Australia has slipped down another spot on the Henley Passport Index, with Japan maintaining the top honour in a new global ranking.

Citizenship firm Henley and Partners, which periodically ranks passports according to the level of travel freedom they allow citizens, has published its mid-year index of 2021.

Even though international travel remains off the cards for millions of people — including Australians due to the COVID-19 pandemic — the index continues to ranks nations according to the number of countries they theoretically allow visa-free access to.

The January ranking saw Japan in number one spot, followed by Singapore in spot two and Germany and South Korea in equal third position.

Japan is on the top spot again.Source:Supplied

It’s the fourth time Japan has held the number 1 spot, either alone or tied with Singapore.

Japan’s passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 193 destinations around the world, Singapore with a score of 192 and both South Korea and Germany coming in with a score of 191.

New Zealand remained at seventh place, with visa-free access to 187 destinations, while Australia dipped from eighth place in January to ninth place today with a score of 185 alongside Canada.

Australia’s passport is at sport nine on the index.Source:Supplied

Henley and Partners’ ranking assesses 199 of the world’s passports and takes into account developments in visa agreements between jurisdictions around the world.

According to the latest index, China and the UAE have been the biggest climbers over the last decade. According to CNN, since 2011, China has climbed 22 places — from 90th position to 68th — while the UAE has gone all the way from No. 65 to No. 15.

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