There is a small detail that can make a trip much easier even before booking the flight, and that is the passport you have in your pocket. Not everyone opens the same doors, and some passports allow crossing a large part of the world without facing visa requests, extra documents, and lengthy bureaucratic procedures.
The new Passport Reports ranking, a global independent platform that constantly analyzes and monitors the strength of passports from 199 countries, captures this travel privilege precisely, evaluating all passports based on the freedom of movement they guarantee their holders. Among the top positions this year there are no shortages of surprises, including a strong performance by Italy.
The strongest passports in the world in 2026
In 2026, the new ranking is led by the passport of the United Arab Emirates, followed by that of Singapore. The first European country appears immediately after: Spain clinches the third global spot and confirms itself as the strongest passport in Europe according to the Passport Reports Global Passport Index. Malaysia follows in fourth, and Luxembourg in fifth.
The ranking does not consider only the number of destinations reachable visa-free. Passport Reports uses a Mobility Score, which sums the countries accessible visa-free, those where it is possible to obtain the visa on arrival, and those that require only an electronic travel authorization, such as an ETA. In case of a tie, priority is given first to the number of destinations completely visa-free, then those accessible with electronic authorization, and finally those with visa on arrival.
Spain thus reaches a Mobility Score of 174: its citizens can enter 121 countries without a visa, reach another 42 with a visa on arrival and 11 via ETA, while for 24 destinations it is necessary to obtain a visa before departure. Luxembourg, fifth globally, totals 173 points. Right behind are Belgium and France, both in sixth place, while a large group of European countries occupy the seventh position – this is where Italy also appears.
The ranking of the top 20 positions
- United Arab Emirates;
- Singapore;
- Spain;
- Malaysia;
- Luxembourg;
- Belgium; France;
- Denmark; Finland; Germany; Italy; Netherlands; Sweden;
- Greece;
- Portugal; Switzerland;
- Austria;
- Norway;
- Ireland;
- Japan;
- Malta;
- Hungary; Poland;
- Croatia; Latvia;
- South Korea;
- Czech Republic; Estonia;
- Lithuania;
- Slovakia.
How strong is the Italian passport
The Italian passport ranks seventh in the 2026 global standings, tied with Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden. All reach a Mobility Score of 173, which confirms how European passports continue to guarantee a high level of international freedom of movement.
For travelers with an Italian passport, this means being able to enter 120 destinations without pre-arranged visas. In addition, 42 countries offer visa on arrival and 11 require an ETA. Only for 25 destinations is it necessary to complete a traditional visa procedure before departure. Scrolling further down the top 15 reveals Greece in eighth place, Portugal and Switzerland in ninth, Austria in tenth, and Norway in eleventh. Ireland, Japan and Malta follow, while Hungary and Poland share the fifteenth position.
The ranking thus shows a particularly interesting trend for European travelers: a large portion of the world’s most powerful passports remains concentrated on the continent. But it also highlights how the very notion of “visa-free travel” has become more nuanced than in the past, because alongside fully free entry there are increasing digital systems like ETA and eTA, procedures generally much quicker than a traditional visa but still necessary before setting off.
