Singapore can once again boast about having the most powerful passport in the world.
According to a recent ranking by London-based immigration consultancy firm, Henley & Partners, Singapore is now at the top, surpassing France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
This shift means that Singapore passport holders can enter a record 195 global destinations without a visa.
A year ago, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain held the top position, but they have now moved into the second spot, sharing it with Japan.
In a new development, the Henley Passport Index has seen seven countries sharing the third spot for the first time.
These countries are Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden. Passport holders from these countries can enjoy visa-free entry to 191 destinations worldwide.
The United States, once considered a passport powerhouse, has now slipped to eighth place, marking its ongoing decline on the passport index. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has secured the fourth spot in the index.
Conversely, Afghanistan’s passport is the weakest in the world, allowing visa-free entry to only 26 destinations.
The index relies on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the most extensive and precise travel information database.
Juerg Steffen, the Chief Executive Officer of Henley & Partners, has stressed the significance of a visa-free regime, believing that it significantly boosts the travel and tourism industry.
See the rankings below:
“The ability to travel visa-free to a wide array of destinations is no longer merely a convenience. It’s a powerful economic tool that can drive growth, foster international cooperation, and attract foreign investment,” Juerg Steffen said.
