World’s Most Powerful Passports: Which Passport Is More Travel-Friendly British Or Spanish?

PEOPLE with the greatest access to the world are, surprisingly or not, citizens in East Asia.

Japan and Singapore have the most travel-friendly passports, according to the Henley Passport Index, underscoring the global shifts in economic power. Both countries’ passports offer access to 190 countries.

That said, owners of Spanish passports don’t fare too badly either, allowing entry into 187 countries and travel destinations without a visa (or with a visa on arrival or an e-Visa; that is, those that do not require prior arrangements at a consulate and are more of a financial tax than a barrier to entry). Leaving 39 other destinations needing visa applications.

This ranking makes the Spanish passport the fifth best passport for a traveller. A position shared with Luxembourg and Denmark and ahead of countries like France, Holland, Sweden or Switzerland. The Spanish travel-friendly passport is a reflection on the good relations and international stability invoked by Spain.

The United Kingdom, facing a looming Brexit date from the European Union shares the No. 6 position with the United States and seven other countries, with these citizens able to travel to 184 countries visa-free. The ranking for the U.S. is its lowest position since 2010, and a significant decline from its No. 1 ranking in 2014.