In 2024, Singapore’s passport tops the global rankings with visa-free access to 195 destinations. While Japan and several European countries closely follow, Malaysia stands as the second most powerful passport in Southeast Asia. This trend reflects a shift toward increased travel freedom worldwide.
Singapore has once again claimed the world’s top passport ranking, providing its citizens unparalleled travel freedom, according to the October report by global advisory firm Henley & Partners.
The Singapore passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 195 of 227 possible destinations, affirming its status as the most powerful travel document worldwide.
Singapore’s Unmatched Global Mobility
With visa-free access to 195 destinations, Singapore leads in global mobility, allowing its citizens to travel freely across the majority of the world. This ranking highlights Singapore’s commitment to fostering international ties and easing travel restrictions for its residents.
Henley & Partners, which compiles the Henley Passport Index using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), updates the index quarterly, offering a reliable measure of global mobility trends.
Japan, European Countries Share Second Place
Close behind Singapore, passports from Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain hold the second spot, granting access to 192 destinations. This slight gap underscores Singapore’s strategic advantage in securing visa waivers worldwide, enhancing travel flexibility for its citizens.
In recent months, European passports have gained strength, with Denmark’s passport now allowing visa-free access to China as of September. Denmark joins countries like Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden in third place, offering visa-free access to 191 destinations.
The UK Rises in Global Mobility Rankings
The British passport, now ranked fourth, offers visa-free entry to 190 countries. This places the United Kingdom alongside Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland, all enjoying expanded travel freedom.
This upward movement reflects an ongoing trend toward global openness, with more countries establishing mutual visa-free arrangements.
Southeast Asia’s Passport Power
Malaysia Ranks Second in the Region: In Southeast Asia, Malaysia’s passport stands as the second most powerful after Singapore’s, securing access to 183 destinations visa-free. This advancement has further cemented Malaysia’s regional influence, benefiting its citizens with expanded international mobility.
Increasing Openness for Travellers Worldwide
Henley & Partners notes an overall trend toward greater passport strength worldwide, with more countries gaining access than losing it.
“The trend towards increased openness continues,” said Dominic Volek, head of private clients at Henley & Partners, highlighting the ongoing shifts in global mobility.
List of Visa-Free Countries for Singapore Passport Holders
Singapore passport holders can enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the following regions and countries worldwide:
Asia
Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and more.
Europe
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Americas
Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and more.
Oceania
Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Africa
Botswana, Cape Verde, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
A Global Mobility Benchmark
As a leading reference for passport strength, the Henley Passport Index is updated quarterly and draws on comprehensive data from the IATA. Governments, investors, and travellers alike consider the index a valuable tool for assessing international travel freedom.
Final Words
With Singapore securing the top spot, the Henley Passport Index reinforces the importance of passport power in global mobility, offering insight into the ease with which citizens can travel and explore worldwide. This dominance signifies Singapore’s role as a global leader in open-border policies, giving its citizens extensive access to the world’s destinations.
Source: https://travelobiz.com/singapore-remain-worlds-most-passport-with-visa-free-access-to-195-countries/
