World’s most powerful passports
powerful passports. Three Asian countries have now taken the top spot.
The latest Henley Passport Index shows Japan maintains first place but now shares top spot with Singapore and South Korea.Source:Supplied
The power of the Australian passport has been bumped from 10th to ninth place in the latest international ranking of best passports to have if you’re wanting to freely visit countries around the world.
The March 2019 Henley Passport Index shows Aussie travellers can freely visit 181 countries — two fewer than last year — with Ukraine and Turkey suspending their visa-on-arrival policies.
Japan has maintained their holding of first place on the Index but now share the top spot with Singapore and South Korea, with citizens enjoying visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 189 destinations.
The US jumped up one spot to fifth place, while the UK shared sixth position with Belgium, Canada, Greece and Ireland with 184 destinations.
The Henley Passport Index is based on authoritative data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and bases its rankings on how many countries a passport entitles a traveller to enter without having to pre-apply for a visa.
Australian passport holders can freely travel to 181 countries.Source:istock
The latest rankings are a further display of Asian passport power.
Germany, in second place with a visa-free score of 188, is just ahead of France, Denmark, Finland, Italy and Sweden on 187.
Dr Christian H. Kälin, group chairman of Henley & Partners, says despite rising isolationist sentiment in some parts of the world, most countries remain committed to collaboration and mutually beneficial agreements.
“Historical data from the Henley Passport Index over the past 14 years shows an overwhelming global tendency towards visa openness,” he said in a release.
“In 2006, a citizen, on average, could travel to 58 destinations without needing a visa from the host nation; by the end of 2018, this number had nearly doubled to 107.”
China’s steady ascent up the rankings is a clear demonstration of this.
In 2017, the country was ranked 85th, with citizens able to access just 51 destinations. Now in 2019, China sits in 67th place with access to 74 countries around the world.
The latest rankings are a further display of Asian passport power, with Japan, Singapore and South Korea now sharing first place.Source:istock
“The current strength of Asian passports is emblematic of this progressive shift, and it seems certain that more and more countries will follow suit in order to benefit from global flows of talent and capital,” Dr Kälin said.
As in 2018, countries with citizenship-by-investment programs continue to hold their strong positions on the index.
One of the biggest climbers for this 2019 index was Albania, which has moved up 28 places in the past 10 years. Citizens of this once closed-off nation are now able to access 116 destinations without a prior visa.
The countries with the least amount of travel freedom include Pakistan, with holders only able to travel freely to 33 destinations, and Somalia and Syria at 32 destinations. Afghanistan and Iraq ranked the lowest, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 30.
1. Japan, Singapore, South Korea — 189 (destinations)
2. Germany — 188
3. France, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Sweden — 187
4. Luxembourg, Spain — 186
5. Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, US — 185
6. UK, Belgium, Canada, Greece, Ireland — 184
7. Czech Republic — 183
8. Malta — 182
9. Australia, Iceland, New Zealand — 181
10. Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia — 180
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The latest Henley Passport Index shows Japan maintains first place but now shares top spot with Singapore and South Korea.Source:Supplied
The power of the Australian passport has been bumped from 10th to ninth place in the latest international ranking of best passports to have if you’re wanting to freely visit countries around the world.
The March 2019 Henley Passport Index shows Aussie travellers can freely visit 181 countries — two fewer than last year — with Ukraine and Turkey suspending their visa-on-arrival policies.
Japan has maintained their holding of first place on the Index but now share the top spot with Singapore and South Korea, with citizens enjoying visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 189 destinations.
The US jumped up one spot to fifth place, while the UK shared sixth position with Belgium, Canada, Greece and Ireland with 184 destinations.
The Henley Passport Index is based on authoritative data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and bases its rankings on how many countries a passport entitles a traveller to enter without having to pre-apply for a visa.
Australian passport holders can freely travel to 181 countries.Source:istock
The latest rankings are a further display of Asian passport power.
Germany, in second place with a visa-free score of 188, is just ahead of France, Denmark, Finland, Italy and Sweden on 187.
Dr Christian H. Kälin, group chairman of Henley & Partners, says despite rising isolationist sentiment in some parts of the world, most countries remain committed to collaboration and mutually beneficial agreements.
“Historical data from the Henley Passport Index over the past 14 years shows an overwhelming global tendency towards visa openness,” he said in a release.
“In 2006, a citizen, on average, could travel to 58 destinations without needing a visa from the host nation; by the end of 2018, this number had nearly doubled to 107.”
China’s steady ascent up the rankings is a clear demonstration of this.
In 2017, the country was ranked 85th, with citizens able to access just 51 destinations. Now in 2019, China sits in 67th place with access to 74 countries around the world.
The latest rankings are a further display of Asian passport power, with Japan, Singapore and South Korea now sharing first place.Source:istock
“The current strength of Asian passports is emblematic of this progressive shift, and it seems certain that more and more countries will follow suit in order to benefit from global flows of talent and capital,” Dr Kälin said.
As in 2018, countries with citizenship-by-investment programs continue to hold their strong positions on the index.
One of the biggest climbers for this 2019 index was Albania, which has moved up 28 places in the past 10 years. Citizens of this once closed-off nation are now able to access 116 destinations without a prior visa.
The countries with the least amount of travel freedom include Pakistan, with holders only able to travel freely to 33 destinations, and Somalia and Syria at 32 destinations. Afghanistan and Iraq ranked the lowest, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 30.
1. Japan, Singapore, South Korea — 189 (destinations)
2. Germany — 188
3. France, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Sweden — 187
4. Luxembourg, Spain — 186
5. Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, US — 185
6. UK, Belgium, Canada, Greece, Ireland — 184
7. Czech Republic — 183
8. Malta — 182
9. Australia, Iceland, New Zealand — 181
10. Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia — 180
The content does not represent the perspective of UC
READ SOURCE Report
51
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
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