The world’s most powerful passports for 2024 have been revealed – and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tops the list for the fourth consecutive year.
The world ranking indicates the number of countries that citizens around the world can enter visa-free. Those living in the UAE have access to more than 90 percent of the world and are able to visit 133 countries visa-free and 47 on the basis of a visa on arrival.
The rest of the top 20 is dominated by European countries, with 19 of the top 20 most powerful countries in Europe.
Spain overtake Germany (5th) to become the second most powerful passport in the world, while Finland jumps ahead in third place France (4th), Belgium (6th) and Italy (7th). France’s passport remains the strongest of the G20 countries.
The UK continues to slide down, dropping 10 places from 22nd to 32nd in 2024. UK passport holders can visit 125 countries visa-free and 49 on the basis of a visa on arrival. It last ranked in the top 10 in 2017.
The US also sees its passport fall further down the index, from 27th to 38th. US citizens can visit 123 countries without a visa and 50 based on a visa on arrival. The US last ranked in the top 20 in 2019.
Arton Capitalwhich produced the rankings, said in a statement: ‘With the new Trump administration coming in, it remains to be seen what steps the US will take to stop the downgrading of its once-great passport. Currently the worst passport in the G7 group of nations, Trump’s incoming administration has all the motivations to make the American passport great again.’
However, the US passport remains more powerful than its ‘biggest competitor’, Chinawhose passport ranks 110 in the power index.
The world’s most powerful passports for 2024 have been revealed – and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tops the list for the fourth consecutive year
South Korea’s passport is the strongest in Asia, despite falling from 17th to 21st, compared to last year’s ranking. Japan (25th) and Singapore (30th) are the next most powerful Asian passports.
Further west in Central Asia, Kazakhstan (114th) and Uzbekistan (140th) each climb this year’s rankings, in a trend that has continued from previous years.
In the Middle East, conflict continues to have a negative effect on the mobility scores of the countries in the region, Arton Capital noted, with governments tightening travel restrictions and visa issuances.
The UK continues to slide down, dropping 10 places from 22nd to 32nd in 2024. UK passport holders can visit 125 countries visa-free and 49 on the basis of a visa on arrival
Earlier this year, the statement points out, Schengen countries warned citizens against traveling to and from Israel and Palestine, while Israel temporarily stopped issuing visas to humanitarian workers.’
Hrant Boghossian, co-founder of the ranking, says: ‘The World Openness Score has remained flat this year – the post-Covid recovery jump we’ve seen in recent years is truly over.
‘Unsurprisingly, European passports are overwhelmingly best placed, ahead of larger economies such as the United States and China. Almost all countries in the Balkans have experienced growth in their mobility this year, a positive trend in the region that we hope will continue.
‘Geopolitical factors, including elections and conflicts, continue to affect global mobility. Despite this, we continue to see countries working together and governments recognizing the opportunities that visa-free agreements represent.’
