Singapore’s Tiny Red Passport Still Rules the World in 2026

Size isn’t everything. Singapore, one of the planet’s smallest nations, has once again claimed the top spot in the Henley Passport Q2 Index for 2026. The city-state’s signature red passport now grants its holders visa-free access to 192 destinations out of 227 worldwide—more than any other country. That means a Singaporean can pack a bag and visit over 80 percent of the globe without ever queuing for a visa application.

The latest ranking, released July 1 by consultancy Henley & Partners, is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It measures a passport’s power purely by how many destinations its citizens can enter without a prior visa. Just behind Singapore, a three-way tie for second place sees Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates all offering access to 188 countries. Sweden sits alone in third with 187, while an 11-nation logjam at fourth place includes Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain—each with 186 visa-free destinations.

The United Kingdom ties for sixth place alongside Hungary and Poland, with access to 184 places. The U.S. passport, meanwhile, lands in tenth position with 180 visa-free destinations, tied with Iceland. Australia, Canada, and New Zealand all rank seventh with 183. The list also notes that Hong Kong passport holders can visit 174 countries, while Israel sits at 168. The index covers 199 passports total, and the full ranking shows a clear divide: citizens of wealthy, stable nations continue to enjoy far more travel freedom than those from conflict zones or poorer regions. This story originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK and has been updated for 2026.