Swiss passport holders gain more visa-free entry than US travellers worldwide

Switzerland's passport is the eighth most powerful in the world for visa-free travel, according to a study by Passport Reports. The United Arab Emirates took first place, while the United States failed to reach the top 10.

Key facts

• First place: United Arab Emirates, with visa-free access to 128 countries
• Switzerland: ranked eighth
• United States: ranked 28th, with a mobility score of 153
• Passport Reports produced the top 10 ranking; Travel + Leisure supplied the U.S. figures
• The top 10 is dominated by Asian and European passports

Which passports made the top 10?

Passport holders from the United Arab Emirates can visit 128 countries without a visa and obtain visas on arrival in 35 more, giving the country first place. The UAE recorded a mobility score of 173 out of 200, and its citizens need to apply for visas in advance for only 25 countries, including the United States.

Singapore came second, with visa-free access to 129 countries, although only 24 countries offer visas on arrival to Singaporeans, compared with the UAE. Japan placed third with visa-free access to 114 countries, and Malaysia and South Korea completed the top five.

The rest of the top 10 was made up of European passports: Luxembourg sixth, Spain seventh, Switzerland eighth, Belgium and France ninth, and Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands sharing tenth place.

Where does Switzerland rank?

Switzerland sits in eighth position in the Passport Reports list. The study does not publish separate figures for Switzerland, so the number of destinations Swiss passport holders can enter visa-free is not stated.

How does the U.S. passport compare?

The United States did not make the top 10. Travel + Leisure placed the U.S. passport 28th, with a mobility score of 153. Americans can travel to 111 countries visa-free, need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for 10 and a visa on arrival for 32, while 45 countries require a visa to be arranged in advance.

U.S. passports have been slipping in the index since 2022, when they reached their highest ranking of 12th place.

What this means for travellers

Passport rankings describe how much visa-free access a nationality has, but the rules that apply to any single trip still depend on the destination. Travellers should check the entry requirements for their destination before booking, whatever passport they hold.

No further updates to the ranking have been announced.