The „strongest” passports in the world in 2026 come from Asia, according to the most recent ranking by the Henley Passport Index.
Leading the list are Singapore, Japan, and South Korea, while the United States and the United Kingdom are experiencing the sharpest annual declines. Romania is positioned in the second half of the ranking, with a high level of global mobility, but still behind the leaders.
CNN presents the annual report by Henley & Partners, a global citizenship and residency consultancy firm that uses exclusive information provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Singapore, absolute leader: visa-free access to 192 destinations
Singapore's passport ranks first in the ranking, offering visa-free access to 192 out of the 227 countries and territories monitored. Tied for second place are Japan and South Korea, with unrestricted access to 188 destinations.
Henley groups countries with the same score in the same position, so the third place is shared by Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, all with visa-free access to 186 states.
Europe dominates top 5, United Arab Emirates - the most spectacular rise
The fourth place is exclusively occupied by European states - including France, Germany, Italy, and Greece - all with a score of 185. In fifth place are Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates, with access to 184 destinations.
The United Arab Emirates has the highest growth in the 20-year history of the index, adding 149 visa-free destinations since 2006 and climbing 57 positions. The report attributes this leap to "sustained diplomatic engagement and visa regime liberalization."
USA and United Kingdom, the biggest annual losses
The United Kingdom and the United States are the countries with the most significant declines from one year to the next. The UK now offers visa-free access to 182 destinations, eight fewer than a year ago. The US is in 10th place, with 179 destinations, after losing visa-free access to seven states in the last 12 months.
Although Washington has formally returned to the top 10, as many as 37 countries surpass the US in the ranking. In the last 20 years, the United States has experienced the third-largest global decline, dropping from 4th to 10th place.
Where does Romania rank in the global ranking
According to the Henley Passport Index, Romania has a score of 172. Holders of the Romanian passport can travel visa-free to 120 countries and territories, receive visas on arrival in another 44, and require visas in advance for 26 states.
Overall, the Romanian passport provides access to approximately 86% of the world, indicating a high level of mobility but below the average of the top 20 countries.
"The power of the passport reflects political stability and credibility"
"The power of the passport ultimately reflects political stability, diplomatic credibility, and the ability to shape international rules," says Misha Glenny, a journalist and rector of the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, quoted in the report.
At the bottom of the ranking are Afghanistan, with visa-free access to only 24 destinations, followed by Syria and Iraq. The difference between the first and last place is 168 destinations, illustrating a major global mobility gap.
Top 10 most powerful passports in 2026
- Singapore – 192
- Japan, South Korea – 188
- Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland – 186
- Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway – 185
- Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates – 184
- Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Malta, New Zealand, Poland – 183
- Australia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, United Kingdom – 182
- Canada, Iceland, Lithuania – 181
- Malaysia – 180
- United States – 179