by Natasha Lair
Last updated: 9:15 AM ET, Tue January 13, 2026
Canada remains among the world’s strongest passport holders, ranking eighth in the Henley Passport Index 2026, but new data shows global travel freedom is becoming increasingly unequal.
As the gap between the most and least powerful passports reaches a 20-year high, the rankings reveal why where you’re born matters more than ever.
Marking two decades since its inception, the Henley Passport Index ranks passports worldwide by the number of destinations holders can access without a prior visa. The 2026 edition, based on Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), shows a record clustering of passports at the top while those at the bottom remain increasingly restricted.
Singapore retains the top spot, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations. At the opposite end, Afghanistan ranks last, with access to just 24. The 168-destination gap is the largest in the index’s history, up from 118 destinations in 2006 between the then top-ranking U.S. passport and Afghanistan.
“Over the past 20 years, global mobility has expanded significantly, but the benefits have been distributed unevenly,” said Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman at Henley & Partners.
“Today, passport privilege plays a decisive role in shaping opportunity, security, and economic participation.”
Global travel continues to surge despite rising restrictions. IATA forecasts airlines will carry more than 5.2 billion passengers this year.
“A record number of people are expected to travel in 2026,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh.
“But as many governments look to tighten their borders, technological advances such as digital ID and digital passports should not be overlooked by policymakers. Convenient travel and secure borders are possible.”
Europe Dominates, U.S. & UK Slip
Japan and South Korea rank joint second, each with visa-free access to 188 destinations. Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland follow in third with 186, ahead of an unprecedented 10-country tie for fourth place.
Outside Europe, the UAE ranks fifth, followed by New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and Malaysia.
The U.S. returned to the Top 10 after briefly dropping out in late 2025, but both the U.S. and UK have seen long-term declines. Over the past year, the UK lost access to eight destinations, while the U.S. lost seven, their steepest annual drops.
Over two decades, the U.S. has fallen six places to 10th, and the UK four places to seventh.
Long-Term Winners and Losers
The UAE is the index’s strongest performer over 20 years, adding 149 visa-free destinations and climbing 57 places to fifth, thanks to diplomatic engagement and visa liberalization. Countries across the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe also saw gains, including Albania, Ukraine, Serbia, and North Macedonia.
Bolivia is the only country to lose ground overall, falling 32 places to 61st. In the past decade, Kosovo recorded the largest rise, climbing 38 places, while China rose 28 places, now joint 59th with visa-free access to 81 destinations.
Rising Restrictions
While U.S. passport holders can travel visa-free to 179 destinations, the U.S. allows only 46 nationalities entry without a visa, ranking 78th on the Henley Openness Index.
China permits visa-free entry to 77 nationalities, ranking 62nd after adding more than 40 countries in the past two years.
“There is a visible shift underway in the global balance of power, marked by China’s renewed openness and the USA’s retreat into nationalism,” said Dr. Tim Klatte, Partner at Grant Thornton China.
“As countries increasingly compete for influence through mobility, openness is becoming a critical component of soft power.”
Analysis for the Henley Global Mobility Report 2026 warns that a late-2025 U.S. Customs and Border Protection proposal could effectively end visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program.
Citizens of 42 allied nations may need to submit extensive personal, biometric, and digital data, with implementation possible as early as February.
“This level of data collection enables real-time ideological screening and creates the risk that personal information could be shared, repurposed, or weaponized,” said Greg Lindsay, non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.
The proposal follows the most extensive simultaneous expansion of U.S. travel bans. As of January 1, 2026, full or partial entry restrictions now apply to 39 countries.
Mobility as Risk Management
Amid rising restrictions, demand for alternative residence and citizenship continues to grow. Henley & Partners received applications from 100 nationalities in 2025, with overall volumes up 28% year-on-year. The U.S. is now the firm’s largest client market.
“Americans are continuing their scramble for alternative residence and citizenship amid ongoing political turbulence,” said Prof. Peter J. Spiro, Professor at Temple University Law School.
“What was once seen as an extreme contingency has become a mainstream form of risk management.”
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