Are you curious about which passports are the most powerful in 2023? The global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners has just released their quarterly report on this topic, and it’s quite revealing. Let’s dive into which passports offer the most access this year.
As we step into 2023, the Henley Passport Index reveals intriguing insights into a world still reeling from significant changes. For the fifth consecutive year, Japan tops the list based on exclusive and official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Japanese passport holders can visit 193 out of 227 destinations without needing a visa in advance. Following closely, South Korea and Singapore are tied for second place, each with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 192. Germany and Spain share the third spot, allowing their citizens visa-free access to 190 destinations.
The UK and the US hold the 6th and 7th places with scores of 187 and 186, respectively. It seems increasingly unlikely that either country will reclaim the top position they both held back in 2014.
With global travel reaching around 75% of pre-pandemic levels, people are eagerly participating in what’s being called ‘revenge travel.’ However, the index also highlights a less optimistic side. Afghanistan sits at the bottom with a score of just 27, marking the largest mobility gap between any two countries in the index’s 18-year history. This stark contrast shows that citizens of countries with low rankings, such as Afghanistan, Iraq (with a score of 29), and Syria (with a score of 30), face significant barriers to economic mobility and growth.
The Henley Passport Index, based on more than 18 years of data and expert commentary, is the original ranking of all the world’s passports by the number of destinations they grant access to without a prior visa. Created by Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the index uses exclusive and official data from the IATA and is continually refined through extensive research by Henley & Partners.
For detailed insights, you can check the full report of Global Passport Power Rank 2023 by the Henley Passport Index.