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Asia Dominates When it Comes to Passport Power in 2020

The Henley Passport Index which regularly measures the world’s most travel-friendly passports has revealed a fresh list of most powerful passports for 2020.

Two passport on a map of the world

Il passaporto Australiano si e' classificato al non posto. Source: iStockphoto

 

The world’s most powerful passport right now is Japan’s passport with visa-free access to 191 countries, according to Henley Passport Index.

The index which regularly measures the world’s most travel-friendly passports has revealed a fresh list of most powerful passports for 2020.

While Japan ranks first, Singapore came in a close second with visa-free access to 190 countries.

South Korea and Germany ranked third on the list, which allows holders to travel to 189 countries without a visa.

Top ten most powerful passports of 2020

1. Japan (191 destinations)

2. Singapore (190)

3. South Korea, Germany (189)

4. Italy, Finland (188)

5. Spain, Luxembourg, Denmark (187)

6. Sweden, France (186)

7. Switzerland, Portugal, Netherlands, Ireland, Austria (185)

8. United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Greece, Belgium (184)

9. New Zealand, Malta, Czech Republic, Canada, Australia (183)

10. Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary (181)

From Fiji to the United States, Australian passport can take you to 183 countries
From Fiji to the United States, Australian passport can take you to 183 countries Source: Supplied

Australian passport climbed one place in the rankings and is the ninth most powerful passport in the world with visa-free access to 183 countries.

Australian passport holders can travel without a visa to countries like Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Fiji, New Zealand and all of Europe among others.

They need an Electronic Travel Authority (eTA) for countries like United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Sri Lanka and has access to visa on arrival in countries like Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Nepal, Maldives and Bangladesh.

World’s weakest passports

100. North Korea, Sudan (39 destinations)

101. Nepal, Palestinian Territory (38)

102. Libya (37)

103. Yemen (33)

104. Somalia, Pakistan (32)

105. Syria (29)

106. Iraq (28)

107. Afghanistan (26)

The Henley Passport Index is based on data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations. It is updated in real-time throughout the year, as and when visa policy changes come into effect.

 


2 min read

Published

Updated

By Mosiqi Acharya

Presented by Sophia Hong



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