The World’s Most Powerful Passports

The world’s most powerful passports were just announced, and the United States didn’t make the top five. The rankings are compiled by Henley & Partners, a residence and citizenship planning firm based in London. 

To determine the world’s most powerful passports, Henley & Partners evaluates the ease of entry into 227 different travel destinations. If no visa is required for entry, the passport earns one point. Being able to get a visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authority also earns one point. 

If a visa or pre-trip e-Visa is required, the passport gains zero points. 

According to these rankings, the world’s most powerful passports are:

1. Japan and Singapore (192 visa-free score)
2. Germany and South Korea (190 visa-free score)
3. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain (189 visa-free score)
4. Austria and Denmark (188 visa-free score)
5. France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden (187 visa-free score)

A passport from the United State ranks seventh (along with Czech Republic, Greece, Malta, Norway, and the United Kingdom) with a visa-free score of 185.

At the bottom of the list, the least powerful passports are:

1. Afghanistan (26 visa-free score)
2. Iraq (28 visa-free score)
3. Syria (29 visa-free score)
4. Pakistan (31 visa-free score)
5. Yemen (33 visa-free score)