In this post, I’m looking at the top 10 best passports to have for 2020. Using a passport ranking index, I’m able to look at the best passports that let you be visa-free or, at least, at a minimum, let travelers get access to a country. Having one of the top passports in the world is a powerful tool.

I’m using data from Henley Passport Index. The Henley Passport Index is the first ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. Take a look at their website.

Since 2006 most countries have significantly gained more access to the world. The top countries gained access to at least 50 plus countries 14 years ago, while some countries have gained over 80 countries in that time frame!

Japan stands alone in 2020 with access to a whopping 191 countries. This is quite an accomplishment with 63 new countries that are now visa-free for Japanese citizens since 2006. That is a powerful passport and proof that Japanese citizens are welcomed throughout the world. The countries that list Japan needing a visa in 2020 are 27.

However, there is also the problem of the current coronavirus pandemic, and about 20 countries have put restrictions on Japanese tourists during this pandemic. However, after this pandemic is over, Japan should go back as the country with the most ease of access in the world.

A gain of 63 since 2006

Not far behind Japan is Singapore, with visa-free access to 190 countries. It’s interesting that compared to Japan, there are several countries that Singaporeans have access to while the Japanese don’t and vice-versa. For instance, Singaporeans have access to the country of Burundi, while Japanese citizens do not. It just goes to show you every country has different relationships with foreign countries.

Because of the coronavirus, as of right now, Singapore has the best passport in the world. Also, like Japan, Singaporeans are one of four countries with visa-free access to the world’s largest economies, China, Europe, India, and the United States.

A gain of 68 countries since 2006

Our first European country to makes the list and also another Asian country! Germany and South Korea are tied in the passport rankings with visa-free access to 189 countries. However, both countries are currently facing some restrictions due to the current coronavirus pandemic.

Germany has traditionally had a strong passport ranking and is usually near the top of the list. Another benefit of the German passport is in terms of travel freedom, with the mobility index of 160 (out of 215 with no visa weighted by 1, visa on arrival weighted by 0.7, eVisa by 0.5 and traditional visa weighted by 0), Germany is on top of the list. In recent years Germany has gained with countries lifting their visa requirements.

South Korea has also added to its visa-free list, up from 2 from 2019. As of 2018, South Korea also holds the distinction along with Brunei and Chile as only ones to provide visa-free access to all G8 countries. South Korea has seven countries that it does not permit its citizens to visit.

Germany – A gain of 60 countries since 2006
Singapore – A gain of 67 countries since 2006

Our next two countries are tied at number four, and they are Finland and Italy. Both European countries also have high travel freedom thanks to being in the European Union. Like the rest of the world, Italy, in particular, is suffering from travel restrictions due to the coronavirus.

Finland has enjoyed a strong passport ranking for many years and is one of the top countries with freedom of movement. It now has topped most other European counterparts, including Sweden and Norway. Finland was number in 2006.

Italy also has enjoyed stability on the passport ranking index and has gained two from 2019. However, the coronavirus has hit Italy hard in 2020, and although Italy sits at number 4, for the time being, they’re further down the list until this pandemic pasts.

Finland – A gain of 58 countries since 2006
Italy – A gain of 60 countries since 2006

At number 5, we have three countries with visa-free access to 187 countries. These are all European and have traditionally ranked high in the passport rankings. Denmark and Luxembourg also join countries above of having the top spot in freedom of movement.

Denmark’s passport is a compelling case since they have three different types of passports. One to represent Denmark, one for Greenland, and one for the Faroese Island. All have the same access but are represented with different covers on the passport. Denmark was number 1 in 2006.

Luxembourg has enjoyed a stable time on the passport index and has crept up one country from 2018. Luxembourg has been a top 10 country for quite some time.

Spain has usually been in the top 5 countries and like these other countries have gained about ten new countries in the last five years. However, in terms of ranking, it has dropped from 3rd to 5th.

Denmark – A gain of 57 countries since 2006
Luxembourg – A gain of 62 countries since 2006
Spain – A gain of 60 countries since 2006

In 6th place, we again have two European countries. I think we are seeing a trend in the world ranking with European countries dominating. The current theme is that these countries once scored higher but have dropped in passport ranking scores even if they have gained more countries.

