The latest Henley Passport Index, now in its 20th year, confirms Europe's enduring strength in global mobility. Thirty European countries occupy the top 10 rankings, though Singapore retains the number one position for a second consecutive year, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations.
Japan and South Korea tie for second place, with access to 188 countries each. The top tier reflects a mix of Asian and European passports, but the depth of European representation is unmatched. Five European states—Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland—share third place, granting their citizens entry to 186 destinations without prior visa arrangements.
Just below them, a cluster of ten European countries holds fourth place with access to 185 countries: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway. The fifth tier includes Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates, which has climbed 57 places over two decades to reach this level.
Disparities Within Europe
Despite the continent's overall strength, significant gaps remain. Belarus ranks 60th, with visa-free access to only 79 countries. Kosovo, at 59th, offers access to 81 destinations—tied with China and Botswana. However, Kosovo has made notable progress, rising 38 places since 2016, though it still falls short of the global average.
These disparities highlight how passport power is not uniform across Europe. While Western and Nordic countries dominate the top tiers, nations in the Balkans and Eastern Europe face more restricted mobility, reflecting broader economic and political differences.
The United Kingdom, once a top-tier passport, now sits in seventh place, overtaken by the UAE. The United States ranks tenth, its lowest-ever position, matching its 2025 standing with access to 179 countries.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners, the Chicago-based citizenship-by-investment consultancy that compiles the index, noted: “Today, passport privilege plays a decisive role in shaping opportunity, security, and economic participation, with rising average access masking a reality in which mobility advantages are increasingly concentrated among the world’s most economically powerful and politically stable nations.”
The index relies on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), tracking how many destinations each passport can access without a pre-arranged visa. The 2026 rankings underscore Europe's collective strength, even as individual countries like Kosovo and Belarus work to improve their standing.
For context on broader European trends, see our analysis of European Passports Dominate 2026 Global Ranking, Led by Sweden. Meanwhile, the economic pressures affecting citizens across the continent are explored in Where in Europe Workers Keep the Least of Their Pay: Tax Burden Rankings.
