The Indian passport was placed 80th on the world’s most powerful passport list for 2024, allowing holders to visit 62 countries without a visa. The country shares its ranking with Uzbekistan, whereas neighbouring Pakistan is ranked 101.
For the last five years, Singapore and Japan have had the world’s most potent travel papers, allowing its people to visit more countries without a visa than anyone else.
However, things have changed this year, with four European countries moving up to share the top rank in the Henley Passport Index 2024 with the Asian nations. Residents of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain may now travel visa-free to 194 of 227 locations, three more than last year.
South Korea, Sweden, and Finland all moved up one slot to claim joint second place, with access to 193 venues. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands ranked third, allowing travel to 192 sites.
Over the last decade, the United Arab Emirates has risen to 11th rank, providing visa-free travel to 183 locations. And China, which jumped two positions this year to 62nd place, now gets visa-free access to 85 countries, about twice as many as it had ten years earlier.
What does chairman of immigration consultancy says?
Dr. Christian Kaelin, the chairman of immigration consultant Henley & Partners, stated that, while the general trend over the years has been towards increased travel flexibility, the difference between individuals at either end of the list is broader than ever.
“The average number of visa-free destinations has nearly quadrupled from 58 in 2006 to 111 by 2024. However, as the new year begins, the top-ranked countries may now go to 166 more visa-free locations than Afghanistan, which ranks last with access to only 28 countries,” he added.
List of top 10 most powerful passports 2024
1) France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain (194 destinations)
2) Finland, South Korea, Sweden (193 destinations)
3) Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands (192 destinations)
4) Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom (193 destinations)
5) Greece, Malta, Switzerland (190 destinations)
6) Czech Republic, New Zealand, Poland (189 destinations)
7) Canada, Hungary, United States (188 destinations)
8) Estonia, Lithuania (187 destinations)
9) Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (186 destinations)
10) Iceland (185 destinations)
Henley Passport Index
The Henley Passport Index is a global ranking of countries according to the travel freedom allowed by those countries’ ordinary passports for their citizens. It started in 2006 as Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index and was changed and renamed in January 2018.