The most user-friendly passports in 2021

If you hold a passport from Japan, Singapore, Germany and South Korea, congratulations! You have the world’s most user-friendly passports and can travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to over 190 countries around the world.

It is according to the Henley Passport Index, a quarterly ranking of the world’s most powerful passports based on the number of countries a passport holder can enter without needing a visa. The index uses data from the International Air Travel Association (IATA) and analyzes 199 passports and 277 destinations.

The index does not take into account COVID-19 travel restrictions and current border closures.

The Japanese passport topped the 2021 rankings for the third year in a row, allowing passport holders to enter 193 countries. Singapore came in second, giving access to 192 destinations.

Germany and South Korea are tied for third, followed by Finland, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain for fourth. The United States is in seventh place, proof of the decline in the power of the American passport in recent years. In 2015, the United States was the second most powerful passport in the world, with the United Kingdom in first place.

The 10 most powerful passports in the world

1. Japan (193 destinations)

2. Singapore (192 destinations)

3. Germany, South Korea (191 destinations)

4. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain (190 destinations)

5. Austria, Denmark (189 destinations)

6. France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden (188 destinations)

7. Belgium, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States (187 destinations)

8. Czech Republic, Greece, Malta, Norway (186 destinations)

9. Australia, Canada (185 destinations)

10. Hungary (184 destinations)

If you are curious to see where your passport ranks, the Henley Passport Index allows you to search the list by type of passport.