Top of the world's most powerful passports list changed

Singapore, previously ranked first in the world's most powerful passports, has now been surpassed by Spain.

According to the "VisaGuide World" index, which reports on visa information, Spain now boasts the world's most powerful passport.

Per VisaGuide World's rankings, Japan, a leading wealthy nation in Asia, is the only non-European country in the top 15, ranked 15th for its powerful passport.

According to the latest index, Germany holds the third spot, followed respectively by Italy, France, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Hungary, and Luxembourg. Austria is ranked 16th, while Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, and Poland also feature in the top 20.

In the list of 200 countries, Turkey retains its position at 94th. Singapore was ranked first in the Henley Passport Index announced in October.

How is the Ranking Determined?

Both the "Henley Passport Index" and the "VisaGuide World Passport Index," which are updated quarterly, assess the number of destinations passport holders can access without a visa.

VisaGuide World also considers other factors, creating a "destination importance score" for each travel destination. Factors like a country's GDP, global influence, and tourism development are deemed crucial criteria.

Therefore, a country's entry policy towards a specific passport, including visa-free travel, Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), visa on arrival, e-visa, embassy-approved visa, and passport-free travel, are evaluated alongside the country's growth rate, global influence, and tourism development.

As of December 2023, Spanish passport holders have the right to travel visa-free to 160 countries and territories.

Although Singaporean passport holders can visit 164 countries, Spain ranks higher on the list due to the ability of its citizens to travel within the European Union using only an ID card.