French passports remain powerful despite low ‘safety’ ranking

France’s passport remains among the most powerful in the world, despite the country ranking low in global safety standards.

A French passport was ranked the world’s joint fourth-most powerful in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, a widely-recognised ranking of citizenship power. 

The classification is based on the number of countries a citizen can visit visa-free or through a visa on arrival, rather than having to apply for a visa in advance. 

French citizens, along with the other fourth-place countries (EU/EEA counterparts Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Spain) can access 186 countries this way. 

In first place, Singaporeans can visit 192 destinations, with second-place Japan, South Korea, and United Arab Emirates able to access 188. 

In third is Sweden (187), with the UK joint-sixth with 184 destinations, and the US 10th with 180. 

Alongside the entirety of the EU and European Economic Area, French passport holders have visa free/visa on arrival access to countries in Asia including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and even China. 

They also have access to countries in North and South America including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.

In Africa, countries including Morocco,  Tunisia, South Africa, and Senegal all offer such access.

In comparison, US citizens need a visa to visit China and an e-visa to visit Vietnam, and UK citizens to visit Honduras.

Note that for certain countries, passengers will still need to apply in advance for authorisation to travel to the state, such as the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or the US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (Esta). 

These act as visa-waivers, proving that French citizens do not need to obtain a visa (that often involves appointments at a consulate or visa centre, proof of funds and return flights, etc), but must be obtained in advance of travel.

French citizens travelling outside of the EU should check to see if such a visa-waiver scheme applies, and if so whether they need to make an application in advance. 

In many countries, visa-free access is limited, usually to 30, 60, or 90 consecutive days. Ensure travel plans to not cause you to overstay, or you will require a specific visa. 

France in bottom half for safest countries

France’s high score comes despite a poor score in the rankings of the Global Peace Index, where it was ranked 99th out of 163 countries. 

This ranking assesses 23 safety factors including crime, terrorism, political instability, and militarisation.

The low ranking is even starker when compared to other European countries with a similar passport strength – Ireland ranks fifth, Finland ninth, Denmark 11th, and the Netherlands 17th. Spain (27th) and Italy (35th) also rank far higher.

France is in fact the lowest-ranked country in Europe behind Belarus (115th), Ukraine (160th), and Russia (163rd), and countries including Algeria (91st), Liberia (87th) and Kosovo (54th) all rank higher.

However, France’s low score is largely related to its militarisation, given the highest possible score in this area with a very large army and stationing of troops in several dangerous countries particularly in former colonial territories in Africa. 

It also receives a poor score for the risk of nuclear fallout (France is the only EU country with nuclear warheads and the largest producer and user of nuclear energy in the bloc) 

Despite a threat of terrorism in France (following several major attacks over the last decade or so), the country ranks highly for day-to-day safety, including very low homicide rates, positive relations with neighbouring countries, political stability, treatment of refugees, and illegal weapon imports.

The UK is ranked 39th on the Global Peace Index, with the US ranked 134th.