Europe has once again dominated the annual Global Passport Index, with nine European countries securing places in the top 10 and Sweden claiming the number-one position worldwide.
The ranking, compiled by Global Citizen Solutions, differs from traditional passport rankings by assessing not only visa-free travel but also factors such as investment attractiveness and quality of life.
The index evaluates elements including taxation, innovation, economic competitiveness, healthcare, safety, climate and social infrastructure.
According to Global Citizen Solutions chief executive Patricia Casaburi, Europe's strength lies in its ability to combine extensive global mobility with some of the highest living standards in the world.
While countries such as Singapore outperform many European nations in terms of visa-free travel and some Gulf and Asian states compete strongly on investment appeal, European countries continue to stand out for their overall balance.
Sweden leads the rankings
Sweden secured first place overall, ranking 11th for mobility, ninth for investment attractiveness and second for quality of life.
Switzerland followed in second place, placing seventh for mobility, second for investment and 36th for quality of life.
Finland ranked third, combining fourth place in mobility with the highest quality-of-life score in the index.
Germany came fourth, supported by strong performances across all categories, while Denmark and the Netherlands shared fifth place.
The remainder of the top 10 consisted of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Norway and Singapore, the only non-European country in the leading group.
Brexit's lasting impact on the UK
The report noted that the United Kingdom remains firmly in the global top 10, ranking eighth overall thanks largely to its strong quality-of-life score.
However, it argued that Brexit continues to affect the strength of the British passport.
According to the index, the UK ranks only around 30th for mobility, reflecting the loss of the automatic right for British citizens to live, work and settle across European Union member states.
US continues long-term decline
The report also highlighted the decline of the United States.
After ranking first in 2021 and achieving the highest overall score ever recorded by the index, the US fell to 14th place in 2025 before recovering slightly to 12th this year.
The decline has been linked in part to countries reintroducing visa requirements for American travellers, including Brazil, which reinstated visa rules for US citizens in April.
Top 10 passports in the 2026 Global Passport Index
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Finland
- Germany
- Netherlands (joint)
- Denmark (joint)
- Ireland
- United Kingdom
- Norway
- Singapore
Source: Euronews / Global Citizen Solutions
