Henley Passport Index 2024

About Henley Passport Index

• It is the original, authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. 
• It started in 2006 as the Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index (HVRI).
• The index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the largest, most accurate travel information database, and enhanced by Henley & Partners’ research team. (Henley & Partners is a London-based advisory firm).
• The index includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.
• The number of countries that a specific passport can access becomes its visa-free 'score'.
• Highlights of Henley Passport Index 2024:
  • France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain hold the top spot as the world's most powerful passports, allowing visa-free entry to 194 global destinations.
  • The top 10 is largely dominated by European countries.
  • The average number of destinations travellers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled, from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024. 
  • India's passport ranked 80th in the list, with citizens allowed to travel to 62 countries without a visa.
  • Afghanistan occupies the bottom spot on the list, with access to just 28 countries without a visa.
  • Syria, with visa-free access to only 29 destinations, holds the second-lowest position, followed by Iraq with 31 and Pakistan with 34.
  • The United Arab Emirates was the fastest climber over the past decade, jumping to 11th place and offering access to 183 destinations without a visa.

Q1) What is the International Air Transport Association (IATA)?

IATA is an international trade body founded in 1945 by a group of airlines. Today, IATA represents some 300 airlines comprising 94% of the international scheduled air traffic. The organisation also represents, leads and serves the airline industry in general.

Source: 6 countries share top spot for most powerful passports. Check India's rank