What are the strongest citizenships?

Asked by: Marisa Halvorson  |  Last update: February 6, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (64 votes)

The strongest citizenships, based on passport power (visa-free access), are led by Singapore, followed closely by Japan, South Korea, and several European nations like Denmark, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden, offering extensive global mobility, while strong overall quality of life and rights are found in countries such as Iceland, Ireland, Finland, and Switzerland, though this varies by index. Strength often combines passport mobility with high living standards, human rights, and economic stability.

Which citizenship is most powerful?

According to the Henley Passport Index, the current most powerful passports in the world are:

  1. 1: Singapore (192 destinations)
  2. 2: South Korea and Japan (188 destinations)
  3. 3: Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland (186 destinations)

What are the 10 strongest passports?

As of early 2026, Singapore holds the #1 spot for the world's strongest passport, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations, followed closely by Japan and South Korea, tied for second, with European nations like Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland dominating the top ranks with extensive visa-free access, according to reports from CNN, The Points Guy, and AFAR citing data from Henley & Partners.
 

What is the #1 passport?

The number 1 passport, according to the Henley Passport Index for 2026, is held by Singapore, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 192 destinations, with Japan and South Korea closely following, while the Passport Index Organization also ranks the UAE passport highly, though rankings vary slightly between indices. These rankings determine passport strength by the number of countries you can visit without a prior visa, with Asian nations generally dominating the top spots. 

Is the USA a strong passport?

Yes, the U.S. passport is generally strong, offering access to many countries, but its ranking has fallen significantly, placing it outside the top 10 in recent major passport indexes (around 10th-12th) due to declining visa-free access compared to other nations like Singapore, Japan, and EU countries, despite holding a high position in the past (tied for #1 in 2014). It provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 180 destinations, but some major countries still require visas, and the U.S. is less reciprocal in its own entry policies.
 

Top 10 Best Citizenships in the World

15 related questions found

What is the hardest passport to get in the world?

Saudi Arabia

Making it the hardest country to get citizenship. Language proficiency is a must, along with reading, writing, and speaking Arabic.

What countries can a U.S. passport not go to?

While no country is completely impossible, the U.S. government effectively bans its citizens from visiting North Korea due to high risks of arrest, and has severe restrictions or bans for many others, including Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Venezuela, Cuba, and several African nations, often under specific travel bans or warnings, requiring special passports or visas, if even possible, and carrying extreme dangers like kidnapping or conflict. 

What is the weakest passport?

10 Countries With The Weakest Passports For 2026

  • Bangladesh.
  • Nepal.
  • Somalia.
  • Pakistan.
  • Yemen.
  • Iraq.
  • Syria.
  • Afghanistan.

How many passports can I own?

How many passports can you have? If your original country's laws allow you to have more than one passport, Meaning that some countries may allow dual or multiple citizenship. There is no certain limit on the citizenships you may have.

What is the most rare passport?

After World War II, the use of the diplomatic passport took on characteristics of passports used in other countries. Today, there are only around 500 of the diplomatic passports in circulation – making it the rarest passport in the world.

Is the U.S. passport getting weaker?

Yes, the U.S. passport's global ranking has weakened over the past decade, falling from the top spot in 2014 to outside the top 10 in recent years (around 10th-12th place by late 2025), reflecting a shift in global mobility, less visa-free access compared to other nations, and differing openness policies, though it still offers substantial travel freedom. This decline signifies a dip in diplomatic influence and reciprocal access, as countries like Singapore and the UAE now offer more visa-free entry, notes Henley & Partners. 

How long is a passport valid?

A U.S. passport is valid for 10 years for adults (age 16 and older) and 5 years for children (under 16), but many countries require your passport to remain valid for at least six months beyond your trip's end date, so check entry requirements before traveling. An adult passport can usually be renewed by mail if it was issued within the last 15 years, but a child's passport (under 16) requires a new application. 

What passport lets you into the most countries?

For the second year in a row, Singapore retains the title of the world's “most powerful” passport, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations. At the other end of the scale, Afghanistan once again ranks last, with passport holders able to travel to just 24 destinations without a prior visa.

Can I be a triple citizen?

Yes, triple citizenship is legal in many countries, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Italy, France, Ireland, Mexico, Brazil, and numerous Caribbean nations. These countries permit citizens to acquire additional nationalities without requiring the loss of an existing one.

Does dual citizenship affect taxes?

Yes, all U.S. citizens must file U.S. tax returns regardless of their second citizenship or where they live. The United States uses citizenship-based taxation, meaning the IRS requires you to report your worldwide income even if you've never lived in the U.S. or hold dual citizenship with another country.

Does citizenship expire?

While citizenship does not expire, it can be revoked in some exceptional circumstances. Grounds for revoking an individual's citizenship depend on the country's laws but can include committing an act of terrorism or treason or obtaining citizenship by fraud.

What is the hardest passport to get?

The hardest passports to get are often for Vatican City, Qatar, and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), due to exclusive requirements like religious roles (Vatican/SMOM) or extreme residency and assimilation demands (Qatar). Other difficult ones include Saudi Arabia, China, and Japan, which have very strict naturalization processes, long residency requirements, or limited pathways, often favoring specific ancestral or professional ties.
 

What is the #1 passport in the world?

As of early 2026, Singapore holds the #1 spot as the world's most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations, closely followed by Japan and South Korea (tied for #2), with European nations like Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland rounding out the top ranks, according to the Henley & Partners Passport Index.
 

Which passport is stronger than the USA?

World's most powerful passports of 2025

Three Asian passports now command the top of the leaderboard: Singapore, with visa-free access to 193 destinations worldwide; South Korea, with access to 190; and Japan, with 189.

What is the hardest country for Americans to visit?

  • Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan, one of the most isolated and tightly controlled countries in Central Asia, is difficult for Americans to visit. ...
  • Afghanistan. ...
  • Belarus. ...
  • Russia. ...
  • Syria. ...
  • Cuba. ...
  • Iran. ...
  • Sudan.

Do any countries not recognize America?

No countries actively refuse to recognize the United States as a sovereign nation, but a few maintain no formal diplomatic relations, primarily: Iran, North Korea, and Bhutan, with Cuba also having had a long history of non-recognition. These nations often have complex political relationships or ideological differences with the U.S., leading to a lack of embassies, although informal interactions can occur, like through third-party nations or specific interest offices. 

What countries do not allow you to become a citizen?

Myanmar and Uruguay are currently the only countries in the world that deny immigrants any path to naturalization.

What country has the strictest immigration laws?

There's no single "strictest," but countries like North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Japan, and Switzerland consistently rank high due to near-impossibility of citizenship, strict lineage/cultural assimilation, or extremely restrictive quotas and long residency requirements. These nations prioritize homogeneity, security, or cultural preservation, making immigration challenging through limited paths, extensive vetting (like local votes in Switzerland or language tests in Japan/Austria), or near-zero naturalization rates, as seen in Qatar. 

What is the easiest country to gain citizenship?

The countries with the easiest requirements and citizenship process include:

  • Argentina.
  • Peru.
  • Paraguay.
  • Germany.
  • Ireland.
  • Canada.
  • Armenia.
  • Portugal.