Greek Passport has once again secured a place among the world’s most powerful, ranking in the fourth-highest group globally in the 2026 Henley Passport Index.
With visa-free access to 185 out of 227 destinations tracked by the index, it remains one of the strongest travel documents worldwide, offering Greek citizens greater mobility and fewer bureaucratic barriers when crossing borders.
Greek passport in a strong European bloc
The 2026 results confirm that Greece continues to benefit from the overall strength of European travel privileges.
It shares its position with several of Europe’s most influential countries, including Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway.
This grouping highlights how closely aligned many European nations remain in terms of global access, driven by stable diplomatic relationships and longstanding international cooperation.
The countries leading the global passport race
At the very top of the global ranking sits Singapore, which leads the index with visa-free access to 192 destinations.
Japan and South Korea follow in joint second place, each with access to 188 destinations, while third place is held by Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, all reaching 186 destinations.
Greece sits just one destination behind that tier, reinforcing its position within the world’s travel elite.
UAE’s rapid rise reshapes the top tier
One of the most notable developments in the 2026 ranking is the continued rise of the United Arab Emirates, now placed in the fifth-highest group with 184 destinations.
Henley & Partners describes this as the most dramatic long-term rise in the index’s 20-year history, noting that the UAE has added 149 destinations since 2006 through sustained diplomatic efforts and expanded global engagement.
US and UK passports lose ground
In contrast, the index records a decline for traditional powerhouses. The United Kingdom posted the steepest annual drop, losing visa-free access to eight destinations in a single year. The United States ranked 10th, with access to 179 destinations, after losing seven over the past 12 months.
Over the past two decades, the US has fallen six places in the global standings, reflecting how shifts in international relations and policy can reshape travel access even for the most established countries.
Greek passport highlights how the global mobility gap widens for the least powerful passports
At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan remains the least powerful passport, with visa-free access to only 24 destinations. Syria and Iraq follow with 26 and 29 destinations respectively, underscoring a widening global mobility gap.
The difference between the top-ranked passport and the lowest now amounts to 168 destinations, a stark reminder that freedom of movement remains deeply unequal across the world.
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