Singapore overtakes Japan to claim most powerful passport in the world: Global index
Singapore citizens enjoy visa-free access to 192 destinations, while Japan drops to third place with access to 189 destinations
SINGAPORE — Singapore has surpassed Japan to become the most powerful passport in the world, according to the latest Henley Passport Index ranking issued on Tuesday (18 July).
The index, which is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), measures visa-free access to destinations around the globe. Singapore citizens can enjoy visa-free access to 192 out of 227 travel destinations worldwide.
Japan, which held the top spot for the past five years, has dropped to third place - joining Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea, and Sweden - with access to 189 destinations without a prior visa. Germany, Italy, and Spain have moved up to second place, with visa-free access to 190 destinations.
The United Kingdom has shown improvement, rising two places to claim the fourth spot, which it last held in 2017. In contrast, the United States has continued its decline, falling two places to the eighth spot, with visa-free access to 184 destinations.
Growing disparity in passport power
Over the past 18 years, there has been a general trend towards greater travel freedom, with the average number of visa-free destinations nearly doubling from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2023.
However, there is now a significant gap between the countries at the top and bottom of the index. Singapore, in the top spot, has access to 165 more visa-free destinations than bottom-placed Afghanistan.
Dr Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, emphasises the importance of a strong passport beyond freedom of movement. He highlights the significant financial freedoms, international investment opportunities, and business prospects a powerful passport can provide.
He added: "Global connectivity and access have become indispensable features of wealth creation and preservation, and its value will only grow as geopolitical volatility and regional instability increase."
Fading supremacy of US passport power
The US' diminishing passport power is a cause for concern. According to the index, while its score has risen over the last decade, it has been overtaken by countries such as South Korea, Japan, and Singapore.
Henley & Partners also researched the relationship between a country's openness to foreigners and its citizens' travel freedom.
The index ranks countries based on the number of nationalities they allow entry to without a prior visa. Small island nations and African states dominate the top 20 most open countries, while Afghanistan, North Korea, Papua New Guinea and Turkmenistan score zero, allowing no visa-free access.
The US, with its visa-free access to 184 destinations, ranks poorly on the Henley Openness Index, occupying the 78th position. This suggests that it does not reciprocate the same level of openness despite its citizens' travel freedom.
Experts warn that the US's limited extension of visa-free access and challenges in the visa system, including processing delays and high refusal rates, could impact its global competitiveness. The country may experience a decline in soft power, affecting business partnerships, tourism and its reputation as a world leader.
Professor Peter J. Spiro, who holds the Charles Weiner Chair in international law at Temple University, explained, "For example, prospective international students are increasingly drawn to competitor institutions in Canada, the UK, and the EU over their US counterparts. Add to that the growing reputation of the US as ridden with gun violence and one can project a long-term trajectory in which US global standing further erodes."
Unlocking economic opportunities and global influence
Dr Juerg Steffen, chief executive officer of Henley & Partners, highlights the importance of visa policies in positively impacting a country's passport power and attracting foreign investors.
By adopting welcoming and open-door visa policies, countries can forge valuable connections with other nations, leading to the acquisition of valuable visa-waivers, he added.
Dr Steffen also emphasises that such improvements in passport power make a country more appealing for foreign investors seeking opportunities for citizenship or residence through investment.
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