Singapore trails Japan in global passport power

It has a total of 190 visa-free destinations.

Singapore placed second in this year’s Henley Passport Index, recording a visa-free, or visa-on-arrival score of 190 destinations, according to a press release. Singapore was only short of one destination from Japan, which secured the top spot for the third consecutive year registering a total of 191 destinations available for Japanese passport holders without prior visa.

Meanwhile, South Korea dropped a rank, but still ended in the 3rd place alongside Germany with a score of 189. Completing the top 5 were Finland, and Italy in 4th place with a score of 188, whilst Denmark, Luxembourg, and Spain together hold 5th place, with a score of 187.

Asian countries’ dominance of the top spots is a testament to the benefits of the implementation of open-door policies and mutually beneficial trade agreements, according to Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept.

Rankings for the passport index were based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).