Henley Index 2026: Singapore Tops the List with Notable Decline for UK and US Passports

Passports are among the most important sovereign documents that grant their holders freedom of movement and international influence, reflecting the strength and political and economic status of a country on the global stage.
In this context, the Henley Passport Index for 2026 has released its annual ranking, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), analyzing the ability of 199 passports to access 227 destinations worldwide without the need for a prior visa.

Singapore Maintains the Top Spot for the Third Year

For the third consecutive year, Singapore's passport has retained its global leadership, being the strongest in 2026, allowing its holders to enter 192 countries without a visa, reaffirming the growing influence of Southeast Asian countries.

Japan and South Korea in Second Place

Japan and South Korea came in second, with access to 188 countries without a visa, reflecting the continued strong Asian presence in the top ranks.

European Dominance in Third Place
Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland occupied the third position, as their passports allow entry to 186 countries, confirming Europe's advanced position on the global travel freedom map.

UAE Among the Top Ten

In fourth place, a group of European countries including Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway ranked.
The fifth position was held by Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates, with access to 184 countries, marking a new achievement that reflects the advanced status of the UAE passport globally.

UK and US… Continuous Decline

The ranking saw a noticeable decline for both the United Kingdom and the United States:
The UK dropped to seventh place, allowing entry to 182 countries without a visa, compared to fifth place in 2025 and fourth in 2024, reflecting the clear repercussions of its exit from the European Union.
The United States also fell to tenth place, with access to 179 countries, after being in ninth place in 2025 and seventh in 2023 and 2024.

The Rest of the Top Ten

The list of the top 10 passports in 2026 also included:
Sixth place: Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Malta, New Zealand, Poland (183 countries).
Eighth place: Canada, Iceland, Lithuania (181 countries).
Ninth place: Malaysia (180 countries).

Asia and Europe at the Forefront

The Henley 2026 ranking reveals the continued dominance of Asian and European passports at the top of global mobility, at a time when traditional Western powers face increasing challenges to maintain the flexibility of their passports and international influence in a rapidly changing world.