France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain opened 2024 with the world’s most influential passport, offering visa-free entry to 194 global destinations, as reported by the latest Henley Passport Index. This ranking relies on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Traditionally dominated by Japan and Singapore in the last five years, the current quarter sees European nations rising in the standings. Finland and Sweden, tied with South Korea, secure the second position, granting visa-free access to 193 destinations. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands hold the third spot, allowing passport holders entry to 192 destinations.
India’s passport claims the 80th position on the list, allowing its citizens visa-free travel to 62 countries, including popular tourist spots like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. India shares its rank with Uzbekistan while neighboring Pakistan is positioned at 101st.
Henley & Partners Chairman Christian H Kaelin, the creator of the passport index was quoted in a report by NDTV, pointing out the widening global mobility gap. He said, that despite an overall trend toward increased travel freedom, the disparity between top and bottom has reached an unprecedented level.
Kaelin further noted, ‘The average number of destinations travellers can access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024.’ He underscored that top-ranked countries now enjoy the privilege of travelling to 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, at the bottom with access to just 28 countries without a visa. Syria, with 29 destinations, holds the second-lowest position, followed by Iraq with 31 and Pakistan with 34.