What country holds the most powerful passport? The US didn’t make the top five.
Japan took the title for the world’s most powerful passport, granting access to 193 countries, according to the Henley Passport Index. Singapore ranked second place with access to 192 destinations.
Tied for third are Germany and South Korea, while Italy, Spain, Luxembourg and Finland shared the fourth spot. The United States remained in the seventh spot with access for 187 countires, falling behind France, Portugal, Netherlands and Ireland.
In 2015, the United States ranked second for the most powerful passport, behind the United Kingdom.
The Henley Passport Index rankings don’t take into account the varying COVID-19 restrictions and border closures from some countries.
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How many borders are still closed?
As COVID-19 cases vary per country and region, many borders remain fully or partially closed. Canada, Chile, Argentina, Greenland, Australia, Japan and New Zealand are among countries with borders fully closed to visitors. The U.S., China, Russia and the majority of European countries are only banning “high-risk regions.”
These high-risk regions are countries with high and concerning cases of COVID-19. In the U.S., travelers from China, Iran, Brazil, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom are prohibited from entering according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley Partners, added in the report that it’s unclear how long travel restrictions will be in place. However, Kaelin said the restrictions will hinder international travel for the rest of the year.