Brunei’s passport stands out in Asia for its global mobility, providing visa-free access to 166 destinations worldwide, according to the October edition of the Henley Global Mobility Report by Henley & Partners. The report, a key reference for assessing global travel access, places Brunei among Asia’s top ten passports, underscoring its strength in enabling seamless international movement for its citizens.
Leading the region, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea topped the rankings, with Singapore offering its citizens visa-free entry to 195 of 227 countries and territories, while Japan and South Korea provide access to 192 and 191 destinations, respectively. Following these, the United Arab Emirates ranks fourth with visa-free access to 185 destinations, and Malaysia stands fifth with access to 183.
Other prominent passports in the region include Hong Kong, granting access to 171 destinations, ranking just ahead of Brunei. Meanwhile, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives, and China provide their citizens visa-free access to 107, 99, 94, and 85 destinations, respectively.
Lower in the rankings are countries like Nepal, Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, and Afghanistan, whose citizens face more limited mobility due to restrictive visa requirements.
The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports globally, with data based on the number of visa-free destinations accessible to each nationality. Regularly updated, the index captures real-time shifts in visa policies and has become an essential tool for measuring global mobility and travel freedom. – FADLEY FAISAL
