Passports are more than a chance to travel—they can determine your quality of life. The Henley Passport Index has just released the world’s most powerful passport for 2023 and the rankings might be surprising—the U.K. and the U.S. are still in the top ten but are not in the top five. And the gap between the best and worst passports is the greatest it has ever been.

Japan came first (193 destinations from 227 without needing a visa) followed by South Korea and Singapore (joint second) and then Germany and Spain (joint third). This is the fifth year in a row that Japan came first. The U.K. passport (sixth place) gives access to 187 countries without needing a visa and the U.S. is in seventh place, giving visa-free access to 186 countries. According to this report, global travel has recovered to 75% of its pre-pandemic levels.

The Gulf states are clear winners with many having moved up the scale considerably—in the past ten years, the UAE has risen 49 places to take the 15th best passport. What’s more, with the EU expected to sign a 90-day, visa-free travel program with Kuwait and Qatar, this will only improve these countries’ passport power in the years to come.

The World’s Best Passports To Have In 2023 (according to Henley):
1. Japan (193 destinations)

2. Singapore, South Korea (192 destinations)

3. Germany, Spain (190 destinations)

4. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg (189 destinations)

5. Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden (188 destinations)

6. France, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom (187 destinations)

7. Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United States, Czech Republic (186 destinations)

8. Australia, Canada, Greece, Malta (185 destinations)

9. Hungary, Poland (184 destinations)

10. Lithuania, Slovakia (183 destinations)

The World’s Worst Passports To Have In 2023 (according to Henley):
102. North Korea (40 destinations)

103. Nepal, Palestinian territory (38 destinations)

104. Somalia (35 destinations)

105. Yemen (34 destinations)

106. Pakistan (32 destinations)

107. Syria (30 destinations)

108. Iraq (29 destinations)

109. Afghanistan (27 destinations)

The Global Mobility Gap Between The Best And Worst Passports Is Growing
Unsurprisingly Afghanistan is still at the bottom of the list—its passport only provides visa-free access to 27 countries around the world. Whilst this isn’t shocking in itself, what is drastic is the vast and increasing difference between Japan and Afghanistan. With 166 fewer visa-free destinations than Japan, this is the biggest global mobility gap between the first and last place in the entire 18 years that the index has been running.

What’s also clear is that the trend of people—who can afford to—looking to hold more than one passport is still continuing. Through Covid, Brexit, the Ukraine war and climate change, having access to more than one passport provides greater protection than ever before. Indeed, it’s what Henley call “the ultimate asset in times of crisis and volatility.”

The Henley Passport Index compares the visa-free access of 199 different passports to 227 travel destinations from the IATA, the International Air Transport Association. If no visa is required, then the score is 1 for that passport (this includes countries where a visa can be obtained on arrival, etc.) If a visa (or government e-visa) is required before departure, then the score would be 0.

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