Swiss passport falls to 9th in 2026 global passport ranking
Image credit: Shutterstock.com
By
Clara Bousfield
Olivia Logan
See more IamExpat articles in your Google search results
Add IamExpat to Google News
The Swiss passport remains one of the strongest in the world, according to the latest global ranking by Passport Reports, claiming 9th place globally and 13th place compared to just its European neighbours.
Global Passport Ranking 2026
Every year, the Global Passport Ranking assesses passports based on their “mobility score”: the total number of countries a passport holder can enter visa-free, with an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) or with a visa on arrival.
If two passports are designated the same score, their visa-free destinations are compared. If the score tie persists, the number of eTA destinations is compared, then the number of visa-on-arrival destinations.
This year, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport was ranked as the strongest in the world, with a mobility score of 182. In 2026, UAE passport holders can travel to 128 countries visa-free, 44 countries with a visa on arrival, 10 countries with an eTA and 16 countries with a visa.
The Singaporean and Spanish passports rounded out the top three, with mobility scores of 175 and 174, respectively.
Swiss passport drops 2 places in global ranking
Whether used for work or leisure, the Swiss passport has ranked joint 9th with Portugal in this year’s Global Passport Ranking.
A Swiss passport has a mobility score of 173, letting travellers access:
- 119 countries visa-free
- 43 countries with a visa on arrival
- 11 countries with an eTA
- 25 countries with a visa
While clinging on to a place in the global top 10, the Swiss passport actually dropped two spots from 7th place in the 2025 global ranking.
While holding a Swiss passport comes with several global mobility perks, acquiring one remains a lengthy process for expats living in Switzerland. In 2025, 41.269 internationals were granted Swiss citizenship, they largely hailed from Germany, Italy and France.
Top 10 most powerful passports in the world
According to the Global Passport Ranking for 2026, the top 10 strongest passports in the world are:
- United Arab Emirates
- Singapore
- Spain
- Malaysia
- Luxembourg
- Belgium, France
- Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden
- Greece
- Switzerland, Portugal
- Austria, Norway, Ireland, Japan, Malta
Parts of this article were originally featured on IamExpat Germany.
Was this article helpful?
Donate to help us keep IamExpat free, reliable, and accessible to all internationals in Switzerland.
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Clara Bousfield
Editor at IamExpat Media
Editor for Germany at IamExpat Media. Olivia first came to Germany in 2013 to work as an Au Pair. Since studying English Literature and German in Scotland, Freiburg and Berlin she has worked as a features journalist and news editor.Read more