Vietnam moves up in ranking of world's most powerful passports

Singapore "overtook" Japan to become the country with the most powerful passport in the world, while Vietnam's passport rose 10 places in the global passport rankings of immigration consulting firm Henley & Partners.

Singapore passport is the most powerful in the world. (Source: Travel & Leisure)

The Henley & Partners Global Passport Index is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Passports are ranked based on the number of destinations that passport holders can enter without a visa. The Henley Passport Index is considered a standard reference tool when assessing the ranking of a passport in terms of global mobility. With a Singapore passport, citizens of this country can enter 192 out of 227 global destinations without a visa. Singapore topped the ranking in 2021, with 194 visa-free destinations and Japan ranked second with 193 visa-free destinations. Last year, Singapore and South Korea were tied for second place with 192 visa-free destinations. The champion belongs to Japan with 193 visa-free destinations. This year, Japan dropped to third place, with 189 countries and territories eligible for visa-free travel. South Korea, Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg and Sweden are in the same ranking. Second place is occupied by European countries including Italy, Germany and Spain, with citizens of these countries being allowed to enter visa-free to 190 destinations. After a decline due to Brexit, the UK has returned to the fourth place it held in 2017. The US passport is also in the top 10 (8th), but this country has seen its index increase the least in the past 10 years. Malaysia's passport is ranked 11th, allowing its citizens to enter visa-free to 180 countries. Thailand is ranked 64th with visa-free entry to 79 destinations. With a passport ranked 80, Indian citizens can access 57 destinations without a visa. The Vietnamese passport continues to rise in the rankings, rising to 82nd place, with 55 visa-free destinations. Previously, according to the Henley Passport Index 2022, Vietnam was in 92nd place with 55 destinations. In 82nd place with Vietnam this year are Cambodia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali. Afghanistan is the country at the bottom of the rankings when its citizens can enter 27 destinations without a visa.

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