After sharing the top spot with five other countries earlier this year, Singapore has reclaimed the sole crown as the most powerful passport for the world ranking of visa-free entry in 2024.
On 23 July, the Henley Passport Index published the latest data on the world ranking of visa-free entry passports. Singapore emerged as the sole leader as the most powerful passport with visa-free entry to 195 of 227 travel destinations in 2024.
Previously, the city-state shared the pole position with five other countries – France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain – at 194 of 227 travel destinations in January 2024. All five countries have slid to second place, with visa-free entry to 192 destinations.
In 2023, the Singapore passport allows visa-free entry to 192 destinations. This number increased by three to 195 for the latest ranking in 2024.
#1 – Singapore (195 destinations)
#2 – France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain (194 destinations)
#3 – Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden (191 destinations)
#4 – Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom (190 destinations)
#5 – Australia, Portugal (189 destinations)
#6 – Greece, Poland (188 destinations)
#7 – Canada, Czechia, Hungary, Malta (187 destinations)
#8 – United States (186 destinations)
#9 – Estonia, Lithuania, United Arab Emirates (185 destinations)
#10 – Iceland, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (184 destinations)
Singapore is also the only Southeast Asia country in the top 10. The next Southeast Asia country to appear on the list is Malaysia at rank 12, with visa-free entry to 182 destinations. It shares the position with Europe’s Liechtenstein.
Notably, United Arab Emirates made it into the top 10 for the first time, with visa-free entry to 185 destinations.
Afghanistan remains the world’s weakest passport, with visa-free access to only 26 countries.
“The global average number of destinations travellers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024. However, the global mobility gap between those at the top and bottom of the index is now wider than it has ever been”, Christian Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners, said in a statement.
Henley Passport Index is a quarterly ranking created by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners 19 years ago in 2006. The exclusive data is obtained from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
(Feature and hero image credit: Shutterstock)
This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Singapore.
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