In a significant development, six countries—France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, and Singapore—have claimed the top position in the 2024 Henley Passport Index. This achievement grants their citizens visa-free access to an unprecedented 194 destinations out of a total of 227 across the globe, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, emphasised the widening global mobility gap, pointing out that the top-ranked countries now enjoy a remarkable 166 more visa-free destinations than Afghanistan, which ranks at the bottom with access to only 28 countries without a visa. The global average of visa-free destinations has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024.
Securing the second spot on the index are South Korea, Finland, and Sweden, all with visa-free access to 193 destinations. The third position is held by four EU nations—Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands—with access to 192 destinations.
The Top 10 is predominantly European, with the UK moving up two ranks to 4th place, offering visa-free access to 191 destinations. Australia and New Zealand also made gains, securing the 6th place with 189 visa-free destinations. The United States maintained its 7th position with access to 188 destinations without needing a prior visa.
India experienced a positive shift in the rankings, climbing three places from 83rd in 2023 to 80th in the current ranking. Indian citizens now enjoy visa-free access to 62 destinations. Notably, several countries, including Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Kenya, added India to their visa-free lists in the past year.
Closing the index are Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq, ranking at the bottom with visa-free access to only 28, 29, and 31 countries, respectively. These nations highlight the considerable disparity in global mobility.
