Click to Skip Ad
Closing in...

The most powerful passports in the world

Published Mar 27th, 2016 11:30AM EDT
Passport Index
Image: sean hobson

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

One might reasonably and understandably assume that all passports are created equal, which is to say that a passport from most any country will provide a consistent level of travel access across all corners of the globe. The laws governing international travel, however, are much more nuanced than you might otherwise assume. In truth, the country associated with a given passport can have a significant impact on the degree of travel freedom a passport holder can enjoy.

The following list, which was originally compiled by Arton Capital, highlights which countries offer travelers the most expansive travel options without requiring a visa for entry.

DON’T MISS: See how the iPhone SE stacks up against the iPhone 6s and iPhone 5s

Access to 147 countries

  • U.K.
  • United States

Access to 145 countries

  • South Korea
  • Germany
  • France

Access to 144 countries

  • Italy
  • Sweden

Access to 143 countries

  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Finland
  • Denmark
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands

Access to 142 countries

  • Switzerland
  • Canada

Access to 141 countries

  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Belgium
  • Portugal
  • Norway
  • Spain

As for which countries have the most restrictive passports, the least powerful passports are:

Access to 28 countries

  • Myanmar
  • Solomon Islands
  • Palestinian Territories
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • South Sudan

Access to 38 countries

  • Iraq
  • Afghanistan
  • Nepal
  • Ethiopia
  • Djibouti

Access to 39 countries

  • Somalia
  • Eritrea

Access to 40 countries

  • Burundi
  • Haiti
  • Bhutan
  • Comoros
  • Equatorial Guinea
Yoni Heisler Contributing Writer

Yoni Heisler has been writing about Apple and the tech industry at large with over 15 years of experience. A life long expert Mac user and Apple expert, his writing has appeared in Edible Apple, Network World, MacLife, Macworld UK, and TUAW.

When not analyzing the latest happenings with Apple, Yoni enjoys catching Improv shows in Chicago, playing soccer, and cultivating new TV show addictions.