Having a passport allows for international travel, but the ease of travel varies greatly depending on the passport’s “friendliness”.
Global Citizen Solutions’ 2024 Quality of Life Index ranks passports based on enhanced mobility (50%), investment (25%), and quality of life (25%). Quantitative data from respected institutions like The World Bank informed this ranking.
1: Germany
According to the Global Passport Index, Germany boasts the friendliest passport globally. Germans require a non-electronic visa in only 23 countries.
A significant advantage is unlimited visa-free access to 37 countries, largely due to Germany’s participation in the Schengen Area.
2: United States
American travelers hold the second friendliest passport in the world. While having unlimited visa-free access to only four countries, Americans enjoy visa-free travel with a limited stay in 106 countries. They can also apply for on-arrival visas in 38 countries.
3: Sweden
Like Germans, Swedes can travel to all but 23 countries without needing an advance non-electronic visa. They also benefit from unlimited visa-free access to 37 countries.
Additionally, Swedish passport holders have visa-free access with a limited stay in 81 countries.
4: Denmark
As a member of the Schengen region, Denmark offers its citizens nearly identical passport privileges concerning international access as Germany and Sweden.
Denmark ranks below them primarily because of its relatively low score on the investment index, placing 26th in that category.
5: Netherlands
The Netherlands is ranked fifth for passport friendliness. There is a minor difference in international accessibility compared to Denmark.
Dutch passport holders have visa-free access with a limited number of days to 80 countries, which is one fewer than Denmark’s 81.
6: Finland
Finland, a Northern European nation and fellow Schengen member, ranks high for passport friendliness alongside its peers.
A key factor contributing to Finland’s overall desirability is that it ranks number one globally for quality of living, according to the Global Passport Index.
7: United Kingdom
Since Brexit in January 2020, UK citizens have unlimited visa-free access to seven countries. However, they maintain access to a significant number of countries visa-free with a set, limited number of days – a respectable 103 countries. The UK passport ranks seventh.
8: Canada
Canada, located north of the United States, ranks eighth and is nearly as good on the passport-friendliness scale as the U.S.. The primary difference noted is that Canadians have four fewer country options for entering visa-free with a limited stay compared to Americans.
9: Norway
Norwegian citizens rank ninth on the list. They have visa-free access for a limited time in 78 countries. Additionally, Norwegians can stay without a visa or time limit in 37 countries and can apply for a visa on arrival in 31 countries.
10: Switzerland
Rounding out the top ten friendliest passports is Switzerland. Swiss passport holders have visa-free, unlimited access to 36 countries. They are required to apply for an electronic visa before visiting 26 countries.
11: Monaco
The small country of Monaco ranks eleventh and offers decent passport friendliness. European residents of Monaco have visa-free, limited-stay access to 99 countries. However, they only have visa-free limitless access to four countries.
12: Luxembourg
Citizens of Luxembourg rank twelfth. Like their fellow Schengen neighbors, they have visa-free access to 37 countries without a time limit. Luxembourg citizens must apply for a visa before arriving in 23 countries worldwide.
13: Singapore
Based on the Global Passport Index’s findings, Singapore holds the friendliest passport in Asia, ranking thirteenth overall.
Singaporeans must apply for a non-electronic visa in advance for 22 countries. They have visa-free access to seven countries.
14: Ireland
Irish passport holders rank fourteenth. They have visa-free access with a set number of days to 71 countries.
Taking into account their visa-free, unlimited access to 39 countries, they rank well on this list. On-arrival visas are available in 38 countries.
15: France
France is ranked fifteenth on the list. French citizens only need to apply for a non-electronic visa in advance for 23 countries.
They benefit from visa-free access to 37 countries, likely due to being part of the Schengen Area.
16: Australia
Australian passport holders rank sixteenth. They need to apply for a visa on arrival in 41 countries. They must apply for a non-electronic visa in 23 countries.
Australians can access six countries visa-free without limit and 99 countries visa-free with a time limit.
17: New Zealand
New Zealand ranks seventeenth, just below Australia. Compared to Australia, New Zealanders have visa-free unlimited access to one less country (five countries). Although they can enter four more countries than Australia visa-free with a limited stay.
18: Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein, situated between Austria and Switzerland, ranks eighteenth. Although in the Schengen area, it’s not an EU member.
Liechtensteiners have visa-free access to 37 countries without limit. They also have visa-free access with a limited stay to 75 countries.
19: Austria
Austria holds the nineteenth spot. Austrians can apply for a visa on arrival in 30 countries. They also enjoy visa-free access without a time stamp to 37 countries.
Like many countries on this list, Austrian passport holders need an advance non-electronic visa for 23 countries.
20: Japan
Japan is ranked twentieth. Japanese passport holders have visa-free access to only two countries without limit.
However, they can enter 109 countries without a visa for a limited stay. They are also able to apply for a visa on arrival in 39 countries.
21: Spain
Spain is ranked twenty-first. Similar to citizens from other Schengen countries, Spanish passport holders have visa-free access to 37 countries without a time limit.
The Spanish can also access 81 countries without a visa but are limited to a specific timeframe.
22: Belgium
Belgium ranks twenty-second on the list. Belgians can visit one fewer country visa-free on a limited stay compared to Spain, accessing 80 countries instead of 81. Belgians can also apply for an on-arrival visa in 30 countries.
23: Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is ranked twenty-third. Czech passport holders are able to enter 78 countries for a limited stay without a visa.
As with their Schengen neighbors, they have visa-free access to 37 countries without a time limit.
24: United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the sole Middle Eastern country to appear in this top 25 list, ranking twenty-fourth.
UAE citizens have visa-free access to 10 countries with no stay limit, and 103 countries with a limited stay. They can apply for a visa on arrival in 42 countries.
25: South Korea
South Korea rounds out the list at number twenty-five. South Korean passport holders can visit 111 countries visa-free for a limited number of days.
They have visa-free, unlimited stays in two countries. There are 40 countries where they can apply for a visa upon arrival.
Alicia Richards