Japan’s passport is the 2021 world’s most powerful, according to
the Henley Passport Index released on Tuesday.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
![image](/2021/06/Legal-Research-On-The-Go2.jpg")
The Asian giant retains the top spot for the fourth year in a
row with easy entry into 193 destinations, up from 191 in 2020.
![image](/2021/05/NBASBL2021.jpg")
Henley & Partners says the index is based on data from the
International Air Transport Association (IATA).
“With the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics just weeks away, and the
country in a ‘quasi’ state of emergency, Japan nonetheless retains
its hold”, a statement read.
The travel documents are rated according to the number of
destinations the holders can access without a prior visa.
A total of 27 countries currently share the top 10 positions.
Nigeria’s passport is ranked 101 – with access to 46 nations –
dropping from 97 in 2020.
The report said while some progress was made between January to
March 2021, international mobility restored to just 12 percent of
pre-COVID-19 levels in the same period in 2019.
Although European passports consistently made the top ten in the
index’s 16-year history, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea now
lead.
Singapore remains in 2nd place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival
score of 192; South Korea continues to share joint-3rd place with
Germany, each with a score of 191.
Like in 2020, the United Kingdom and the United States share
joint-7th place on the index (score of score), a steady decline
since they held the top spot in 2014.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, said it
is uncertain how long travel restrictions will remain in place, but
it is apparent that global mobility will be hampered throughout
2021.
“In many countries, serious doubts have arisen as to the ability
to handle a global crisis, with the subsequent embrace of more
inward-looking priorities.
“Increasing deglobalization will no doubt have profound
consequences, among them further damage to the world’s economy, a
significant reduction in global mobility, and restrictions on
people’s freedom to make the best choices for their families and
their businesses,” he said.
Kaelin added that people’s need to expand their residence and
passport options is clearer than ever.
Rank and number of accessible countries of the world’s top ten
passports:
1. Japan – 193
2. Singapore – 192
3. South Korea – 191
3. Germany – 191
4. Italy – 190
4. Finland – 190
4. Spain – 190
4. Luxembourg – 190
5. Denmark – 189
5. Austria – 189
6. Sweden – 188
6. France – 188
6. Portugal – 188
6. Netherlands – 188
6. Ireland – 188
7. Switzerland – 187
7. United States – 187
7. United Kingdom – 187
7. Belgium – 187
7. New Zealand – 187
8. Norway – 186
8. Greece – 186
8. Malta – 186
8. Czech Republic – 186
9. Canada – 185
9. Australia – 185
10. Hungary – 184
Japan’s passport is the 2021 world’s most powerful, according to
the Henley Passport Index released on Tuesday.
The Asian giant retains the top spot for the fourth year in a
row with easy entry into 193 destinations, up from 191 in 2020.
Henley & Partners says the index is based on data from the
International Air Transport Association (IATA).
“With the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics just weeks away, and the
country in a ‘quasi’ state of emergency, Japan nonetheless retains
its hold”, a statement read.
The travel documents are rated according to the number of
destinations the holders can access without a prior visa.
A total of 27 countries currently share the top 10 positions.
Nigeria’s passport is ranked 101 – with access to 46 nations –
dropping from 97 in 2020.
The report said while some progress was made between January to
March 2021, international mobility restored to just 12 percent of
pre-COVID-19 levels in the same period in 2019.
Although European passports consistently made the top ten in the
index’s 16-year history, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea now
lead.
Singapore remains in 2nd place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival
score of 192; South Korea continues to share joint-3rd place with
Germany, each with a score of 191.
Like in 2020, the United Kingdom and the United States share
joint-7th place on the index (score of score), a steady decline
since they held the top spot in 2014.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, said it
is uncertain how long travel restrictions will remain in place, but
it is apparent that global mobility will be hampered throughout
2021.
“In many countries, serious doubts have arisen as to the ability
to handle a global crisis, with the subsequent embrace of more
inward-looking priorities.
“Increasing deglobalization will no doubt have profound
consequences, among them further damage to the world’s economy, a
significant reduction in global mobility, and restrictions on
people’s freedom to make the best choices for their families and
their businesses,” he said.
Kaelin added that people’s need to expand their residence and
passport options is clearer than ever.
Rank and number of accessible countries of the world’s top ten
passports:
1. Japan – 193
2. Singapore – 192
3. South Korea – 191
3. Germany – 191
4. Italy – 190
4. Finland – 190
4. Spain – 190
4. Luxembourg – 190
5. Denmark – 189
5. Austria – 189
6. Sweden – 188
6. France – 188
6. Portugal – 188
6. Netherlands – 188
6. Ireland – 188
7. Switzerland – 187
7. United States – 187
7. United Kingdom – 187
7. Belgium – 187
7. New Zealand – 187
8. Norway – 186
8. Greece – 186
8. Malta – 186
8. Czech Republic – 186
9. Canada – 185
9. Australia – 185
10. Hungary – 184