The 2026 global passport ranking has received its first notable update of the year.
Henley & Partners updated its Henley Passport Index on April 13, 2026, measuring the number of destinations passport holders can access without obtaining a visa before departure. The latest edition does not change the top position, which remains held by Singapore, but it does alter several dynamics near the top of the table.
The United Arab Emirates, in particular, continues its rise and now appears in second place worldwide. European passports remain strongly represented among the highest-ranked travel documents, while the United States remains in the top 10 despite sitting well behind the global leader.
Singapore remains at the top of the 2026 Henley Passport Index
The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The index covers 227 travel destinations and is based on data from the International Air Transport Association, or IATA, supplemented by analysis from Henley & Partners.
As in the first 2026 edition of the Henley ranking, Singapore retains the top spot worldwide. According to the April 13 update, the Singapore passport provides visa-free access to 192 destinations.
Behind Singapore, however, the hierarchy has shifted, with a reshaped podium and several adjustments within the top 10.
The main movement in this update concerns the United Arab Emirates. The Emirati passport now ranks second worldwide, tied with Japan and South Korea, with visa-free access to 187 destinations.
European passports remain strong, while the U.S. stays in the Top 10
European passports continue to dominate much of the upper tier of the 2026 Henley Passport Index.
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland all rank fourth worldwide in the April 2026 update, with access to 185 destinations without a prior visa.
This confirms the continued strength of European passports in international mobility rankings, even as Singapore maintains a clear lead and the United Arab Emirates strengthens its position among the top three.
The United Kingdom ranks sixth, alongside Hungary, Malaysia, and Poland, with 183 destinations accessible without a prior visa. Australia and Canada are also highly placed, sharing seventh position with 182 destinations.
The ranking also shows the United States in 10th place, with visa-free access to 179 destinations. The U.S. passport therefore remains in the top 10, but it is now well behind Singapore’s first-place score.
Top 10 most “powerful” passports in 2026
| Rank | Passport | Visa-free destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 192 |
| 2 | Japan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates | 187 |
| 3 | Sweden | 186 |
| 4 | Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland | 185 |
| 5 | Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal | 184 |
| 6 | Hungary, Malaysia, Poland, United Kingdom | 183 |
| 7 | Australia, Canada, Czechia, Latvia, New Zealand, Slovakia, Slovenia | 182 |
| 8 | Croatia, Estonia | 181 |
| 9 | Liechtenstein, Lithuania | 180 |
| 10 | Iceland, United States | 179 |
A wide gap remains between the top and bottom of the ranking
At the other end of the Henley Passport Index, Afghanistan remains in last place. According to the April 13, 2026, update, the Afghan passport provides access to 23 destinations without a prior visa.
The gap between Singapore and Afghanistan therefore stands at 169 destinations. Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Pakistan also remain among the lowest-ranked passports, with scores far below those recorded at the top of the table.
The Henley Passport Index is a useful indicator of international mobility, but it does not replace official checks before travel. A destination counted as visa-free may still require certain steps, such as an electronic travel authorization (ETA), a digital arrival card, an online declaration, or specific conditions depending on the purpose of the trip.
Key takeaways
- The Henley Passport Index 2026, updated on April 13, still places Singapore first, with visa-free access to 192 destinations.
- The United Arab Emirates has joined Japan and South Korea in second place worldwide, with 187 visa-free destinations.
- European passports remain heavily represented near the top of the ranking, with several EU and Schengen-area countries sharing fourth place.
- The United Kingdom ranks sixth, while the United States remains in the top 10 in 10th place.
- Afghanistan remains last in the ranking, with access to 23 destinations without a prior visa.
