World’s most powerful passports for 2023 revealed

Travel

The 2023 Henley Passport Index has unveiled this year’s most powerful passports and there’s been a big shakeup at the top of the list.
Australia has held strong at ninth in the 2023 Henley Passport Index. Image: Getty

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The competition for top spot is heating up with a whopping 34 countries featuring in the top 10, headlined by Singapore unseating Japan to claim the world’s most powerful passport. Germany, Italy and Spain follow closely in joint second spot, each allowing access to 190 countries.

Japan, which held the top spot for five years and had visa-free access to 191 destinations, has been dethroned and now shares third spot with Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea and Sweden.

Despite the shakeup at the top, Australia maintains a strong position in the sixth spot alongside Hungary and Poland.

The world’s most powerful passports in 2023
RankCountryVisa-free Access
1Singapore192
2Germany190
2Italy190
2Spain190
3Austria189
3Finland189
3France189
3Japan189
3Luxembourg189
3South Korea189
3Sweden189
4Denmark188
4Ireland188
4Netherlands188
4United Kingdom188
5Belgium187
5Czech Republic187
5Malta187
5New Zealand187
5Norway187
5Portugal187
5Switzerland187
6Australia186
6Hungary186
6Poland186
7Canada185
7Greece185
8Lithuania184
8United States184
9Latvia183
9Slovakia183
9Slovenia183
10Estonia182
10Iceland182
Source: Henley Passport Index
The worst passports to hold
RankCountryVisa-free Access
101Syria30
102Iraq29
103Afghanistan27
Source: Henley Passport Index
What is the Henley Passport Index?

The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 global passports utilising data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It consistently updates in real time all year round, adjusting with every visa policy modification that takes effect.

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Head of News & Life