14/01/2026
Global rankings show New Zealand's passport is less powerful than last year.
The latest Henley Passport Index (released January 2026), widely regarded as the authoritative global ranking, measures passport strength by the number of destinations accessible visa-free (or with visa-on-arrival/eTA).
Current Rankings-
• Singapore tops the list with access to 192 destinations.
• New Zealand ranks 6th (tied with Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Malta, and Poland), with access to 183 destinations.  
Comparison to Last Year-
In the 2025 index, New Zealand also ranked 6th but with access to 185 destinations.
The mobility score has decreased by 2, making the passport slightly less powerful in terms of visa-free travel options. The rank itself has not changed, and no specific countries responsible for the drop are highlighted in the reports—such changes typically reflect evolving visa policies by other nations.
RNZ has described this as a “drop” in power or rankings, emphasising the score reduction and listing NZ as “24th-equal” (likely by counting sequential positions without fully accounting for ties). Other outlets note the position as stable at 6th.
Overall, the New Zealand passport remains among the world’s strongest, offering extensive global mobility compared to most countries. Different indices (e.g., Arton’s Passport Index) use varying methodologies and show NZ around 5th with fewer destinations counted, but Henley is the most commonly referenced standard.
