Henley Index: Japan's passport now ranks as the most powerful worldwide

Few experiences offer as much freedom as travel – though some passports certainly make the journey easier than others.

An October 2018 report reveals the impressive range of borders some passports can cross with ease.

The Henley Passport Index, created by the global citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners, confirms that Japan now holds the title of the world's strongest passport.

After securing visa-free access to Myanmar earlier this month, Japanese citizens now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 190 destinations, surpassing Singapore's 189 and claiming the top spot.

Germany, which started 2018 in the top position, now ranks third with 188 destinations, tied with France and South Korea.

On October 5, Uzbekistan removed visa requirements for French citizens, after granting visa-free access to both Japanese and Singaporean nationals earlier in February.

South Korea secured visa-free entry to Myanmar on October 1, while Paraguay lifted visa restrictions for Singaporean passport holders in 2017.

Risers and fallers

The United States and the UK, each offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 186 destinations, are currently in fifth place. With neither country gaining new access this year, it seems unlikely that either will soon regain the top spot they held in 2015.

Russia has dropped to 47th place, despite a boost in September when Taiwan announced a visa exemption for Russian citizens.

The United Arab Emirates has been the decade's greatest success story in terms of travel freedom. It has climbed from 62nd place in 2006 to currently sitting at No. 21 in the rankings.

The UAE has also recently finalized a visa exemption agreement with Russia, set to take effect in the coming months.

China has recently gained access to St. Lucia and Myanmar, moving up to 71st place, climbing 14 spots since the beginning of 2017.

Christian H. Kälin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, commented on the remarkable progress nations can achieve when they collaborate closely with their global counterparts to create a more interconnected and cooperative world.

“China and the UAE are prime examples of this type of progress, both countries being among the top climbers compared to 2017, thanks to the strong partnerships they’ve forged with nations around the globe.”

Henley Passport Index power rankings

1. Japan: 190 destinations

2. Singapore: 189 destinations

3. Germany, France, South Korea: 188 destinations

4. Denmark, Finland, Italy, Sweden, Spain: 187 destinations

5. Norway, United Kingdom, Austria, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, United States: 186 destinations

6. Belgium, Switzerland, Ireland, Canada: 185 destinations

7. Australia, Greece, Malta: 183 destinations

8. New Zealand, Czech Republic: 182 destinations

9. Iceland: 181 destinations

10. Hungary, Slovenia, Malaysia: 180 destinations

So, which passports have the least travel freedom?

Afghanistan and Iraq occupy the lowest position on the updated Henley Passport Index, with only 30 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations, just below Syria and Somalia (32), and Pakistan (33).

Other rankings

Henley & Partners' ranking is one of several indexes developed by financial firms to assess global passports based on the access they offer to their holders.

The Henley Passport Index is based on data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and includes 199 passports and 227 destinations. It is updated continuously throughout the year as visa policy changes are implemented.

Arton Capital's Passport Index considers the passports of 193 UN member states and six territories – ROC Taiwan, Macao (SAR China), Hong Kong (SAR China), Kosovo, the Palestinian Territory, and the Vatican. Territories annexed by other nations are excluded.

The 2018 edition of Arton Capital’s index ranked Singapore and Germany at the top with a score of 165, followed by Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, Italy, France, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, South Korea, and the United States, all with a score of 164.

The Nomad Passport Index, on the other hand, ranks 199 nationalities based on five factors: visa-free access, international taxation, perception, dual citizenship, and personal freedom.

According to its 2017 ranking, the most coveted passports belong to Sweden, with Belgium in second place. Spain and Italy share third place, followed by Ireland in fifth.