(SINGAPORE) Singapore now sits at No. 1 on the 2026 Henley Passport Index, with visa-free access to 193 destinations. For frequent travelers, that ranking translates into fewer consulate visits, fewer forms, and faster last-minute trip planning.
The 2026 index, released January 13, 2026, matters far beyond tourism. Students scouting campuses, founders chasing investor meetings, and families managing cross-border caregiving all feel the difference between “book tonight” mobility and “wait weeks” mobility.
Henley & Partners builds the index using destination-access data drawn from the International Air Transport Association, or IATA, which tracks airline entry requirements. In simple terms, the index counts how many places a passport holder can reach with minimal pre-trip paperwork, then ranks passports from widest access to narrowest.
Reading the 2026 rankings without getting tripped up by “visa-free”
In Henley’s method, “visa-free” access is a practical travel shorthand, not a promise. The count can include true visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival, and, in many destinations, an eTA-style authorization that you apply for online before flying.
That difference matters in real life. A visa-on-arrival often means longer airport queues and proof of onward travel. An electronic authorization can be quick, but it still fails if your passport expires too soon.
Rank gaps can also be small at the top. A one- or two-destination shift can move a passport several places when many countries cluster near the peak. VisaVerge.com reports that this “crowded top” is why travelers should track trends, not just one year’s position.
Asia leads, Europe clusters, and the Gulf keeps climbing
Asia’s lead in 2026 reflects years of steady mobility agreements, strong trade links, and high travel demand. The top three are all Asian passports, and they sit close together, which keeps pressure on governments to protect access.
The Middle East story is the United Arab Emirates. Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, tied the UAE’s rise to sustained diplomatic work and bilateral visa deals, not a single policy change.
Meanwhile, traditional heavyweights like the UK and the United States appear lower in the top 10 than many readers expect. That’s a reminder that access can plateau or fall when reciprocity tightens, security rules change, or politics shifts.
Europe’s fourth-place tie and why some numbers don’t match
Europe still dominates the top tier, but the 2026 table includes a fourth-place tie across a large group of European passports. Some reports describe the tie as 187 destinations, while others cite 186, often because of cutoff timing or how visa-on-arrival categories get counted.
When you need the authoritative number for one passport, verify the passport’s own page on the official Henley Passport Index and match it to your travel date.
Ranked list: what each top-10 passport position means in practice
1) Singapore — fastest planning, widest reach
Singapore leads the 2026 Henley Passport Index with visa-free access to 193 destinations. For business travelers, that often means trips can start with a calendar invite, not a consular appointment.
For families, it reduces the risk of being separated by slow visa processing. Still, travelers must meet entry conditions at the border, including purpose limits and passport validity rules.
For Singapore entry rules, start with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.
2) South Korea — near-top access with strong regional mobility
South Korea ranks second with 190 destinations. That places it in the same “book-and-go” tier as Singapore for many routes, especially in Asia and Europe.
For students doing short campus visits, the benefit is speed: fewer pre-trip visa steps for brief stays. For employers, it supports rapid project travel, though work activities still need the right permission.
Treat the index as a planning filter, then confirm each destination’s rules.
3) Japan — still elite, with small margins that matter
Japan ranks third with 189 destinations. That single-digit gap from the leader shows how tight the top tier is.
For travelers, the advantage is predictable access across many regions and fewer surprise paperwork demands. For diaspora families, easier short trips can support caregiving and family events.
Japan’s position also shows how stability helps; long-standing entry agreements tend to protect mobility during global shocks. Always check whether an eTA-style approval applies.
4) Fourth-place European tie — high access, but verify the exact count
A large European group sits tied at fourth, widely reported at 187 destinations, with some summaries listing 186. Examples named in 2026 reporting include Greece, Belgium, Austria, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden, alongside other European passports in the same cluster.
For travelers, this tie means broad “near-universal” short-stay reach, especially within Europe and across many partner states. The practical step is simple: confirm your passport’s specific destination list on Henley before booking.
5) United Arab Emirates — the standout climber
The UAE ranks fifth with 184 destinations, and its long-term rise is the clearest storyline in the 2026 index. Henley credits an “unprecedented” climb of 57 places over 20 years, adding 149 destinations since 2006, to diplomacy and visa agreements.
For UAE residents who recently naturalized, this changes life logistics, from easier family visits to smoother business expansion. The key caution is purpose: visa-free entry rarely covers working on arrival.
6) New Zealand — strong access backed by trust and consistency
New Zealand sits sixth in 2026, keeping it firmly inside the top travel tier. For tourists, that usually means simpler entry across many long-haul destinations.
For entrepreneurs, it can reduce friction when attending conferences or meeting partners abroad. New Zealand’s ranking also reflects how “trusted traveler” reputations build over time through stable documentation and security cooperation.
Even with high access, watch for electronic authorizations and strict biosecurity rules at arrival points.
7) United Kingdom and Australia — two strong passports sharing one rung
The UK and Australia share seventh place, showing how closely matched top passports can be. For UK and Australian travelers, the win is flexibility: short-notice trips for family or business are often possible without pre-arranged visas.
The caution is that “visa-free” doesn’t remove border questioning, and onward travel proofs still come up. For people doing study reconnaissance trips, you still need the correct long-term student visa later, even if entry for a visit is easy.
8) Canada — broad reach, but plan for digital checks
Canada ranks eighth in the 2026 Henley Passport Index. For Canadian travelers, high access supports smooth tourism and short business visits, especially where partners accept visa-on-arrival or simple online permission.
In practice, many trips now involve digital screening, so keep identity details consistent across bookings and authorizations. Families should also track passport expiry rules, because many places require six months’ validity.
The index helps you shortlist destinations, then confirm the exact entry channel.
9) Malaysia — a strong Southeast Asian performer
Malaysia ranks ninth, reinforcing Southeast Asia’s wider strength in the 2026 results. For Malaysians, this supports regional business travel and family movement with less advance paperwork than many peers worldwide.
It also helps students visit campuses or attend short courses without long lead times. Still, travelers should separate “entry” from “permission to work.”
If your trip involves paid activity, even briefly, the destination may require a work visa or permit despite the index category.
10) United States — still top 10, but no longer near the very top
The United States ranks tenth in 2026, a placement that underlines relative slippage against Asian and European leaders. For Americans, the passport still offers wide reach, but more destinations now rely on online authorizations or tighter reciprocity.
For dual nationals, this ranking can affect which passport you use for transit and short stays. For everyone, the rule is unchanged: airlines enforce entry rules at check-in, and border officers decide admission.
Turning the index into a simple travel-planning method
Use the Henley Passport Index as a first screen, then do four checks before you pay for flights:
- Confirm entry category for your passport. Verify whether entry is true visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or requires an eTA-style authorization.
- Confirm allowed stay length and purpose. Short tourist entry often does not permit work, study, or long stays.
- Check eTA or online authorization rules. Some permissions must be applied for before travel and can fail if passport data or expiry doesn’t meet requirements.
- Confirm passport validity requirements. Many destinations require several months of remaining validity; check each country’s rule.
Trends matter more than one-year movement, because agreements can shift after elections, conflicts, or policy resets.
The 2026 Henley Passport Index ranks Singapore first globally, providing access to 193 destinations. Asia leads the top tier, while the UAE shows significant diplomatic progress. The report emphasizes that ranking positions reflect ease of travel for business, education, and tourism, though travelers must still navigate specific electronic authorizations and varying passport validity rules despite high rankings.
