How do we compare the value of one passport versus another? There are a number of factors in play, when it comes to determining the most valuable passport.

According to the new edition of the Henley Passport Index, the Spanish passport remains in the top five positions on the list, as it now allows you to visit up to 193 countries without the need for a visa.

The report was prepared by the London-based consulting firm Henley & Partners based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In the previous edition, the Spanish passport gave access to 187 countries and was also ranked fifth on the list.

Currently, according to the Henley & Partners list, the most valuable passport in the world is Singapore, which allows travel to 193 countries without the need for a visa, followed closely by Japan and closely followed by Spain, Finland, France, Germany, Italy and South Korea, with free access to 191 destinations.

In joint fourth place, with visa-free access to 190 countries, are Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Undoubtedly, being a citizen of a European country brings a great benefit, since among the 10 most valuable passports in the world ranking are Germany, Italy, Finland, Spain, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Portugal, Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, United Kingdom, Norway, Greece, Belgium, Malta, Slovakia, Lithuania and Hungary.

Meanwhile, the United States and the United Kingdom have regained positions in the rankings. They rank 4th and 6th respectively, although a far cry from the top spot they held in 2015.

Uncertainty in the UK about what travel mobility in Great Britain and Northern Ireland would be like after Brexit meant that the downward trend was maintained in the short term, but has now recovered.

At the bottom of the rankings is, for another year, Afghanistan's passport, as it only allows travel to 27 countries without a visa.

As noted by Christian H. Kaelin, president of Henley & Partner, the study has identified that there is a positive correlation between the freedom to travel and other types of freedoms, from economic to political, and even individual or human freedoms.

The curious note, in this index of the world's most valuable passports, is for the United Arab Emirates passport, which in the last 10 years, has registered one of the biggest comebacks. It has climbed many positions to reach, now in 2023, the 13th place in the ranking.

The 10 most powerful passports in 2023 are:

Meanwhile, the passports with the least powerful are:

Other indexes

The Henley & Partner list is one of many indexes created by different financial companies to classify global passports according to the access they grant provide to their citizens.

The Henley passport index is based on data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations. It is updated in real time throughout the year and as changes in the visa policy take effect.

Another case is the Arton Capital Passport Index, which takes into account the passports of 193 member countries of the United Nations and six territories: ROC Taiwan, Macao (SAR China), Hong Kong (SAR China), Kosovo, Palestinian Territory and the Vatican. The territories annexed to other countries are excluded from the list.

Arton Capital's index places the United Arab Emirates at the top with a "no visa score" of 180 points, followed by Sweden, Germany, Finland, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland with 176 points.