The Henley Passport Index, an annual ranking of passports from 199 countries based on their travel freedom, offers valuable insights into the global mobility potential of each passport, specifically the number of countries its holders can visit visa-free.
In a notable shift, Japan, has been surpassed by Singapore, now allowing access to 192 out of 227 global destinations without requiring a visa. European passports have also seen a significant improvement since 2022, with Germany, Italy, and Spain now sharing the second position in the ranking. Among them, the Belgian passport has performed better, securing the fifth spot alongside countries such as Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Czech Republic, and Switzerland. Belgian citizens can now travel visa-free to 187 destinations worldwide.
On the other hand, the United States has experienced a decline in its ranking, currently placed in the eighth position. The United Kingdom has faced its own challenges following Brexit, resulting in a drop in rankings, but it has also shown signs of improvement, now securing the fourth spot in the list. At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan ranks as the country with the least amount of travel freedom, with its citizens only able to visit 27 countries without obtaining a visa. Similarly, citizens of Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, and Yemen also face limited travel freedoms.
Source: https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/609014/belgium-has-fifth-most-powerful-passport-in-the-world
