The Antigua and Barbuda passport is now the strongest it has ever been, following a notable rise in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, one of the world’s most respected measures of global travel freedom.

Despite ongoing geopolitical pressures and heightened scrutiny of citizenship-by-investment programmes worldwide, Antigua and Barbuda climbed three places in the latest rankings, moving from 27th position in 2025 to 24th this year. The improvement signals growing international confidence in the country’s passport and border integrity systems.

According to the report, holders of the Antiguan and Barbudan passport now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 154 destinations across the globe. This expanded mobility places citizens of the twin-island nation among some of the most well-travelled in the world, offering increased ease for tourism, business, education, and international engagement.

The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), assessing the number of destinations that can be accessed without obtaining a visa in advance. Antigua and Barbuda’s upward movement comes at a time when several countries have either stagnated or slipped in the rankings due to shifting diplomatic relations and tighter immigration policies.

Within the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda is ranked fifth overall, behind Barbados, The Bahamas, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Kitts and Nevis. The ranking reinforces the region’s strong showing globally, with Caribbean passports continuing to outperform many larger nations in terms of travel freedom.

The latest results are being viewed as a positive signal for Antigua and Barbuda’s international standing, particularly as the country continues to navigate external pressures while maintaining compliance with global travel and security standards.