When taking current coronavirus-related border closures into account, a German passport currently gives you visa-free or visa-upon-arrival access to 134 destinations. This makes it the most powerful passport in the world right now, according to Arton Capital’s Passport Index, a ranking of the world’s passports in order of the number of destinations their holders can access without obtaining a visa prior to arrival.

Unlike the Henley Passport Index, which placed Japan’s passport at the top of its 2021 rankings for the third consecutive year on January 5, Arton Capital’s Passport Index updates its rankings in real time as new visa waivers and changes are implemented, showing the current effect COVID-19 travel bans have on global mobility right now.

Sweden, Finland, Spain, and New Zealand follow closely behind Germany in joint second place with visa-free access to 133 destinations currently. Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland tie for third place with access to 132 destinations each. With current COVID-19 travel restrictions in place, the United States doesn’t make an appearance until 19th on the list, with visa-free access to just 103 destinations currently.

Afghanistan and Iraq are currently at the bottom of the rankings at 78th place with access to only 30 destinations. Syria and Somalia ranked only slightly higher with each providing access to 33 destinations.

World’s most powerful passports according to the Passport Index by Arton Capital

Germany (134 destinations)
Sweden, Finland, Spain, New Zealand (133 destinations)
Denmark, Norway, Switzerland (132 destinations)
Netherlands, France, Portugal, Austria, Luxembourg, Italy, Greece, Ireland, United Kingdom (131 destinations)
Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, Japan, South Korea (130 destinations)
Slovenia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Iceland (129 destinations)
Malta, Slovakia, Australia (128 destinations)
Cyprus, Liechtenstein (127 destinations)
Croatia, Romania (126 destinations)
Bulgaria (125 destinations)

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