World's most powerful passports in 2023 revealed; Where does Qatar stand?

Doha: Henley Passport Index, based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association, for the year 2023 is released. 

Comparing 199 different passports with visa-free access to 227 travel destination, Henley Passport Index is considered to be authoritative ranking of all world's passports. 

Japan is ranked as the world's most powerful passport, giving access to 193 global destinations, while Singapore and South Korea shared the second spot with passport holders being able to freely visit 192 countries. They are followed by Germany and Spain. 

Countries like France, Ireland, Portugal and the United Kingdom are tied at the sixth spot with a visa-free score of 187.

Meanwhile the United States, Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Czech Republic and Switzerland are tied at the seventh position with regard to the most powerful passports in the world with a visa-free score of 186.

China’s passport allows access to 80, the same as Bolivia’s. Russia’s is better, providing hassle-free entry to 118 destinations, while Afghanistan’s remained the weakest, with access to just 27. 

Qatar's ranking

Qatar has been ranked 55th in 2023 with visa-free access to 100 destinations. Earlier in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the country ranked at 57th spot, 54th, 60th and 57th respectively.

The Henley analysts anticipate that Qatar will be one of its success stories in the upcoming year as it is expected to finalise a visa-free deal with the EU this year which will dramatically enhance its passport index scores, as "passport holders will be granted visa-free access to all 27 EU member states". 

Commenting in the Henley Global Mobility Report 2023 Q1, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, Dr. Robert Mogielnicki, says they [Qatar and Kuwait] are “poised for strong and much improved economic performances. Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup provided an unparalleled opportunity to market the small Gulf country to a global audience and the World Bank anticipates Kuwait’s growth to accelerate to 8.5% alongside a strong performance in the non-oil sectors.”

Here are the World's top 10 most powerful passports:

Rank  -  Country (Visa-free score)
1 - Japan  (193)
2 - Singapore, South Korea  (192)
3 - Germany, Spain (190)
4 - Finland, Italy, Luxembourg (189)
5 - Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden (188)
6 - France, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom (187)
7 - Belgium, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United States (186)
8 - Australia, Canada, Greece, Malta (185)
9 - Poland, Hungary (184)
10 - Lithuania, Slovakia (183)