France has placed better in the past with last year ranking 4th with the same amount of countries. In 2018 they were at 3rd with 188 countries, so, in recent years, France has lost access to two countries.

Sweden follows the same route as France, with recent years scoring better than this year. There was one time that Sweden was up in 2nd place but with only 175 countries with visa-free access. This year it sits in 6th but with more visa-free countries on its list.

France – A gain of 58 countries since 2006
Sweden – A gain of 57 countries since 2006

Now we are getting to the point of the list where several countries are bunching up like in 7th place. Here we have five countries sitting with 185 countries that are visa-free access, and they are all European countries. All of these countries have once scored higher in ranking but gained countries even from 3 years ago.

Austria has remained in the top 10 ever since the list was first published and in the middle of the top 10. Still, like all these countries on this list, it has gained a lot of new countries over the past ten years.

Ireland follows closely with Austria and has always been a near top country or at least in the top 10. 10 years ago, Ireland had access to 159 countries, and ten years later has gained another 26 countries in 10 years.

The Netherlands, Portugal & Switzerland all have started in the bottom part of the top 10 passport rankings back in 2006 and has remained in the top 10 ever since. These countries have steadily gained countries throughout the years but have remained in the mid to bottom part of the top 10 for those 14 years.

Austria – A gain of 60 countries since 2006
Ireland – A gain of 56 countries since 2006
The Netherlands – A gain of 59 countries since 2006
Portugal – A gain of 62 countries since 2006
Switzerland – A gain of 58 countries since 2006

European countries continue to dominate the top 10, with four more countries being added in the 8th spot. Europe does have excellent access to a large number of countries because it sits in a union. The first North American country, the United States, shows up on the list.

The four European countries on this list have all started and remained in the top ten ever since the passport rankings have come out.
Belgium and Norway started in the 4th and have since slid down to 8, but like others gained a significant amount of visa-free countries since then.

Now the United Kingdom and the United States have traditionally had a high ranking with the United States at number 1 way back in 2006 but have now since slid to 8th due to new restrictions on other countries like Cuba and North Korea. We may see the UK drop even further in the rankings after this year because of them pulling out of the European Union, but most likely, they’ll still have visa-free access.

Greece has remained around the 8th and 9th spot 14 years later.

Belgium – A gain of 57 countries since 2006
Greece – A gain of 64 countries since 2006
Norway – A gain of 57 countries since 2006
The United Kingdom – A gain of 56 countries since 2006
The United States – A gain of 54 countries since 2006

In the 9th spot, we see a variety of countries from around the world, including one from North America, two from Europe and two from Oceania.

Czechia or the Czech Republic and Malta are the real winners in this list, with both of them having risen from out of the top ten 14 years ago. The Czechia or the Czech Republic was down in the 21st spot while Malta was 11th.

Australia has remained the same but has gained new visa-free countries.

Canada and New Zealand both have moved down three spots in the rankings but have still gained a respectable number of countries.

Australia – A gain of 63 countries since 2006
Canada – A gain of 58 countries since 2006
Czechia – A gain of 85 countries since 2006
Malta – A gain of 68 countries since 2006
New Zealand – A gain of 58 countries since 2006

And finally, we end the top ten with more countries from the European Union. All of these countries have jumped considerably from the first time this list was published to make it to the top 10.

Lithuania has seen the most significant jump on this list starting way back in 24th in 2006 to now be in the top 10.

Slovakia started a little further ahead in the 22nd spot.
And finally, Hungary was in the 19th position. So we have five countries to jump into the top 10 since this list was first published.

Hungary – A gain of 80 countries since 2006
Lithuania – A gain of 87 countries since 2006
Slovakia – A gain of 84 countries since 2006

2020 is a weird time for travel as we are amid a pandemic. And many of these current passports on the top ten do not have access to countries they once had access to. It will take time for this pandemic to pass and for things to return to normal, hopefully.

However, with all that said, we can see the best passports to have on this passport ranking list. Most of these countries have been near the top since the Henley Passport Index first began. It’s also clear that the world is becoming more open with all these countries significantly gaining in visa-free access.

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If you’re traveling with a passport make sure you keep your passport safe. Below I have a few items that will help protect you while you travel.