According to the Henley Passport Index for 2024, the Netherlands has the third most powerful passport in the world, with citizens being able to access 192 countries without a visa. 

Henley Passport Index 2024

Each year, the Henley Passport Index compiles data on 199 passports and 227 travel destinations across the world to rank which nationalities have access to the most countries without needing to apply for a visa. 

The index uses data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) to award passports one point for each country their holders can visit without having to obtain a pre-departure visa, such as in countries where travel authorisations can be made on arrival. Likewise, for each country where a pre-arranged visa is required, the passport is given zero points.

While Henley’s official ranking is published at the start of each year in January, the ranking is updated quarterly to reflect changes in immigration legislation.

Dutch passport is the third most powerful in the world

In 2024, the Dutch passport came in joint third place alongside Ireland, Denmark and Austria. The Netherlands was also in fourth place last year, although now has a score of 192 - compared to last year’s 189. 

Holders of Dutch passports only need pre-departure visas for 34 nations and territories - these include a range of countries such as Russia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, India and Azerbaijan, among others. 

The countries that came out on top of the ranking - in joint first place - were France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore and Spain. By contrast, countries with the least powerful passports included Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan and Yemen.

Top 10 most powerful passports in the world

According to the Henley passport index, these are the countries with the most powerful passports in 2024:

• 1. France (Joint first place)
• 2. Germany (Joint first place)
• 3. Italy (Joint first place)
• 4. Japan (Joint first place)
• 5. Singapore (Joint first place)
• 6. Spain (Joint first place)
• 7. Finland (Joint second place)
• 8. South Korea (Joint second place)
• 9. Sweden (Joint second place)
• 10. Austria (Joint third place)

For the full ranking and more information about the methodology, see the Henley Passport Index.