Italian passport in seventh place in the 2026 world ranking for freedom of movement

Passports are not all the same. Owning one from some countries guarantees greater freedom of movement than others. The new Passport Reports ranking analyzes the privilege of traveling without having to deal with visa applications, additional documents and bureaucratic procedures. The study reveals for each country the number of destinations that can be reached without a visa, with an electronic travel authorization (ETA) or by obtaining a visa on arrival. The ranking also calculated how many countries require a visa before entry.

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The ranking does not only take into consideration the number of countries that can be reached without a visa. The Passport Reports assigns a Mobility Score, which sums up the destinations accessible visa-free, those where it is possible to obtain a visa on arrival and those that only require an electronic travel authorization, such as the ETA. Therefore, in the event of a tie, the number of completely visa-free destinations is considered first, then those accessible with electronic authorization and finally those with visa on arrival.

In the latest ranking, two European countries appear in the top five. Spain is considered Europe's strongest passport for visa-free travel and third globally, with a mobility score of 174. Spanish travelers can access 121 countries without a visa and visit a further 42 with a visa on arrival. However, in 11 countries you need an ETA and to enter 24 you need a visa. Luxembourg, on the other hand, has a mobility score of 173. Ranking fifth in the world, holders of this passport can travel to 122 destinations without a visa and in 41 other countries it is possible to obtain a visa on arrival. To visit 10 countries you need an ETA and 25 require a visa. Belgium and France are tied for sixth place, both with a mobility score of 173. Passport holders from these countries can enter visa-free to 121 states and obtain a visa on arrival in 41 others. 11 countries require an ETA and 25 require a visa. In seventh place there are six European countries with the same mobility score of 173: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden.

In a ranking that confirms the fact that most of the most powerful passports in the world concern citizens of European countries, Italy also achieves an excellent performance. The Italian passport is in seventh place in the 2026 world ranking, tied with other European states (all with a Mobility Score of 173). Those traveling with an Italian passport can enter 120 destinations without requiring a visa in advance. Furthermore, there are 42 countries in which a visa can be obtained on arrival and 11 that require an ETA. Only for 25 destinations it is necessary to complete a traditional visa process before departure.

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