Once again, Asia leads the way in the Henley Passport Index’s guide to the world’s most powerful passports.
Japan and Singapore have held onto their position as the world’s most travel-friendly passports.
These passports have topped the rankings thanks to both documents offering access to 190 countries each.
South Korea, Finland and Germany made second place. Citizens with these passports can access 188 territories around the world without a prior visa.
Denmark, Italy and Luxembourg hold third place in the index, with visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 187 countries.
Five years ago, the United States and the UK topped the rankings in 2014, but both countries have now slipped down to sixth place, the lowest position either has held since 2010, CNN reports.
While the Brexit process has yet to directly impact on the UK’s ranking, the Henley Passport Index press release observed in July, “with its exit from the EU now imminent, and coupled with ongoing confusion about the terms of its departure, the UK’s once-strong position looks increasingly uncertain.”
Top 10 passports to hold in 2019 are:
1. Japan, Singapore (190 destinations)
2. Finland, Germany, South Korea (188)
3. Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg (187)
4. France, Spain, Sweden (186)
5. Austria, Netherlands, Portugal (185)
6. Belgium, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Norway, UK, USA, Switzerland (184)
7. Malta, Czech Republic (183)
8. New Zealand (182)
9. Australia, Lithuania, Slovakia (181)
10. Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Slovenia (180)
The worst passports to hold
Several countries around the world have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to fewer than 40 countries. These include:
100. Lebanon, North Korea (39 destinations)
101. Nepal (38)
102. Libya, Palestinian Territory, Sudan (37)
103. Yemen (33)
104. Somalia, Pakistan (31)
105. Syria (29)
106. Iraq (27)
107. Afghanistan (25)
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