Passport inspection. Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK Henley & Partners has published the world passport ranking for 2026, and Singapore continues to stand at the top, with access to 192 destinations around the world, three destinations fewer than the passport ranking for the beginning of 2025
Japan and South Korea ranked second the ranking, with access to 188 destinations, followed by a strong group of European countries including Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
In 2025, countries such as Finland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and South Korea shared third place with access to 192 countries. In the 2026 ranking, mobility weakened overall, and the high-ranking countries dropped by an average of 4-6 places.
Europe continues to dominate the top rankings, with countries such as Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Greece all ranking in the top ten with access to 185 destinations. The United Arab Emirates also maintains a prominent presence, ranking fifth globally alongside other European countries.
The United States ranks tenth with access to 179 destinations, while the United Kingdom is in seventh place.
The bottom of the ranking remains largely unchanged, with countries suffering from conflict and instability: Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq continue to close the list in 2026, with a significant gap compared to the rest of the world. However, the number of destinations open to Afghan passport holders remains similar and extremely low, while it ranks last with access to only 24 destinations.
The 2026 ranking indicates a slowdown and even a retreat in global freedom of movement, compared to 2025, likely due to security considerations, immigration, and stricter visa policies in several regions of the world.
The ranking, considered one of the key indicators for examining global freedom of movement, reflects not only visa policy, but also diplomatic relations, political stability, security and economy, and emphasizes the significance of a strong passport in a world where freedom of movement constitutes a strategic advantage