The Australian Passport: Now Among the Most Powerful in the World
The Australian passport has climbed the ranks to become one of the top five most powerful in the world, according to the 2024 Henley Passport Index. This prestigious list, compiled by Henley & Partners, evaluates the strength of passports based on the number of destinations their holders can visit without needing a visa. The latest rankings reveal that Australian passport holders can now access 189 destinations either visa-free or with a visa on arrival, placing Australia in joint fifth place alongside Portugal.
The Rise in Power
This new ranking is an improvement from the previous year, when Australia was ranked joint eighth. It is now positioned higher than the United States, which has seen a decline, falling to eighth place from a former position at the top of the list alongside the United Kingdom a decade ago.
The Henley Passport Index uses data from the International Air Transport Authority to compare the visa-free access of passports from 199 nations to 227 destinations worldwide.
Top Contenders
Topping the list is Singapore, with its passport holders able to travel to 195 destinations without prior visa arrangements. This places Singapore at the number one spot, reclaiming it from Japan, which shared the top position with Singapore in 2022 but has now moved to second place. Japan shares this second-place ranking with France, Germany, and Italy, all providing access to 192 destinations visa-free.
Following closely are Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden, all tied in third place with visa-free access to 191 destinations. In fourth place are New Zealand, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, with access to 190 destinations.
The Weakest Passports
At the other end of the spectrum, the Afghan passport ranks the lowest, positioned at 103rd with access to only 26 destinations. This is the lowest score in the 19-year history of the index. Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Pakistan also feature among the weakest, with limited visa-free travel options.
Where Can Australians Travel Without a Visa?
Australian passport holders enjoy extensive travel freedom, especially within the Asia-Pacific region. They can visit countries like Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, New Zealand, Samoa, and Fiji without prior visa requirements.
In Europe, destinations such as the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are accessible visa-free.
African countries including Botswana, The Gambia, Mauritius, South Africa, and Tunisia are also open to Australian travellers without a visa.
In the Americas, Australians can visit Barbados, Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and the United States.
You can see the full list here.
Australia's Openness
While Australians enjoy broad access to other countries, Australia itself ranks relatively low on the Henley Openness Index, which measures how many countries can enter without a visa. Australia ranks 83rd out of 99, allowing visa-free entry to citizens from only 34 countries. This contrasts with the most 'open' nations like Burundi, Cape Verde Islands, Comoros, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Maldives, Micronesia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Samoa, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu, which grant visa-free access to citizens from 198 nations.
As global travel trends continue to evolve, the power of a passport remains a significant indicator of a nation's international mobility. For Australians, the increasing strength of their passport offers more opportunities to explore the world with ease.
*This blog post is based on information from the SBS article titled "The Australian passport is now more powerful. Here's where you can travel visa-free."*
