Henley’s ranking of the world’s most “powerful” passports has been updated.
In the June 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index, Singapore remains in first place worldwide, with access to 192 destinations without needing a visa in advance.
Second place is shared by Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, each with access to 188 destinations. Sweden follows in third place with 187 destinations, keeping Europe firmly represented among the top-ranked passports.
As with every update, the ranking does not measure the overall “value” of a passport in political or diplomatic terms. It mainly reflects the ease of international travel for passport holders, based on the number of destinations they can enter without obtaining a visa before departure.
Europe remains strongly represented near the top
European passports continue to dominate much of the upper end of the 2026 ranking.
A large group of European countries ranks fourth, with access to 186 destinations without a prior visa. This group includes Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain.
Several other European passports follow closely behind. Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal, and Switzerland rank fifth with 185 destinations, while the United Kingdom appears in sixth place alongside Hungary and Poland, with 184 destinations.
The United States remains in the Top 10, ranking tenth with access to 180 destinations, alongside Iceland. Canada and Australia rank seventh, each with access to 183 destinations.
Top 10 most powerful passports in June 2026
| Rank | Passport | Visa-free destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 192 |
| 2 | Japan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates | 188 |
| 3 | Sweden | 187 |
| 4 | Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain | 186 |
| 5 | Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Switzerland | 185 |
| 6 | Hungary, Poland, United Kingdom | 184 |
| 7 | Australia, Canada, Czechia, Latvia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Slovakia, Slovenia | 183 |
| 8 | Croatia, Estonia | 182 |
| 9 | Liechtenstein, Lithuania | 181 |
| 10 | Iceland, United States | 180 |
At the other end of the ranking, the gaps remain striking: Afghanistan ranks last, with access to just 23 destinations without a prior visa, behind Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen. These passports are among the lowest-ranked in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, with visa-free scores ranging from 26 to 31 destinations.
What has changed since the May ranking
The June update does not dramatically reshape the top of the ranking, but several passport scores have moved slightly compared with the May 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index.
Singapore remains unchanged at 192 destinations. The group made up of Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, however, gains one destination, rising from 187 to 188.
Several European passports in fourth place also gain one destination, moving from 185 to 186. The United States remains in tenth place, but its score also improves, rising from 179 to 180 destinations.
Some passports can gain access to additional destinations while still moving down in the relative ranking. Switzerland, for example, keeps a high score of 185 destinations, but now appears in fifth place after being part of the fourth-place group in May.
A ranking that still requires context
The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports according to their access to 227 travel destinations. Its score does not always mean that travelers can enter a country with no formality at all.
Henley & Partners counts destinations where no visa is required before departure, including some visas on arrival, visitor permits, and electronic travel authorizations, provided they do not require prior government approval.
By contrast, when travelers must obtain a visa or an approved e-Visa before departure, that destination is not counted as “visa-free” in the Henley score.
VisasNews Take
Passport rankings remain compelling because they offer a simple snapshot of a far more complex reality: the ability to move across borders with fewer administrative barriers. The June update confirms that Asian, European, Gulf, North American, and Pacific passports continue to dominate the top tier of global mobility. Still, the practical advice for travelers is unchanged. A strong passport ranking is useful context, but it never replaces checking the actual entry rules for the destination before departure.
