MANILA - The Philippines improved its ranking in the world's most powerful passports with Filipinos allowed to enter 66 countries visa-free, according to the 2019 Henley Passport Index.

The Philippines ranked 74th from having last year's 75th most powerful passport among 199 countries.

Japan maintained its top rank with visa-free access to 190 travel destinations this year.

Singapore and South Korea, meanwhile, placed second with its respective passport holders allowed to visit 189 destinations visa-free.

Germany placed third with visa-free access to 188 destinations.

The Afghanistan and Iraq passports, meanwhile, were deemed the "weakest," with visa-free access to only 30 travel destinations.

The Henley Passport Index ranks passports worldwide based on data from the International Air Transport Association.

The 66 destinations where Philippine passport holders have visa-free access (including visa on arrival and electronic travel authority) are the following:

ASIA

Brunei

Cambodia

Hong Kong (SAR China)

Indonesia

Kyrgyzstan *

Laos

Macao (SAR China)

Malaysia

Maldives *

Mongolia

Myanmar

Nepal *

Singapore

Sri Lanka *

Taiwan

Tajikistan *

Thailand

Timor-Leste *

Vietnam

AFRICA

Benin *

Cape Verde Islands *

Comores Islands *

Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Djibouti *

Gambia

Guinea-Bissau *

Kenya *

Madagascar *

Malawi *

Mauritania *

Mauritius *

Morocco

Mozambique *

Rwanda

Seychelles *

Somalia *

Tanzania *

Togo *

Uganda *

OCEANIA

Cook Islands

Fiji

Marshall Islands *

Micronesia

Niue

Palau Islands *

Papua New Guinea *

Samoa *

Tuvalu *

Vanuatu

CARIBBEAN

Dominica

Haiti

St. Lucia *

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad and Tobago *

AMERICAS

Bolivia

Brazil

Colombia

Costa Rica

Ecuador

Nicaragua *

Peru

Suriname

MIDDLE EAST

Armenia *

Iran *

Israel

Palestinian Territory



*visa on arrival

**eTA (electronic travel authority)