The Henley Passport Index for 2024 has just been unveiled, and it reveals that an Aussie passport is exceptionally powerful. Even better, we've climbed up one position, now standing equal with New Zealand.

Each year, the Henley index ranks global passports based on the number of countries their holders can enter without needing to secure a visa in advance.

According to the complete list available on Henley’s website, Australian passport holders can now enter a grand total of 189 countries visa-free. This is an increase of four countries from last year's total of 185. Progress!

This achievement places us in a tie for sixth place overall, an improvement from eighth place in 2023.

The prestigious number one spot is shared among last year’s champion, Japan, and countries like France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, and Spain, all of which allow entry to 194 countries without a prior visa.

Finland, Sweden, and South Korea share the second position with access to 193 countries.

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In third place, we find Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands, each with visa-free access to 192 countries.

Australia and our trans-Tasman competitor, New Zealand, are tied for sixth place alongside Poland and Czechia, each with access to 189 countries. The Kiwis outpaced us last year, making this update particularly gratifying.

Noteworthy is that the USA is tied for seventh place with Canada, while the UK has secured a tie for fourth place.

At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan holds the lowest rank for the second consecutive year, with its passport holders able to visit only 28 countries visa-free.

Just above Afghanistan is Syria with 29, Iraq with 31, Pakistan with 34, and Yemen with 35.

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You might be curious about how different countries decide which passport holders can enter visa-free.

In the most straightforward terms, it largely depends on diplomatic relations.

If two countries enjoy excellent diplomatic relations, they are more likely to allow each other’s citizens entry without the burden of extensive visa application processes.

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A prime example of this is the relationship between Australia and New Zealand.

Aussies arriving in NZ can practically bypass the line, whereas passport holders from other nations might need additional documentation.

The only downside for Aussies is that from 2024, our passport prices are dramatically increasing. *Gulp*.

However, to counterbalance this, we've gathered a variety of affordable flight tips on PEDESTRIAN.TV, starting with this one.