Singapore, also known as the “Lion City” or “Garden City,” has now become the most powerful passport in the world, topping the Henley Passport Index. According to the passport index, holders of a Singaporean passport can now visit 195 countries without a visa, the highest of any country. Singapore displaced four European countries, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain to attain the first position. These European countries now share the second spot with Japan.
For the first time in history, seven countries share the third spot in the passport index. These countries are Australia, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden. Residents of these countries can access 191 destinations without a visa.
The CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Henley, Juerg Steffen, talked about visa-free travel and said, “The ability to travel visa-free to a wide array of destinations is no longer merely a convenience. It’s a powerful economic tool that can drive growth, foster international cooperation, and attract foreign investment.”
On the Henley Passport Index, India has improved its ranking, reaching the 80th position from the 82nd position and allowing access to 58 countries. This progress reflects increasing accessibility for Indian passport holders, who can now visit several countries, such as Angola, Barbados, Bhutan, Bolivia, Fiji, Ethiopia, Kenya, etc.
The United States holds the 8th position on the Henley Passport Index. Decades ago, the US was the joint first with the UK, but this performance extends the decade-long slide on the Passport Index. The UK has dropped down to the 4th position. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s passport remains the weakest, allowing residents to access only 26 countries without a visa.