In a groundbreaking development, six countries now share the top position for visa-free access to a record number of destinations on the 2024 Henley Passport Index. This ranking uses exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, along with Japan and Singapore, boast the most powerful passports in the world for 2024. Their citizens can visit an impressive 194 out of 227 global destinations without needing a visa. Japan and Singapore have held the first position on this index for the past five years.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the Chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the passport index concept, notes that while the trend over the 19-year history of the ranking has been towards increased travel freedom, the gap between the top and bottom of the index has never been wider. He points out that the average number of visa-free destinations has nearly doubled, from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024. However, top-ranked countries can now visit 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which sits at the bottom of the index with access to just 28 countries.
The Henley Passport Index, with its expert commentary and historical data spanning over 19 years, ranks all the world’s passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. Dr. Kaelin originally created this ranking, which uses exclusive data from IATA, the largest and most accurate source of travel information. The index is further enhanced by ongoing research from the Henley & Partners Research Department. Alongside the Kälin – Kochenov Quality of Nationality Index, it is a key reference tool for global citizens and a standard for government policy in this field.