The Singaporean passport leapfrogged Germany's in a global ranking to become the most powerful. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) 
 
 Passports are often viewed as a ticket to the world, but some may actually hold more power than others. 
 
 In fact: Singapore is now the most powerful. 
 
 That's according to the 2017 Global Passport Power Rank, a worldwide ranking from advisory firm Arton Capital, which specializes in investor programs for residence and citizenship around the world. The list ranks passports worldwide based on a "total visa-free score," which assigns passports a point for each country their holders can visit without a visa, with a visa on arrival or by using electronic travel authorization. Singapore scored a 159 based on the metric, meaning its holders can easily visit 159 countries. 
 
 This is the first time an Asian country has had the most powerful passport in the world, with the most superlative spot historically going to European countries, according to Arton. 
 
 Singapore recently surpassed Germany in the ranking after Paraguay removed visa requirements for Singaporean passport holders. The Asian country had previously been tied with Germany, which now follows in second. Sweden and South Korea are close behind with a visa-free score of 157. 
 
 The United States, which has recently undergone extensive policy debate over passports and visa requirements, did not land in the top 5 power categories. It received a visa-free score of 154. 
 
 Afghanistan ranks lowest on the list, with a visa-free score of just 22. 
 
 A look at the countries that rank among the top 5 highest visa-free scores are listed below, and a full listing of the passport power ranking can be found here. 
 
 
 
 Country Passport Power Rank Visa-Free Score Singapore 1 159 Germany 2 158 Sweden 3 157 South Korea 3 157 Denmark 4 156 Finland 4 156 Italy 4 156 France 4 156 Spain 4 156 Norway 4 156 Japan 4 156 United Kingdom 4 156 Luxembourg 5 155 Switzerland 5 155 Netherlands 5 155 Belgium 5 155 Austria 5 155 Portugal 5 155 ||||| Asia’s most powerful passport has elbowed past Europe’s supreme citizenship. 
 
 Singapore’s is now the world’s most powerful passport, according to Passport Index, a ranking compiled by global financial advisory firm Arton Capital. Singapore was previously tied with Germany for the number-one spot. 
 
 In the past few days, Paraguay removed its visa requirements for Singaporeans, giving citizens easy access to 159 countries, compared to 158 for German passport-holders. A Singaporean passport holder can now show up in Paraguay, get a stamp upon arrival, and stay legally in the country for 30 days without any application process, according to the Paraguay consulate in Washington, D.C. 
 
 The Passport Index updates in real time to reflect the countries a passport-holder can access with no application, meaning that she needs no visa, or she can obtain a travel visa upon arrival. 
 
 Here are the world’s most powerful passports at time of writing, according to Passport Index: 
 
 rank passport no. countries accessible 1 Singapore 159 2 Germany 158 3 Sweden, South Korea 157 4 Denmark, Finland, Italy, France, Spain, Norway, Japan, United Kingdom 156 5 Luxembourg, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal 155 6 Malaysia, Ireland, United States, Canada 154 7 Greece, New Zealand, Australia 153 8 Malta, Czechia, Iceland 152 9 Hungary 150 10 Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia 149 
 
 Passports considered for the index are those from the 193 United Nations member countries, as well as Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Kosovo, Palestine, and the Vatican. 
 
 A similar index, published annually, by citizenship planning company Henley & Partners, ranks Singapore number four, with Germany the champion passport.
– A new ranking of the world's most powerful passports is out, and it contains a notable first, per US News & World Report. The Passport Index by financial advisory firm Arton Capital puts an Asian nation in the top spot for the first time. Singapore gets the honors, with its citizens able to visit 159 nations without much of a visa hassle, explains Quartz. As for the US, it trails 18 nations, and the nation with the least powerful passport probably won't be too much of a surprise. Details: