The world’s most powerful passports revealed — where does yours rank?
If you want to know what it feels like to hold the most powerful passport on earth, you’ll have to ask someone from Japan.
According to the latest Henley Passport Index — which ranks passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa — a Japanese passport opens more doors than any other passport worldwide.
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In an extremely strong showing for East Asia, Japan finished on top with a visa-free or visa-on-arrival rating of 193 destinations while Singapore and South Korea tied for second place with scores of 192. An array of other European countries rounded out the top five spots.
Despite Brexit, the U.K. only dropped down one place in the rankings. With access to 187 destinations, it joined France, Ireland and Portugal in sixth place.
The U.S. passport tied for seventh place, alongside Belgium, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland; these passports have access to 186 destinations for visa-free travel.
European nations formed the bulk of the top 10. Germany and Spain (190 destinations each); Finland, Italy and Luxembourg (189 destinations each); and Austria, Denmark, The Netherlands and Sweden (188 destinations each) filled out the third to fifth places, respectively.
Ukraine's passport also moved up the rankings: It came in at 35 since the E.U. granted Ukrainian citizens the right to live and work there for up to three years. The Ukrainian passport now permits visa-free access to 144 destinations.
Related: The US is getting a new passport design that’s expected to be fully rolled out this summer
Researchers for the index did not consider the temporary airspace closures to Russian citizens following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Federation’s passport is ranked 50th, even though most Russians can't visit a good chunk of the passport’s 119 possible destinations.
Toward the bottom of the list, North Korea sits at 105 — well among the worst passports to own. North Korean citizens only have the right to visit 40 destinations without a visa.
Yemen (34 destinations), Pakistan (32 destinations), Syria (30 destinations), Iraq (29 destinations) and, lastly, Afghanistan (27 destinations), round off the end of the index, making them the five most ungenerous passports on the planet.
The rankings are based on data from the International Air Transport Association. If you want to look at the wider list, click here.
The most powerful passports in summer 2022
1. Japan (193 destinations)
2. Singapore, South Korea (192 destinations)
3. Germany, Spain (190 destinations)
4. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg (189 destinations)
5. Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden (188 destinations)
6. France, Ireland, Portugal, U.K. (187 destinations)
7. Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, U.S. (186 destinations)
8. Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Greece, Malta (185 destinations)
9. Hungary (183 destinations)
10. Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia (182 destinations)
The weakest passports in summer 2022
104. Bangladesh, Kosovo, and Libya (41 destinations)
105. North Korea (40 destinations)
106. Nepal, Palestinian territory (38 destinations)
107. Somalia (35 destinations)
108. Yemen (34 destinations)
109. Pakistan (32 destinations)
110. Syria (30 destinations)
111. Iraq (29 destinations)
112. Afghanistan (27 destinations)
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- 6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
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Rewards Rate
| 6X | 6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program. |
| 4X | 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping. |
| 2X | 2x points on all other eligible purchases. |
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Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer expires 11/2/22.Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 points75,000 pointsAnnual Fee
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Why We Chose It
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. You'll earn 15 elite night credits each calendar year, and receive automatic Gold elite status. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year.Pros
- 6x points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 4x points at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and U.S. shipping
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases
- Earn a free-night award each card renewal month (up to 35,000 points)
- Receive 15 elite night credits to jump-start status
- Transfer Marriott points to 40+ airlines
Cons
- Airline points transfer ratios are poor
- Must spend $60,000 in a year for second free-night award
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership. Offer expires 11/2/22.
- 6x points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a 7% discount off standard rates for reservations of standard guest rooms at hotels that participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program when you book directly. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Card.
- Terms apply.
- See Rates & Fees