When it comes to visa-free travel and minimal border delays, only a select group of passports offers truly global mobility. According to the latest Henley Passport Index, Croatia remains firmly among the world’s most powerful passports, ranking sixth globally in the most recent update.
The index, compiled by London-based global citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners, is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and tracks visa-free access to 227 countries and territories worldwide.
Asian Passports Lead the Rankings
Asian countries continue to dominate the top of the ranking. Singapore retained first place, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan and South Korea share second place, each with access to 188 destinations.
Croatia Joins New Zealand in Sixth Place
Croatia shares sixth position with New Zealand, as well as the Czech Republic, Estonia, Malta and Poland. Citizens of these countries can travel visa-free to 183 destinations, underlining Croatia’s strong international mobility position.
For Croatian travellers, this ranking confirms the country’s continued rise in global passport strength, particularly since joining the Schengen Area, which has further simplified cross-border movement within Europe.
Europe Dominates the Top Ten
European countries continue to dominate the upper tiers of the index. Five countries — Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland — share third place with 186 visa-free destinations, while a group of ten European nations occupies fourth place with access to 185 destinations.
Fifth place is shared by Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United Arab Emirates, each with 184 visa-free destinations.
UK Falls, UAE Makes Historic Gains
The United Arab Emirates stands out as the biggest climber in the index’s 20-year history, having added 149 visa-free destinations since 2006 and rising 57 places overall.
By contrast, the United Kingdom recorded the largest annual decline, now offering visa-free access to 182 destinations, eight fewer than a year ago.
The United States returned to the top ten in this update, ranking 10th with access to 179 destinations, after briefly dropping out of the top tier at the end of 2025.
Strong Mobility Advantage for Croatians
For Croatian citizens, the sixth-place ranking confirms that the Croatian passport remains one of the most valuable travel documents globally, offering broad freedom of movement, reduced visa bureaucracy and easier access to global markets, tourism and business opportunities.
As global travel continues to normalise, Croatia’s strong passport ranking places its citizens among the world’s most mobile travellers in 2026.