UK Passports More Valuable Since Brexit

How Does a British Passport Compare to Other Countries?

The Henley Passport Index is an annual research project that evaluates the relative power of passports from 199 countries. It determines how many locations each passport allows its holders to access visa-free or with visa-on-arrival, creating a global ranking.

In 2022, Japan and Singapore top the list, with a passport that boasts access to 192 locations. They are followed by Germany and South Korea, each accessing 190 locations. At the bottom of the list is Afghanistan, whose citizens have access to just 26 locations.

The British passport has always ranked relatively high in these listings — in 2006, it ranked number three, and in 2010, it topped the list. However, its relative power has begun to wane, and in 2022’s list, it ranks at joint number six alongside the United States, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand, and Belgium.

However, it is important to note that this is a relative ranking. Brits’ access to international locations has actually grown in the last few years, meaning passport holders now have access to 186 locations across the globe, whereas, in 2016, they could access just 175.