Canada outranks U.S. passport in global index

The Canadian passport continues to lead the U.S. passport in global mobility, according to a global index.

As of July 21, the Canadian passport ranks seventh in the Henley Passport Index, while the US passport ranks 10th.

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Since January 2026, Canada has climbed from eighth to seventh place, while the U.S. has stayed at 10th place.

The Canadian passport has remained in the top 10 since the index launched in 2006, peaking at second place in 2014 before settling into a sixth-to-ninth-place range as competition from other countries increased.

The U.S. has seen a steeper long-term decline, dropping from first place in 2006 to 12th in October 2025—its first time outside the top 10 in the index's history—before climbing back to 10th place in January 2026.

The ranking is based on the number of destinations holders can travel to without requiring a visa.

Henley & Partners called out the U.S. as “one of the few top-ranked passports whose citizens still require a visa to visit China,” in a July 21 press release. Canadians have been able to enter China visa-free since February 2026, for stays up to 30 days.

According to the updated index, the Canadian passport provides visa-free travel to 183 destinations; the U.S. passport to 180.

Which passports ranked among the top 10 most powerful?

Owing to tied positions across all spots except first and third place, 38 countries appeared on Henley & Partner’s ranking of the world’s strongest passports for July 2026.

Of these, 29 (76.3%) come from Europe. The remainder are spread across Asia (5), North America (2), and Oceania (2).

Rank	Country	Visa-free destinations
1	Singapore	192
2	Japan	188
	South Korea
	United Arab Emirates
3	Sweden	187
4	Belgium	186
	Denmark
	Finland
	France
	Germany
	Ireland
	Italy
	Luxembourg
	Netherlands
	Norway
	Spain
5	Austria	185
	Greece
	Malta
	Portugal
	Switzerland
6	Hungary	184
	Poland
	United Kingdom
7	Australia	183
	Canada
	Czechia
	Latvia
	Malaysia
	New Zealand
	Slovakia
	Slovenia
8	Croatia	182
	Estonia
9	Liechtenstein	181
	Lithuania
10	Iceland	180
	United States

Most passports in the top 10 held steady or gained visa-free access to a single destination between January and July 2026, keeping the upper rankings tightly clustered.

The exceptions were the United Arab Emirates, which surged from fifth to second place, and a cluster of countries—Switzerland, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Liechtenstein, and Iceland—that each lost exactly one visa-free destination and slipped a tier.

Methodology

The Henley Passport Index uses International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, enhanced by Henley & Partners, to rank 199 passports based on access to 227 travel destinations.

The index assigns each passport a “visa score” based on the number of destinations that can be entered without first securing a visa.

That score directly affects the passport’s standing in the index, determining how it ranks in comparison with the other passports assessed.

The index counts a destination when entry is available without a visa, through a visa on arrival or visitor permit, or with an electronic travel authorization (eTA).

A destination is not counted where travellers must obtain a visa or e-visa before travelling.

The rankings released by Henley & Partners are updated monthly.

How to get a Canadian passport

Only Canadian citizens are eligible to obtain a Canadian passport.

For most foreign nationals, the path to a Canadian passport requires first becoming a Canadian permanent resident.

Permanent residents must meet the physical presence requirement (1,095 days in the last five years) and all other eligibility criteria to apply for Canadian citizenship.

After applying for Canadian citizenship, permanent residents must complete the Canadian citizenship test and attend a citizenship ceremony where they take the oath of citizenship.

Following the ceremony, applicants receive a citizenship certificate, which serves as proof of citizenship when applying for a Canadian passport.

Starting April 1, 2026, Canadian passport applicants are entitled to receive their passport within 30 business days or have the application fee waived.

A Canadian passport can be applied for online, by mail, or in-person at a passport office or Service Canada Centre.

Individuals who can prove an unbroken line of descent back to a Canadian citizen may also obtain a Canadian passport after securing a proof of citizenship certificate from the federal government.

Schedule a Free Legal Consultation on Applying for a Canadian Passport