Canada ranks eighth on 2026 passport index, but the number only measures travel access
Canada’s passport ranks eighth globally in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, giving visa-free access to 181 destinations. The index measures travel freedom, not residency or work rights.
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By Torontoer Staff
Canada’s passport ranks eighth in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 181 countries and territories. That places Canada ahead of the United States and alongside Iceland and Lithuania in the mid-top tier of global travel freedom.
The Henley index, compiled by Henley & Partners using International Air Transport Association data, counts how many destinations allow entry without a pre-travel visa. It is widely cited as a shorthand for global mobility, but the measure is narrow by design.
What the index actually measures
The index assigns a score based on the number of destinations a passport holder can enter without applying for a visa in advance. Visa-free entry and visa on arrival are both counted, though they are different in practice: visa-free entry requires no paperwork before travel, while visa on arrival means travellers complete a process after landing.
It’s a numerical calculation based on visa-free travel. The Canadian passport allows Canadians to travel to 181 countries without a visa, meaning you don’t need to apply for paperwork in advance.
Basil Mohr-Elzeki, managing partner, Henley & Partners
That simplicity makes the index useful for comparing travel access across passports, but it leaves out other dimensions of mobility, including the right to live, work or access social services in another country.
Why the ranking does not tell the full story
Passport rank reflects visa policy set by destination countries, which tends to favour wealthier nations. The result is a correlation between national income and visa-free access, rather than a complete measure of what people can do abroad once they arrive.
What this really measures is the number of visa requirements a particular passport faces. So the sorting will always be rich countries with good passports and poor countries with bad passports, because visa requirements are set by wealthy countries.
Randall Hansen, Canada research chair in global migration, University of Toronto
EU passports illustrate the gap between travel access and broader mobility rights. Citizens of EU member states can live and work across 27 countries under treaty rights. That practical freedom is not captured by a simple count of visa-free destinations.
How Canada compares and why its rank moved
Canada has consistently held a strong passport, though its position has shifted over the past decade. It ranked as high as second in 2014. Competition from European and Asian countries, coupled with evolving visa policies, pushed Canada down into the top 10.
Henley analysts point to differences in diplomatic strategy and bilateral agreements. Countries that actively negotiate reciprocal visa arrangements tend to climb the index. Canada, by contrast, has been less aggressive on that front.
Canada allows only 54 countries visa-free entry, whereas other countries allow more, and that reciprocity matters.
Basil Mohr-Elzeki, Henley & Partners
Visa fees and entry rules also affect who can actually use travel privileges. Higher visa costs are more burdensome for students and lower-income travellers than for business travellers, a gap some critics describe as regressive.
Global standings at a glance
Asian and European passports dominate the top of the index in 2026. Singapore leads with access to 192 destinations. Japan and South Korea follow with 188 each. Several EU countries and the United Arab Emirates occupy the upper tiers, reflecting sustained diplomatic engagement and visa liberalization.
- 1st: Singapore, 192 destinations
- 2nd: Japan and South Korea, 188 destinations
- Shared 3rd: Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, 186 destinations
- Canada: 8th, 181 destinations
- United States: 10th, 179 destinations
- Bottom: Afghanistan, 24 destinations
What this means for travellers and policy
For travellers, a high passport rank generally means fewer pre-travel formalities. For people planning to move, work or study abroad, the number is less useful. Permanent mobility depends on treaties, residency rules and labour market access, not only visa-free entry.
- Check entry requirements before travel, including visa on arrival rules and fees.
- If you plan to work or study abroad, research residency and labour rights, not just visa-free access.
- Policy changes can shift rankings quickly, so treat the index as a snapshot, not a guarantee.
Experts say Canada could improve its score by negotiating more reciprocal visa agreements and reducing barriers for citizens of certain countries. Those changes would have trade-offs, including immigration and security considerations that governments weigh carefully.
Canada holds a strong passport by global standards, but the Henley ranking captures travel freedom only. For a fuller picture of mobility, look beyond visa counts to the legal rights that govern living and working abroad.
travelpassportCanadaHenley Passport Indexglobal mobility
