Dutch passport ranked as sixth-best in the world

The Henley Passport Index has ranked the Dutch passport as joint-sixth in the world, along with France, Ireland, Portugal, and Sweden. 

The 2021 Henley Passport Index

Every year, the Henley Passport Index examines 199 passports from around the world, looking at their visa-free access to 227 travel destinations. Each country is then awarded points depending on how easily holders of that passport are able to travel internationally. 

Passports are awarded one point for every country they can travel to without requiring a visa, or if the traveller can obtain a visa upon arrival, a visitors permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) when arriving at their destination. On the other hand, for every destination where a visa or pre-departure government approval is required, the passport received zero points.

Dutch passport named sixth-best in the world

For the second year in a row, the Netherlands achieved a very respectable sixth place with 188 points, slightly higher than the country’s scores in 2020 (186). While this may not be the best ranking the country has ever achieved - the Netherlands made it to third place in 2011 - 2015 - it is the highest score the country has ever had. 

This score means that any traveller with a Dutch passport can travel to a whopping 188 countries without having to apply for a visa before departure. The same can be said for France, Ireland, Sweden, and Portugal.

The best (and worst) passports in the world

According to the 2021 Henley Passport Index, the best passports in the world are:

1. Japan (193)
2. Singapore (192)
3. South Korea and Germany (191)
4. Italy, Finland, Spain, and Luxembourg (190)
5. Denmark and Austria (189)
6. The Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, and Ireland (188)
7. Switzerland, USA, UK, Belgium, and New Zealand (187)
8. Norway, Greece, Malta, and the Czech Republic (186)
9. Canada and Australia (185)
10. Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary, and Poland (183)

And these are the worst:

1. Afghanistan (26)
2. Iraq (28)
3. Syria (29)
4. Pakistan (32)
5. Yemen (33)
6. Somalia (34)
7. Palestinian Territory (37)
8. Nepal (38)
9. North Korea (39)
10. Libya and Kosovo (40)

For more information, visit the Henley & Partners website.