There’s been a big shake-up at the top of the Henley Passport Index at the release of their mid-year rankings.
The index counts the number of countries a passport provides visa-free travel to, based on International Air Transport Association data, and uses it to determine the world’s most powerful.
The new quarterly report comes from London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley and Partners.
While six countries were tied for first place at the start of the year, one nation has pulled ahead to record heights.
1. Singapore
Breaking away from the pack, and reaching a record height of visa-free travel is Singapore.
Citizens of the city-state can now access 195 travel destinations out of 227 around the world visa-free.
2. France
And rounding out second place is France.
2. Italy
Italy also made it into second place.
2. Germany
The economic powerhouse Germany moved up to joint second place too.
3. Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, South Korea
Competition for the best passport grew stiffer at the top end of the ranking.
Seven nations tied for third place with visa-free access to 191 countries.
4. New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, UK
A half-dozen countries were all ranked in equal fourth place in the mid-year rankings.
They are all able to access 190 countries without a visa, or with a visa on arrival.
5. Australia, Portugal
Australia has improved its ranking to sit at number five alongside Portugal.
Aussies can travel visa-free to 189 destinations.
6. Greece, Poland
Greece and Poland sit in equal sixth place on Henley’s Passport Index.
(Sources 9News)
