Henley & Partners, a global citizenship advisory firm based in the UK, recently released the 20th-anniversary report of the 2026 Henley Passport Index. Singapore, with visa-free access to 192 destinations, retained its title as the "world's most powerful passport". Hong Kong's Special Administrative Region passport ranks 14th, with visa-free access to 174 destinations.
Reflecting the convenience of passports, the Henley Passport Index shows that over the past 20 years, the rankings at the top have changed significantly. In 2006, the United States was tied with Denmark and Finland for first place globally, making it the world's most travel-friendly passport. However, the latest ranking puts the U.S. in 10th place, tied with Iceland.
The U.S. passport currently offers visa-free access to 180 destinations, 50 more than in 2006, but other countries have made even greater progress. Now, 36 countries or territories have more visa-free destinations than the U.S.
The top three spots in the latest index are all Asian countries: Singapore in first place, with visa-free access to 192 destinations; Japan in second place, with visa-free access to 188 countries or territories, tied with South Korea for second.
Hong Kong's SAR passport remains high on the list, ranking 14th, allowing visa-free travel to 174 countries or territories. The ordinary Chinese passport has visa-free access to 83 destinations, ranking 60th.
Related News:
Comment