The January 2026 Henley Passport Index confirms that 23 countries now control the world’s top ranking passport positions and 19 of them are European. The index ranks passports by the number of destinations citizens can enter without a visa in advance, showing who enjoys the widest travel freedom and why it matters for work, study and business.
Top Ranking Passport Scores Show Wide Travel Access
Singapore leads the world with a score of 192, meaning its citizens can enter 192 destinations visa free or with visa on arrival. It remains the strongest among world top ranking passports, backed by broad diplomatic reach and stable visa deals.
Japan and South Korea share second place with scores of 188. Their passports allow access to most major economies without prior visas, keeping Asia firmly in the top tier of global mobility.
Five European countries share third place with scores of 186. They are Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. This keeps Europe firmly anchored at the top of the global ranking table.
Fourth place is also heavily European, with Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway all scoring 185. These countries face visa limits in only a small number of destinations.
Fifth place includes Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia at 184, along with the United Arab Emirates, the only Middle Eastern country in the top five group.
With 19 European countries among the 23 countries in the top five, the data highlights the impact of Schengen travel rules and long standing global partnerships. For the general public, higher scores mean fewer forms, lower costs and faster border entry. For others, visa walls are high.
Check Out
Having 16 years of experience about Immigration, Visit Visa, Work Visa, Study Visa and Careers in Europe. We keep our eyes open and bring the latest and accurate content for our readers.