The Singaporean passport is the most powerful in the world to have in May 2024, opening to its holders the doors to visit numerous countries visa-free, followed by the Italian and Spanish ones, which are very close in power in the VisaGuide Passport Index.
According to the newest May update of the Index, Singaporeans can travel completely visa-free to 159 world countries, while they need an electronic travel authorization to enter only nine. A visa on arrival is required for another 27, and an electronic visa for entering 12.
The Index further points out that Singaporeans need a traditional visa to enter the following 19 countries:
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Falkland Islands
- Iraq
- Liberia
- Mali
- Nauru
- Niger
- North Korea
- Sudan
- Syria
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Venezuela
- Yemen
Singapore’s passport has for months now been amongst the top three most powerful in the world, often changing positions due to the evolving visa-free travel politics worldwide, with many countries, like China, opening borders to others, in a bid to revive post-pandemic tourism.
9 EU Passports Amongst World’s 10 Best to Have in May 2024
The world’s second-best passport to have now is the Italian one, which once was listed only the best. Due to ongoing changes in visa-free travel in the world, the Italian passport is now second, with its holders needing a traditional visa to enter only 17 other countries in the world, just like Spaniards, whose passport is listed third, VisaGuide.World reports.
Italians can, however, enter completely visa-free 107 countries, and without a passport at all, as many as 44. Spaniards, on the other hand, can visit visa-free 106 countries, and passport-free 43.
According to Besart Bajrami, founder of VisaGuide.World, the European passports have once proved that they are unbeatable when it comes to passport power.
With the majority of European passports occupying the top positions in the VisaGuide Passport Index, it is undeniable that having an EU passport is an unmatched privilege for avid travelers.
The list of world’s top ten best passports to have now is as follows:
| Country Name | Passport Score | Passport Rank | Visa Free | eTA | Passport Free | VOA | eVisa | Visa Required | Entry Ban |
| Singapore | 91.15 | 1st | 159 | 9 | 0 | 27 | 12 | 19 | 0 |
| Italy | 90.49 | 2nd | 107 | 10 | 44 | 28 | 20 | 17 | 0 |
| Spain | 90.48 | 3rd | 106 | 11 | 43 | 29 | 20 | 17 | 0 |
| France | 90.45 | 4th | 105 | 11 | 46 | 27 | 20 | 17 | 0 |
| Germany | 90.37 | 5th | 107 | 11 | 43 | 28 | 20 | 17 | 0 |
| Hungary | 90.24 | 6th | 101 | 11 | 43 | 31 | 22 | 18 | 0 |
| Austria | 90.15 | 7th | 105 | 10 | 42 | 31 | 20 | 18 | 0 |
| Ireland | 90.10 | 8th | 114 | 10 | 32 | 32 | 21 | 17 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 90.05 | 9th | 108 | 10 | 42 | 28 | 21 | 17 | 0 |
| Belgium | 90.00 | 10th | 109 | 10 | 42 | 26 | 21 | 18 | 0 |
Japan Has the World’s 14th Best Passport, 2nd in Asia
Once ranked amongst the most powerful at the very top of the index, Japan now ranks 14th, with its passport giving Japanese nationals visa-free access to 143 countries. The Japanese can also travel with an electronic authorization to 10 world countries, with a visa on arrival to 36, and with an electronic visa to 18.
A traditional visa is required for travel to Afghanistan, Algeria, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nauru, Niger, and North Korea.