Your passport now determines far more than how quickly you pass through airport security. The Henley Passport Index 2026, released on January 13, reveals a widening gap between the world’s most mobile and least mobile populations, ranking passports by how many destinations their holders can access without a prior visa using exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Singapore retains the top spot with visa-free access to 192 destinations, while Afghanistan once again ranks last with access to just 24 destinations, creating a 168-destination mobility gap. The index marks 20 years since its launch and arrives as IATA forecasts airlines will carry more than 5.2 billion passengers globally this year, highlighting a sharp contrast between rising travel demand and unequal freedom to cross borders.
A widening mobility gap reshapes how the world travels
The latest rankings show that more passports are clustering near the top of the table, yet those at the bottom remain increasingly isolated. In 2006, the difference between the top-ranked US passport and Afghanistan was 118 destinations. Two decades later, that gap has widened significantly, underscoring how access to mobility has become more concentrated among economically powerful and politically stable nations.
“Over the past 20 years, global mobility has expanded significantly, but the benefits have been distributed unevenly”, said Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman at Henley & Partners and creator of the Henley Passport Index. “Today, passport privilege plays a decisive role in shaping opportunity, security, and economic participation, with rising average access masking a reality in which mobility advantages are increasingly concentrated among the world’s most economically powerful and politically stable nations.”
Asia continues to dominate the upper ranks. Japan and South Korea share 2nd place with visa-free access to 188 destinations, while Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland follow in joint 3rd with 186 destinations. A further 10 European countries rank 4th, reflecting Europe’s continued strength in passport power. Outside Europe, the United Arab Emirates ranks 5th, followed by New Zealand in 6th, Australia in 7th, Canada in 8th and Malaysia in 9th.
The US has returned to the Top 10 after briefly dropping out in late 2025, but both the US and UK recorded their steepest year-on-year losses in visa-free access, shedding seven and eight destinations, respectively. Once joint leaders in 2014, the US has fallen six places over the past 20 years, while the UK has dropped four places since 2006.
The Henley Passport Index – 2026 Global Ranking (January)
The Henley Passport Index 2026 measures visa-free travel access worldwide, revealing which passports offer the greatest freedom of movement.
| Rank | Country | Visa-free destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 192 |
| 2 | Japan | 188 |
| 2 | South Korea | 188 |
| 3 | Denmark | 186 |
| 3 | Luxembourg | 186 |
| 3 | Spain | 186 |
| 3 | Sweden | 186 |
| 3 | Switzerland | 186 |
| 4 | Austria | 185 |
| 4 | Belgium | 185 |
| 4 | Finland | 185 |
| 4 | France | 185 |
| 4 | Germany | 185 |
| 4 | Greece | 185 |
| 4 | Ireland | 185 |
| 4 | Italy | 185 |
| 4 | Netherlands | 185 |
| 4 | Norway | 185 |
| 5 | Hungary | 184 |
| 5 | Portugal | 184 |
| 5 | Slovakia | 184 |
| 5 | Slovenia | 184 |
| 5 | United Arab Emirates | 184 |
| 6 | Croatia | 183 |
| 6 | Czechia | 183 |
| 6 | Estonia | 183 |
| 6 | Malta | 183 |
| 6 | New Zealand | 183 |
| 6 | Poland | 183 |
| 7 | Australia | 182 |
| 7 | Latvia | 182 |
| 7 | Liechtenstein | 182 |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 182 |
| 8 | Canada | 181 |
| 8 | Iceland | 181 |
| 8 | Lithuania | 181 |
| 9 | Malaysia | 180 |
| 10 | United States | 179 |
See the full rankings for January 2026.
“Passport power ultimately reflects political stability, diplomatic credibility, and the ability to shape international rules”, said Misha Glenny, award-winning journalist and Rector of the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. “As transatlantic relations strain and domestic politics grow more volatile, the erosion of mobility rights for countries like the US and UK is less a technical anomaly than a signal of deeper geopolitical recalibration.”
Beyond the top tier, the index highlights dramatic long-term shifts. The UAE has been the strongest performer over the past 20 years, adding 149 visa-free destinations and climbing 57 places to reach 5th position. Albania, Ukraine, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia have also made notable gains, reflecting the impact of regional integration and closer diplomatic alignment. Bolivia stands out as the only country to have lost overall visa-free access over two decades, falling 32 places to rank 61st in 2026.
Open borders for some, tighter controls for others
The index also exposes a growing imbalance between outbound mobility and inbound openness. While US passport holders can travel visa-free to 179 destinations, the US permits entry only to 46 nationalities without a prior visa, placing it 78th on the Henley Openness Index. China, by contrast, now permits visa-free entry to 77 nationalities, up from more than 40 countries in the past two years.
“There is a visible shift underway in the global balance of power, marked by China’s renewed openness and the USA’s retreat into nationalism”, said Dr. Tim Klatte, Partner at Grant Thornton China. “As countries increasingly compete for influence through mobility, openness is becoming a critical component of soft power.”
Policy changes could further reshape travel in the year ahead. Analysis commissioned for the Henley Global Mobility Report 2026 warns that a late-2025 proposal by U.S. Customs and Border Protection could effectively end visa-free travel to the US in practice. Citizens of 42 allied nations may be required to submit extensive personal data, including five years of social media history and biometric information retained for up to 75 years.
“For Europeans long accustomed to near-frictionless travel, the implications go far beyond inconvenience”, said Greg Lindsay, non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and senior fellow at Arizona State University’s Threatcasting Lab. “This level of data collection enables real-time ideological screening and creates the risk that personal information could be shared, repurposed, or weaponized.”
Europe is also tightening access. Research linked to the Henley Global Mobility Report finds Schengen visa rejection rates for African applicants rose from 18.6% in 2015 to 26.6% in 2024, with further increases expected following new fees, longer processing times and expanded surveillance. “These policies do not simply regulate mobility — they institutionalize it”, said Prof. Mehari Taddele Maru, Professor at the European University Institute and Johns Hopkins University SAIS.
As borders become more complex, demand for alternative residence and citizenship options continues to rise. Henley & Partners received applications from 100 nationalities in 2025 alone, climbing to 142 nationalities over the past five years, with volumes 28% higher than in 2024. “What we are seeing is a fundamental shift in how globally mobile individuals think about access and security”, said Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO at Henley & Partners.
Among US nationals in particular, interest has surged. “Americans are continuing their scramble for alternative residence and citizenship amid ongoing political turbulence, with interest now at an all-time high”, said Prof. Peter J. Spiro, Professor at Temple University Law School. For travellers, policymakers and destinations alike, the Henley Passport Index 2026 illustrates a simple reality: where you can go — and how easily you can get there — increasingly depends on the passport you carry.
