2026 passport ranking: Singapore retains spot as world's most powerful passport

The July 2026 Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports by travel freedom, highlighting how Asian passports compare on the global stage.

Singapore has retained its position as the world's most powerful passport in the latest Henley Passport Index, released for the second time in 2026.

The index ranks all 199 passports based on their final global access scores, measuring the number of destinations holders can enter without obtaining a visa in advance, either through visa-free or visa-on-arrival access.

According to the July 2026 rankings, Singapore passport holders enjoy access to 192 destinations, keeping them at the top of the global rankings.

Over the past two decades, global mobility has expanded significantly. Per the data, the average passport now provides visa-free access to 108 destinations worldwide, almost doubling from 58 destinations when the index was first launched in 2006.

However, the report notes that this growing travel freedom comes against an increasingly challenging geopolitical backdrop.

Its findings stand in stark contrast to the latest Global Peace Index. According to the Institute for Economics & Peace, the world is experiencing the highest number of state-based conflicts since the Second World War, while global peacefulness has declined for the 12^th consecutive year.

Today, 119 of the 163 countries and regions measured are less peaceful than they were in 2008, while 103 have been involved in an external conflict over the past five years, almost double the number recorded when the index was first launched.

Despite these developments, international mobility continues to evolve. Based on exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the July 2026 Henley Passport Index comes as millions of travellers prepare to cross borders during the peak Northern Hemisphere summer holiday season.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the Henley Passport Index, said two decades of data show that passport strength has become one of the clearest expressions of a country's geopolitical capital.

“It reflects far more than peace or prosperity alone. The world’s strongest passports belong to nations that other countries want as partners — for trade, investment, security, or cooperation. Mobility is ultimately a measure of the value other countries place on their relationship with you.”

Top 10 Asian passports in the July 2026 Henley Passport Index and their global rankings

Find the full global rankings here.

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