Southeast Asia's most powerful passports in 2024

With visa-free access to 195 countries and territories, Singapore holds its title of having the most powerful passport in the world and Southeast Asia, according to the July edition of the Henley Global Mobility Report released on Tuesday by British global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners.

Malaysia ranked second in the region with visa-free entry to 182 destinations, followed by Brunei with 166 destinations.

Thailand, whose economy heavily depends on tourism, ranked fourth in the region with its holders able to access to 82 destinations without a visa.

Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, came in fifth as its holders are able to access to 76 destinations without a visa.

Filipino passport holders can access 67 countries globally without a visa, putting the Philippines in sixth in the region.

Cambodia ranked seventh with visa-free access to 53 destinations, followed by Vietnam, with access to 51 destinations. An earlier version of the Henley report said Vietnam's passport holders can get to 55 destinations without a visa.

In Southeast Asia, the Vietnamese passport is more powerful than Laos and Myanmar.

The index ranks 199 global passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The index is updated every month in real time throughout the year, as and when visa policy changes take effect.

Southeast Asian countries recently boosted their visa exemption campaigns to attract international tourists amid a fierce regional tourism race.