Update (October 2026)
The rankings below are from 2023. Passport rankings are updated several times a year. In the 2026 editions of the Henley Passport Index, Singapore is still ranked first, and both New Zealand and Australia remain in the top 10 with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 180 destinations. See what this means for travel and migration in 2026 below.
Global Passport Power Rank 2023
The Passport Index ranks passports based on the amount of visa-free world travel. It compares the passports of the 193 countries. According to Passport Index, the current ranking is as follows:
- UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
- SWEDEN, GERMANY, FINLAND, SPAIN, FRANCE, ITALY, NETHERLANDS, LUXEMBOURG, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND
- DENMARK, BELGIUM, PORTUGAL, NORWAY, POLAND, IRELAND, SOUTH KOREA
- SINGAPORE, GREECE, CZECH REPUBLIC, UNITED KINGDOM, HUNGARY, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND
- MALTA, LITHUANIA, SLOVAKIA, CANADA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA
passportindex. org/byRank.php
The 2023 Henley Passport Index has listed the most powerful passports as below:
| Rank | Country | Visa-free Access |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 192 |
| 2 | Germany | 190 |
| 2 | Italy | 190 |
| 2 | Spain | 190 |
| 3 | Austria | 189 |
| 3 | Finland | 189 |
| 3 | France | 189 |
| 3 | Japan | 189 |
| 3 | Luxembourg | 189 |
| 3 | South Korea | 189 |
| 3 | Sweden | 189 |
| 4 | Denmark | 188 |
| 4 | Ireland | 188 |
| 4 | Netherlands | 188 |
| 4 | United Kingdom | 188 |
| 5 | Belgium | 187 |
| 5 | Czech Republic | 187 |
| 5 | Malta | 187 |
| 5 | New Zealand | 187 |
| 5 | Norway | 187 |
| 5 | Portugal | 187 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 187 |
| 6 | Australia | 186 |
| 6 | Hungary | 186 |
| 6 | Poland | 186 |
| 7 | Canada | 185 |
| 7 | Greece | 185 |
| 8 | Lithuania | 184 |
| 8 | United States | 184 |
What this means in 2026
A strong passport makes short trips easy, but it does not give you the right to live, work or study in another country. Visa-free travel usually covers tourism and short business visits only, and many countries now require an online travel authorisation before you fly.
| Destination | What Australian and New Zealand passport holders usually need for a short visit |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), required since 8 January 2025. See our UK visa guides. |
| United States | An ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program for tourism or business visits of up to 90 days. See US visitor visas. |
| Canada | An electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) when flying in. See our Canada visa guides. |
| Schengen area | Visa-free stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. |
| Australia (for NZ citizens) | No visa application. You are granted a Special Category visa (subclass 444) on arrival. |
If you want to move, not just visit
To live or work overseas you still need the right visa, even with a top-ranked passport. Australian and New Zealand citizens have special arrangements with each other: New Zealand citizens can live and work in Australia on the subclass 444 visa, and since 1 July 2023 can apply directly for Australian citizenship after four years of residence. Australians can live and work in New Zealand without applying for a visa.
If you hold another passport and want to visit Australia, your nationality decides whether you can use the ETA (subclass 601), the eVisitor (subclass 651) or need a Visitor visa (subclass 600).
Next steps
- Check entry rules for each country before you book, as they change often.
- Make sure your passport has enough validity left; many countries ask for at least six months.
- If you plan to work, study or settle, book a consultation to plan the right visa.
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