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The latest Henley Passport Index is out, revealing the world's most powerful passports as of January 2026. Once again, Singapore has claimed the top spot, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 192 destinations worldwide. Meanwhile, Australia is tied for seventh position (down one spot since this time last year), granting us visa-free access to 182 countries. But where exactly can Singapore passport holders travel that Aussies can’t? Let’s find out.
To start with, both Singapore and Australian passport holders need a visa to enter 14 countries, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Libya, Mali, Nauru, Niger, North Korea, Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Yemen. We’re also in the same boat for another 16 destinations that require an e-visa, including Bhutan, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, India, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Togo and Uganda.
There are a couple of quirky differences, though. Australians need an e-visa to visit Iraq, while Singaporeans need to obtain a visa before arriving. Then, on the flip side, Singaporeans need an e-visa for Russia, while Australians must apply for a visa in advance.
Where things really start to diverge is with visa-free access. In April 2025, Brazil reinstated visa requirements for Australian citizens, ending a long-standing visa exemption. That means Aussies now need a visa before arriving, while Singapore passport holders can still enter Brazil without one. The same goes for Ghana, where Singapore passport holders are visa-exempt for stays of up to 90 days, while Aussies need to organise a visa before travelling.
On top of that, Australians need an e-visa for 11 destinations that Singaporeans can enter either visa-free or with a visa on arrival. These include Azerbaijan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Gabon, Guinea, Malawi, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam – a big reason Singapore’s passport continues to outrank Australia’s.
That said, there are a few places where Australians have the edge. Singaporeans need visas to visit the Falkland Islands and Venezuela, while Australians can travel to both visa-free. Singapore passport holders also require an e-visa for Bolivia and Ukraine, whereas Aussies don’t. You can compare the Australian passport to other countries around the world using the Henley Passport Index here.
These are the 10 most powerful passports in the world in 2026
- Singapore (192 destinations)
- Japan, South Korea (188)
- Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (186)
- Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway (185)
- Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates (184)
- Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Malta, New Zealand, Poland (183)
- Australia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, United Kingdom (182)
- Canada, Iceland, Lithuania (181)
- Malaysia (180)
- United States (179)