The Israeli passport has climbed to 18th place in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, its strongest ranking since the index began tracking global mobility two decades ago. Passport holders can now reach 166 destinations visa-free or with a visa issued on arrival, according to Henley & Partners, the firm that publishes the index.
That climb lands the same year Israel ranks 159th out of 163 nations on the Global Peace Index, among the five least peaceful countries on Earth. Immigration lawyers say the gap between those two rankings is now shaping who wants an Israeli passport, and why.
A Two-Decade High for Israel’s Passport
Henley & Partners has published its index since 2006, ranking passports by how many destinations their holders can enter without arranging a visa in advance. Singapore retained the top spot it has held in recent years, with access to 192 destinations. the full 2026 ranking shows Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates tied for second at 188 destinations, with Sweden third at 187.
| Rank | Country | Visa-Free / On-Arrival Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 192 |
| 2 (tie) | Japan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates | 188 |
| 3 | Sweden | 187 |
| 10 | United States | 180 |
| 18 | Israel | 166 |
The climb owes nothing to a change in Israel’s security picture. It reflects two decades of visa waiver agreements, negotiated one government at a time, that keep functioning regardless of what is happening at home.
The Peace Index Paradox
The Institute for Economics and Peace, an Australian research group, publishes the Global Peace Index scores for 163 countries each year, measuring militarization, domestic safety and involvement in conflict. Israel ranked 159th in the 2026 edition. Iceland held the top spot for a 19th consecutive year.
Passport rank and physical safety measure different things. A country can score badly on one and well on the other. Israel is currently doing both.
Why Does a Warring Country Rank So High?
Passport rank and physical safety are not tracked the same way. Henley & Partners bases its scores on formal visa waiver deals between governments, built over decades of diplomacy, trade and reciprocal trust rather than on whether a country is at war right now. That distinction is why Israel’s passport keeps strengthening while conditions on the ground stay tense.
Israel has built travel agreements across Europe, Latin America and a growing list of Asian and Gulf states over the past two decades, deals that do not lapse when fighting resumes in the region. Its defense and technology exports have kept expanding through the war rather than shrinking; Israeli manufacturers brought full arsenals on display at this year’s Farnborough Airshow, a sign the fighting has done little to dent relationships built with foreign buyers and governments over years.
Two Migrations, One Passport
Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics published a very different record this year. Nearly 70,000 Israelis left the country in 2025, the most in the country’s history and the second straight year more people left than returned.
- 69,300 Israelis left the country in 2025, according to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics.
- 19,000 Israelis moved back over the same year, the widest gap between the two flows in recent memory.
- 10.178 million is Israel’s total population after the update, still growing but at its slowest pace in years.
- 1.1% annual population growth, matching the prior year’s already-slowed pace.
That left a net outflow of more than 50,000 people, even as citizenship inquiries from abroad keep rising, according to Decker, Pex, Levi Law Firm, a Tel Aviv and Jerusalem based immigration practice that handles Aliyah and citizenship cases. An Israeli passport, the firm argues, is more than a boarding-gate formality.
For many of our clients, it represents a legal connection to Israel, a safety net, and a stronger global mobility profile all at once,
attorneys at the firm said in a statement responding to the ranking’s release.
This is not the first time Israel’s passport has strengthened while residents headed for the exits; an earlier passport record arrived alongside a wave of departures, and this year both numbers moved higher again. Foreign applicants and departing citizens are now pulling on the same passport from opposite directions.
Five Legal Paths to an Israeli Passport
Israeli law recognizes five separate routes to citizenship, each with its own eligibility rules and timeline.
- Aliyah under the Law of Return – available to Jews, people with Jewish descent through a parent or grandparent, and their spouses, who can receive citizenship immediately upon immigrating to Israel.
- Citizenship by birth or adoption – granted automatically to children born to at least one Israeli parent, or adopted by Israeli parents.
- Naturalization – open to permanent residents who meet residency, Hebrew language and other statutory requirements under the 1952 Citizenship Law.
- Citizenship through marriage – a graduated, multi-year process for the non-Israeli spouse of an Israeli citizen.
- Ministerial discretion – citizenship granted directly by the Minister of Interior in cases involving significant contributions to the state.
Decker, Pex, Levi represents clients across all five categories, along with related matters before Israel’s Ministry of Interior, the agency that processes most applications.
How the U.S. Fell as the Gulf Climbed
Henley’s index turns 20 this year, and two decades reshuffled the leaderboard. The United States, which once topped the index, has slipped to 10th place, trailing dozens of nations it used to outrank.
The UAE moved the other direction. Henley named it the fastest-climbing passport in the index’s 20-year history, rising from well outside the top tier decades ago into today’s leading cluster. Its regional footprint has not gotten calmer. Its travel agreements have gotten broader anyway.
Twenty years after Henley began ranking passports, the country that once defined travel freedom sits at 10th, while two nations that started far behind, Israel and the UAE, keep climbing regardless of what is happening at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does Israeli Naturalization Take?
Naturalization under the 1952 Citizenship Law generally requires three years of residency out of the five years before applying, along with basic Hebrew proficiency and, in most cases, giving up any prior citizenship. Aliyah under the Law of Return moves much faster and does not require renouncing an existing passport.
Does Israel Allow Dual Citizenship?
Yes, in most cases. Israelis who gain citizenship through the Law of Return can generally keep their original passport, while some naturalization applicants may need to renounce prior citizenship depending on their home country’s own rules.
What Proof Is Needed for Citizenship by Descent?
Applicants typically need documents connecting them to a Jewish parent or grandparent, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates or recognized community records, before Israel’s Ministry of Interior will approve an application under the Law of Return.
Can Foreign Nationals Buy Israeli Citizenship?
No. Unlike Caribbean and some European nations that run formal citizenship-by-investment programs, Israel offers no path to a passport through financial contribution alone. Ministerial discretion cases require documented, significant service to the state, not a payment.
Why Do Other Passport Indexes Rank Israel Differently?
Methodology explains the gap. Arton Capital’s separate mobility tracker placed Israel closer to 17th with a mobility score near 153 in its own 2026 rankings, a reminder that indexes weigh visa-free, visa-on-arrival and eVisa access differently, so the same passport can shift a few places between trackers.
What Does the Global Peace Index Measure?
The Institute for Economics and Peace scores 163 countries each year on militarization, domestic and international conflict, and societal safety. Iceland has held the top spot for 19 consecutive years, while Israel’s 2026 score placed it 159th.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal advice; citizenship and immigration eligibility rules can change, so consult a licensed immigration attorney about your own circumstances, and figures are accurate as of publication.
