The world’s most powerful passports in 2024 , Read Where India Stands?

The 2024 list from the Henley Passport Index, which assesses the world’s most travel-friendly passports, features a shared top spot held by European nations France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, alongside Asian countries Japan and Singapore.

Ranking low on the index are Pakistan (101), Iraq (102), Syria (103) and Afghanistan (104).Other neighbours of India were ranked as follows: Maldives (#58), China (#62), Bhutan (#87), Myanmar (#92), Sri Lanka (#96), Bangladesh (#97), and Nepal (#98)

India, meanwhile, held on to its previous year’s ranking of 80. Those holding an Indian passport have visa-free access to 62 destinations.

The Henley Passport Index for 2024, curated by Henley & Partners, was released this week and ranks different passports according to the number of destinations their holders can visit without a prior visa or can avail of a visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) on entering the destination. The rankings are based on the analysis of data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It then provides a ‘Visa-free score’ which, essentially, is the number of destinations that the holders of that particular passport can travel to without a prior visa or can avail of a visa on arrival or other similar permits.

For instance, individuals with passports from the countries holding the top position (#1) enjoyed access to 194 visa-free destinations, while those with Afghanistan passports, ranking at #104, had only 28 visa-free destinations.

In the latest rankings, Finland, Sweden, and South Korea jointly held the second position, while Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands occupied the third spot.

The United States shared the 7th position with Canada and Hungary, while the United Kingdom passport secured the 4th spot, tied with Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, and Portugal. In the Middle East, the UAE claimed the highest ranking at #11.

Israel secured the 21st position, and Russia held the 51st spot in the passport rankings.

Here is a list of the world’s 10 most powerful passports, along with their respective scores:

1. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain (Score: 194)
2. Finland, South Korea, Sweden (Score: 193)
3. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands (Score: 192)
4. Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom (Score: 191)
5. Greece, Malta, Switzerland (Score: 190)
6. Australia, Czechia, New Zealand, Poland (Score: 189)
7. Canada, Hungary, United States (Score: 188)
8. Estonia, Lithuania (Score: 187)
9. Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (Score: 186)
10. Iceland (Score: 185)

And here are the world’s 10 least powerful passports:

1. Iran, Lebanon, Nigeria, Sudan (Score: 45)
2. Eritrea, Sri Lanka (Score: 43)
3. Bangladesh, North Korea (Score: 42)
4. Libya, Nepal, Palestinian Territory (Score: 40)
5. Somalia (Score: 36)
6. Yemen (Score: 35)
7. Pakistan (Score: 34)
8. Iraq (Score: 31)
9. Syria (Score: 29)
10. Afghanistan (Score: 28)

The Henley Passport Index is a yearly compilation created by Henley & Partners, a London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm. Boasting itself as the “original ranking of all the world’s passports,” the index encompasses 227 destinations and evaluates 199 passports.