In 2026, the world's most powerful passport was ranked last

How far can a passport take you?

For those who travel, travel business or study abroad on a regular basis, the “goldness” of passports is not only related to the ease of travel, but also reflects to some extent the ease of movement of a country and region within the international community.

Recently, Henry & Partners, the Global Citizenship and Residence Advisory Body in London, United Kingdom, publishedHenry Passport Index, October 2026The latest ranking.

In this list,SingaporeIt's the most powerful passport in the world.Japan, Korea and the United Arab EmiratesFollow me. In the meantime,MalaysiaIt's a big rise.Hong Kong, ChinaThere have been good results.

This is not the case.Ordinary Chinese Mainland PassportWhile the number of duty-free and land-marked destinations has increased, the global ranking has declined.

I. Global passport ranking: Singapore continues to lead and Asian passports are strong

According to the latest list of October 2026, Singapore's passport continues to be among the highest in the world with 193 destinations that do not require a prior visa.

Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United Arab Emirates ranked second with 188 destinations, and the performance of Asian countries and regions in the global passport competition remained high.

European countries, for their part, continue to be at the top of the list, with a number of countries maintaining more than 185 passport pass capabilities.

The top 10 countries in this period are:

As can be seen from the list, Singapore still has a clear lead.

Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United Arab Emirates followed closely, and the European countries as a whole had stabilized, while the United States had joined Iceland in the current period.

It is worth noting that Malaysia has done quite well.

At the beginning of the year, the Malaysian passport ranked globally 9th for 180 purposes; by October, it had been increased to 184 destinations and ranked sixth alongside the United Kingdom.

In just a few months, the ranking rose by three, making it one of the most interesting advances on this list.

Hong Kong, China: ranking up and maintaining the world's first tier

The performance of Hong Kong, China, in the Chinese passport-related ranking is particularly high.

Hong Kong, China, is ranked 13th in the world with 175 de-licensed and de-listed passports.

Compared to the 174 destinations in the previous period, which ranked 14th in the world, one new destination was added to the current period, and the ranking was raised by one.

According to the information published by the Hong Kong Immigration Service Network, the number of destinations to which HKSAR passport holders are granted exemptions from the requirement to sign off or land.

Hong Kong passports are among the world's most advanced in terms of ranking and physical accessibility.

For those who often require international business travel, tourism and cross-border movement, there is no doubt that such mobility has a significant advantage.

Macao, China

The Macao SAR passport receives relatively little attention than the Hong Kong passport, but its ability to move internationally is also of concern.

In October 2026, the MSAR passport was ranked 31st in the world with 143 purposes.

This achievement has exceeded the number of national passports.

It is worth noting that Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago are among the 31st countries listed together with Macao.

Among them, Saint Lucia is also one of the more internationally known countries for investment in naturalisation projects.

From this point of view, Macao's passport has a fairly good global ranking.

IV. General passports in the Mainland of China: an increase in the number of exempted destinations and a decline in ranking

Let's see what everyone cares about.Ordinary Chinese Mainland passport.

China General Passport83 unitsDuty-free and land-marked destinations, ranked number one worldwideSixty-two.

Compared to the beginning of the year, the number of de-licensed and landing-marked destinations increased from 81 to 83, and there has indeed been some improvement in numbers.

But interestingly, it fell from 59th place.Number 62.

Why is the number of exempted destinations increased and the ranking dropped?

The reasons are not complex: the ranking of passports is a global competition, not only because of the number of destinations they have added, but also because of the pace of progress of passports in other countries and regions.

When other countries are granted more waivers through diplomatic negotiations, bilateral waivers, etc., even if there is an increase in our exempted destinations, the ranking may decline.

There is also a change that deserves attention.

Previously, the relevant waiver arrangements for Chinese citizens to travel to the Northern Mariana Islands (including Seban, Tianning and Rotta) on a regular passport had been suspended.

This also means that part of the ease of travel for Chinese passports is changing.

It is a matter of concern whether the number and ranking of destinations for Chinese passports will continue to change in the next list, if there is no new policy breakthrough.

V. What's the Hen's Passport Index?

When many people see a passport ranking, there may be a question: does the so-called 193 duty-free destinations mean that they can enter 193 countries directly with a Singapore passport?

Not exactly.

The Henler Passport Index, published by Henry & Partners, based in London, is one of the world ' s more influential passport access rankings.

The index covers 199 passports and 227 countries and territories and is mainly based on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) database on visa policies.

Its core evaluation criterion is whether a person holding a particular passport is required to apply for a traditional visa in advance of his or her destination.

The statistics include not only completely exempted destinations, but also easy-to-admission modes such as qualified landing permits and some electronic travel authorizations.

Thus, the number of destinations on the list does not amount to all countries that can enter the country without any formalities.

At the same time, the ranking of passports does not mean that actual entry must be granted. Even when exempted, border officials may judge the purpose of travel, the duration of stay and the conditions of entry of passengers.

VI. COMPETITITION OF INTERNATIONAL FACILITY IN COMPETITION OF PUSHMENTS

From the October 2026 list, global passport competition remains intense.

Singapore continues to be at the forefront, with Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United Arab Emirates showing strength, European countries as a whole leading, and Malaysia making a marked leap with an increase in the number of duty-free destinations.

Hong Kong, China, has a steady global passport, and Macao has a good record.

Although China ' s mainland common passport already holds 83 de-licensed and landing destinations, there is still a gap between the world ' s top passports.

It is important to note that passport passivity is not static.

Each bilateral exemption agreement is signed and each visa policy adjustment is likely to change the next ranking.

The increase in the exemption would not be possible without an increase in the combined strength of the State or the long-term accumulation of diplomatic relations, bilateral reciprocity and international cooperation.

In the future, can China's ordinary passports be further exempted and raised in global ranking? We also look forward to seeing more positive change.

What do you think of the new Chinese passport?