The Henley Passport Index, published regularly by Henley & Partners based on official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), provides notable insights into the ranking of the world's most powerful passports. According to the index, the Singapore Passport, which allows visa-free travel to 195 countries, has once again claimed the top spot. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain, which previously shared the lead with Singapore, are now ranked second, with their passport holders able to travel to 192 countries visa-free. Meanwhile, an unprecedented third place is shared by Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden, whose passports allow visa-free access to 191 countries.
UK and US passports losing strength
Once the world's most powerful passports, the United Kingdom and the United States continue to fall in the rankings. According to the 2024 index, the number of countries that can be visited visa-free with a UK passport has dropped to 190. In the new index, the UK, along with Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland, is ranked fourth. On the other hand, the US passport, which continues its downward trend over the past decade and allows visa-free travel to 186 countries, is ranked eighth. The Afghan passport, which allows visa-free travel to only 26 countries, remains at the bottom of the ranking. This is the lowest score recorded in the 19-year history of the list.
Henley & Partners Türkiye Director Burak Demirel commented on the index: “In 2006, the average number of countries that could be traveled to visa-free globally was 58, but this number has nearly doubled to 111 in 2024. However, the gap between those at the top and those at the bottom of the list has widened more than ever. While the Singapore passport, which tops the list, allows visa-free travel to 195 countries, the Afghan passport at the bottom only permits travel to 26 countries.”
Air travel costs are decreasing
According to IATA data, in 2024, airports will connect approximately 5 billion people through 22,000 routes and 39 million flights. While the aviation sector's revenue expectation this year is around $1 trillion, expenses are also projected to reach a record $936 billion. This indicates a net profit of $30.5 billion. From this, the lowest net profit per passenger translates to $6.14, equivalent to the price of a single espresso at a hotel café. Nevertheless, the real cost of air travel has decreased by 34% over the past decade.
Rising and falling in the index and the impact of elections
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport has shown the most impressive rise in the rankings, adding 152 destinations to its visa-free travel map since the index was first published in 2006, bringing the number of visa-free travel countries to 185. Ranked 62nd, the UAE climbed 53 spots to 9th place, making it to the top 10 for the first time this year. On the other hand, Venezuela experienced the steepest decline, dropping from 25th to 42nd place over the past decade. The country is focused on the presidential elections on July 28th, which could shape the fate of over 7 million Venezuelans who have had to leave their country in the past decade. Meanwhile, the Henley Global Mobility 2024 Report highlights that the US sectors dependent on immigration and tourism are also quite concerned about the upcoming general elections. Their primary worries include the possible end of the Temporary Protected Status policy and the potential for mass deportations under a new Trump administration.
30% of Schengen visa applications from Africa are rejected
A new study included in the published report reveals that passports from various African countries receive the most rejections for Schengen visas. According to the data, 3 out of every 10 Schengen applications from Africa are rejected. Globally, 10% of Schengen applications are denied. However, Africa has the lowest rate of Schengen applications per capita. The study also shows a direct correlation between the poverty level of the African country making the application and the rejection rates.
Traveling to 118 countries visa-free with a Turkish Passport
Since January 2024, Türkiye has climbed seven spots in the index, moving from 52nd to 45th place. With this rise, the number of countries that can be visited visa-free with a Turkish passport has increased to 118. This new position in the ranking marks Türkiye's best performance in the past decade.