interviews: Maximiliano Crocamo
Italy ranks fourth in the world for passport strength this year, according to the 2026 Henley Passport Index, which measures the number of destinations travelers can enter without obtaining a visa in advance.
Italian passport holders can travel to 186 destinations without a prior visa, placing Italy in a group of 10 European countries tied for fourth place. Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain share the same ranking.
Singapore remains at the top of the index, with access to 192 destinations. Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates share second place with 188 destinations, while Sweden ranks third with access to 187.
The 2026 ranking marks a slight change from 2025, when Italy shared third place with Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland and Spain, with access to 189 destinations.
Europe continues to dominate the upper reaches of the ranking. Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal and Switzerland are tied for fifth place, while the United Kingdom ranks seventh.
The United States is in 10th place, with access to 180 destinations. Henley & Partners said both the United States and Britain have experienced a significant decline in passport mobility over the past decade. The U.S. has fallen six places from fourth in 2006, while the British passport has dropped four places from third.
The Henley Passport Index, now in its 20th year, covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations and is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association. The index is updated monthly, meaning rankings and visa-access figures can change during the year.
At the bottom of the 2026 ranking is Afghanistan, whose passport provides access to the fewest destinations without a prior visa.
Despite the changes near the top, the latest index underscores the continued dominance of European passports among the world’s most mobile, with Italy remaining firmly in the global top tier.
