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Explainer: What determines how powerful a passport is
18th September, 2026 04:27 PM
A passport is often described as “powerful” when it gives its holder access to many destinations with little or no visa paperwork. But passport rankings are not based on the physical document itself. They mainly measure the travel access that comes with a passport.
The exact calculation depends on the ranking being used. The Henley Passport Index, for example, ranks passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without obtaining a visa before travelling. Its 2026 index covers 199 passports and 227 destinations.
1. The number of visa-free destinations matters
This is the biggest factor in many passport rankings.
If Kenyan passport holders can enter a particular country without applying for a visa before departure, that access contributes to the passport’s score under the Henley methodology.
The more destinations a passport provides this type of access to, the higher its score on the index.
However, “visa-free” in a ranking does not always mean simply walking into another country without completing any paperwork.
2. Visa-on-arrival can count
Some passport rankings also consider visa-on-arrival access.
Under the Henley Passport Index methodology, a destination can count towards a passport’s visa-free score if the traveller can obtain a visa on arrival without needing government approval before departure. Visitor permits can also qualify.
This means two passports with the same number of genuinely visa-free destinations can still have different travel arrangements behind that figure, depending on the destinations included.
3. Electronic travel authorisations can also matter
Electronic travel authorisations, or ETAs, are another factor.
Henley treats an ETA differently from an e-Visa. An ETA is generally for travellers who are already visa-exempt but must complete a digital authorisation before travelling. An e-Visa, on the other hand, requires an application and government approval before departure and is therefore treated as a visa requirement under Henley’s methodology.
This distinction matters because two travellers may both complete an online process, but the process can have a different effect on their passport’s ranking.
4. Countries’ visa policies affect passport rankings
A passport’s ranking can change when countries change their entry requirements.
Visa policies can be influenced by diplomatic relations, security concerns, migration policies, health considerations and reciprocal agreements. As these policies change, the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa can also change.
That is why passport rankings are updated regularly rather than remaining fixed for years.
5. The ranking does not measure everything about a passport
A high passport ranking does not necessarily mean its holder can live, work or study freely in all the destinations listed.
The Henley Passport Index focuses on short-term travel, generally for tourism or business purposes. It also assumes that travellers meet basic entry requirements and have a valid passport.
So a passport that provides visa-free access to a country does not automatically give its holder the right to take up employment or permanent residence there.
