The Most Powerful Passports in the World

It’s not just the color of the outside or the number of pages inside a passport that distinguish the document in each country. Some passports are just more powerful. Whether citizens are able to flash their passport and breeze past customs or if it’s easy to get a visa upon arrival, every single country’s passport has its own unique set of regulations.

Related: The ID You'll Need to Bring to the Airport in 2018 Depending on Your StatePassport Index, which ranks the world's passports each year to identify which are the most powerful, released their most recent rankings in October. Several countries tie each other (which is why more than one country will be ranked “6,” for example) in the global access they provide their passport holders. To get into the top 25, a country must rank at least as the seventh most powerful.Here are the 25 most powerful passports in the world.

7. MALTA

A passport from Malta allows for entry into 156 countries without a visa.

7. CZECH REPUBLIC

Members of the Czech Republic are tied for seventh most powerful passport in the world.

7. AUSTRALIA

Australians can use their passport to get into 156 countries without a visa, making it a three-way tie for seventh most powerful in the world.

6. MALAYSIA

Malaysia's passport power is ranked at 6.

7. GREECE

A Greek passport gives residents visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 157 countriesin the world.

5. CANADA

Canada ties with four other countries for having the fifth most powerful passport in the world.

5. UNITED STATES

What may seem surprising to many Americans is that their passport is only the fifth most powerful in the world — and it’s tied with four other countries for that place.

5. IRELAND

Ireland also has the fifth most powerful passport in the world.

5. SWITZERLAND

Switzerland gives its citizens the fifth most powerful passport in the world.

4. UNITED KINGDOM

Back in 2015, the U.K. had one of the most powerful passports in the world. It has since dropped to a tied fourth place as other countries have begun relaxing their visa requirements.

4. PORTUGAL

The Portuguese can visit 159 countries around the world without a visa, garnering them the title of fourth most powerful passport.

4. AUSTRIA

Austrians have the fourth most powerful passport in the world.

4. BELGIUM

Belgian citizens can flash their passports at 159 countries and get visa-free access

4. NETHERLANDS

The Dutch can get into 159 countries without a visa.

4. NORWAY

Norway also tied for fourth most powerful passport in the world.

4. LUXEMBOURG

Luxembourg is one of seven countries to have the fourth most powerful passport in the world.

3. SPAIN

Spain gives its citizens the third most powerful passport in the world.

3. FRANCE

French citizens can go to 160 countries around the world without a visa with their third most powerful passport.

3. ITALY

Italians tied for third most powerful passport.

3. FINLAND

Finland’s passport tied with six other countries as the third most powerful in the world.

3. SWEDEN

Sweden is also in third. The Swedish passport gets citizens into 160 countries around the world without a visa.

3. DENMARK

Denmark has the third most powerful passport in the world.

2. JAPAN

The Japanese passport will get its citizens into 161 countries around the world without a visa.

2. GERMANY

German residents are owners of the second most powerful passports in the world. Germans can visit 161 countries around the world without needing a visa.

1. SOUTH KOREA

South Korea now has the most powerful passport in the world, tying Singaport

1. SINGAPORE

With access to 162 countries, either visa-free or by obtaining a visa upon arrival, Singapore residents can claim their titles as owners of the most powerful passport in the world.