South Africa drops to 53rd place in strongest passports list

South Africa has slipped in the latest Henley Passport Index, falling from 48th to 53rd place and dropping out of the global top 50 strongest passports.

The index compares visa-free access of 199 different passports to 227 travel destinations based on the number of destinations their holders can access without needing a prior visa. Points are awarded for each country that allows visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival (VOA), an electronic travel authority (ETA), or a visitor's permit.

At the top of the list, Singapore maintains its lead as the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to 193 countries. South Korea follows closely with access to 190 destinations, while Japan holds third place with 189.

There is a five-way tie for fourth place: Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, and Luxembourg each provide access to 188 countries without a visa.

At the bottom of the ranking is Afghanistan, with access to just 24 countries, while Syria fares slightly better with 26.