Australia retains top 10 passport ranking despite global shake-up
'Hassle-free access to 183 countries means less friction.'
Australians can still travel to 183 destinations without needing a visa, with the nation's passport retaining its place among the world's most powerful despite a major reshuffle in the latest global rankings.
Australia held onto seventh place in the July 2026 Henley Passport Index, sharing the position with Canada, Malaysia, and New Zealand.
The annual index, which measures visa-free access around the world, showed significant movement elsewhere in the rankings, while Australia's position remained unchanged.
Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) CEO Dean Long said the Henley Passport Index showed how important international agreements were to travel mobility.
"Australia's passport strength is a real asset for our travel sector, not just a talking point," Mr Long said.
"Hassle-free, visa-free access to 183 countries means less friction, less cost and less time lost for Australians travelling abroad, and that flows straight through to demand for our travel agents and tour operators.
"It's also a quiet reminder of the diplomatic and trade relationships working in the background to keep Australians moving freely around the world."
As of July 2026, Australian passport holders need visas to visit 42 countries.
Australians require visas to visit these countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iraq, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Vietnam and Yemen.
Global power
Singapore continues to hold first place in the ranking with visa-free access to 192 nations.
The United Arab Emirates has also emerged as the breakout superpower of the year, climbing three places since January to join Japan and South Korea in equal second spot with a score of 188.
The Henley Passport Index creator Dr Christian Kaelin said the datasets reveal a "profound shift" in the nature of global power.
"Twenty years of data show that passport power is one of the clearest expressions of a country's geopolitical capital. It reflects far more than peace or prosperity alone," Dr Kaelin said.
"The world's strongest passports belong to nations that other countries want as partners - for trade, investment, security, or cooperation.
"Mobility is ultimately a measure of the value other countries place on their relationship with you."
The data also shows a widening divide between the most and least mobile global citizens.
The gap between the lowest-ranked nation, Afghanistan, and Singapore has widened from 118 destinations in 2006 to 170 destinations in 2026.
"For twenty years, we have measured how nations build freedom of movement for their citizens," Dr Kaelin said.
"Today, we are witnessing the same shift in how families think about their future.
"They recognise that true wealth is no longer defined solely by financial capital, but by the freedom to choose where they and future generations can live, work, study, invest, and belong.
"In an increasingly uncertain world, the greatest privilege is no longer simply the freedom to travel - it is the freedom to choose, to have access rights."
Anna Houlahan is a journalist for Explore and the Senior. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
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