The latest Henley Passport Index has unveiled the world’s most powerful passports for the beginning of 2024, with France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain jointly claiming the top position. These passports grant visa-free entry to an impressive 194 global destinations, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Traditionally dominated by Japan and Singapore, this quarter’s ranking sees European nations making significant strides. Finland and Sweden, along with South Korea, share the second spot by offering visa-free access to 193 destinations. Securing the third position are Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands, providing passport holders access to 192 destinations.
India’s passport holds the 80th position on the list, allowing its citizens to travel to 62 countries without a visa, including popular destinations like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Notably, India shares its rank with Uzbekistan, while neighbouring Pakistan is positioned at 101st.
Christian H Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the passport index, emphasized the widening global mobility gap. Despite an overall trend of increased travel freedom over the past two decades, the disparity between the top and bottom of the index has reached an unprecedented level. Kaelin highlighted that the top-ranked countries enjoy the privilege of travelling to an astonishing 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which holds the bottom spot with access to only 28 countries without a visa. Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan follow closely with limited visa-free access to 29, 31, and 34 destinations, respectively.
