 countries.

The top 10 most powerful passports of 2026 are:

1. Singapore – 192 countries
2. Japan and South Korea – 188 countries
3. Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland – 186 countries
4. Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands and Norway – 185 countries
5. Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates – 184 countries
6. Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Malta, New Zealand, Poland – 183 countries
7. Australia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, United Kingdom – 182 countries
8. Canada, Iceland, Lithuania – 181 countries
9. Malaysia – 180 countries
10. United States – 179 countries

The countries with the weakest passports of 2026 are Afghanistan with visa-free access to just 24 countries, Syria (26 countries), Iraq (29 countries), Yemen (31 countries), Pakistan (31 countries), Somalia (33 countries), Nepal (35 countries) and Bangladesh (37 countries).

The index uses 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations, updating monthly to serve as the standard reference tool for global citizens and sovereign states when assessing where a passport ranks on the global mobility scale.

Which country surprised you the most? What are your thoughts on the rankings? Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.