Passport Power Shift: India at 80th; Europe Dominates
In the 2024 Henley Passport Index, India ranks 80th, offering citizens visa-free access to 62 countries. Europe's quartet—France, Germany, Italy, and Spain—tops the list. UAE's decade-long surge to 11th place and China's rise to 62nd highlight evolving global travel dynamics. Dr. Christian Kaelin notes a widening gap in travel freedom between nations. Top 10 passports grant access to 185-194 destinations.
In the latest Henley Passport Index for 2024, India secured the 80th position, allowing its citizens visa-free access to 62 countries. Sharing this rank with Uzbekistan, India's neighboring nation, Pakistan, is positioned at 101.
For the past five years, Singapore and Japan have held the coveted title of the world's most powerful passports. However, in 2024, this distinction is now shared by European countries: France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Residents of these nations enjoy visa-free access to 194 out of 227 destinations, marking a three-point increase from the previous year.
South Korea, Sweden, and Finland climbed one spot each, jointly securing the second position with access to 193 locations. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands share the third spot, allowing travel to 192 places, according to Bloomberg.
The United Arab Emirates witnessed remarkable growth over the past decade, ascending to the 11th position and offering visa-free access to 183 destinations. China also experienced an upward trajectory, securing the 62nd spot with access to 85 destinations, nearly double the number from a decade ago.
Dr. Christian Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, noted a widening gap between countries with the most and least travel freedom. While the average number of visa-free destinations has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024, the leading countries now enjoy a staggering 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which ranks at the bottom with access to just 28 countries.
Top 10 Most Powerful Passports in 2024:
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain (194 destinations)
Finland, South Korea, Sweden (193 destinations)
Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands (192 destinations)
Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom (193 destinations)
Greece, Malta, Switzerland (190 destinations)
Czech Republic, New Zealand, Poland (189 destinations)
Canada, Hungary, United States (188 destinations)
Estonia, Lithuania (187 destinations)
Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (186 destinations)
Iceland (185 destinations)