Singapore has world’s most powerful passport, ahead of Japan; US 8th on Henley Passport Index

Thinking of visiting China, India, or Venezuela with a US passport for your summer holiday? Not so fast – or at least not before securing a visa. Some of the best wonders of the world require US citizens to obtain a visa before take-off, an inconvenience in planning that long-awaited international getaway.

US passport holders can access 188 countries globally without a visa, putting it in eighth place among world passports on the global mobility spectrum, according to the 2024 Henley Passport Index. Passports from 27 other countries provide more global mobility than a US passport.

The index is a ranking of passports based on how many countries their holders can access without a visa, and is based on data from the International Air Transport Authority.

Singapore is in the top spot with its passport, which allows holders to travel to 195 countries without first securing a visa. Japan had previously held the No. 1 position but has since fallen to No. 2, joining France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, which all allow access to 194 countries.

Below are the countries with the most powerful passports, ranked by number of visa-free travel options, based on the 2024 Henley Passport Index.

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Singapore beats Japan with world’s most access-friendly passport in 2023

Travellers can visit 195 countries without a visa in 2024 if they have a passport from Singapore.

Holders of Spain, Japan, Italy, Germany, and France passports can visit 194 countries without a visa in 2024.

Sweden, South Korea, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Finland, and Austria passport holders can visit 193 countries without a visa in 2024.

United Kingdom, Denmark, and Belgium passport holders can visit 192 countries without visas in 2024.

Travellers can visit 191 countries