Canada has once again secured its place among the most powerful passports in the world, ranking eighth in the latest Henley Passport Index for January 2026. As reported by Maple News, Canadian passport holders can now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 181 destinations globally.
The Henley Passport Index, which evaluates global mobility based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), highlights Canada’s continued presence in the top tier of nearly 200 national passports. The country’s eighth-place ranking puts it ahead of the United States, which dropped to tenth with access to 179 destinations.
Notably, Canada shares its ranking with Iceland and Lithuania, all offering identical visa-free access scores. This grouping illustrates the strong performance of several countries in maintaining wide international mobility for their citizens.
The 2026 rankings show significant dominance by European nations, with 29 of the top-tier countries located on the continent. However, the three most powerful passports this year come from Asia. Singapore tops the list, providing access to 192 destinations without requiring a visa. Japan and South Korea follow closely, each with access to 188 destinations.
Throughout 2025, Canada’s ranking fluctuated slightly—starting the year in seventh, dropping to ninth in October, and now recovering to eighth in the January 2026 update. This trend reflects Canada’s consistent strength in global passport rankings, despite minor year-to-year adjustments.
The inclusion of 38 total countries in the top 10 rankings is due to multiple ties across several ranks, particularly from third to eighth place. The strong overall performance of Canadian travel credentials underscores the country’s continued international connectivity and its favorable diplomatic relationships worldwide.
For prospective immigrants and Canadians abroad, this global standing affirms the value of Canadian citizenship—not only for quality of life but also for ease of global mobility.
Maple News will continue to monitor updates in global travel mobility and what they mean for Canadian residents and newcomers.