THE Philippine passport climbed one spot to 72nd in the latest global passport rankings, gaining visa-free access to one additional destination, according to the Henley Passport Index released on Tuesday.
The Philippines ranked 72nd out of 200 passports, tied with Benin and Uganda, after improving from 73rd in the January edition of the London-based citizenship advisory firm’s index.
The Philippine passport now provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 65 destinations, up from 64 in the previous ranking.
“For many countries across the Global South, peace creates the conditions for stronger passport power, but mobility remains constrained by weaker diplomatic leverage, limited reciprocal visa-waiver agreements and a global visa system that continues to favor wealthier and more influential states,” according to the report.
Henley & Partners Chairman Christian H. Kaelin said passport strength reflects a country’s international relationships.
“The world’s strongest passports belong to nations that other countries want as partners — for trade, investment, security or cooperation,” he said in a statement. “Mobility is ultimately a measure of the value other countries place on their relationship with you.”
The report cited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as one of the biggest gainers over the past two decades, adding 153 visa-free destinations since 2006 to become one of the world’s most powerful passports.
Singapore retained the top spot in the latest rankings, with visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan, South Korea and the UAE shared second place.
The index also found that the gap between the world’s strongest and weakest passports has widened over the past 20 years. In 2006, the difference between the top-ranked passport and Afghanistan was 118 destinations. By 2026, that gap had expanded to a record 170 destinations, with Afghanistan offering access to only 22 destinations compared with Singapore’s 192.
Henley & Partners said 39 countries occupy the top 10 positions in the latest index, including four Asian economies: Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. — KPBG
