In the world of international travel, some passports are more
valuable than others.
Passports from some countries allow you to travel
the globe relatively hassle-free, while others can effectively prohibit
your movements. Although advances in mobility and technology have
created a world that feels smaller and more interdependent than ever
before, there is still a major disparity among different countries in
regards to levels of travel freedom. The Passport Index ranks global
passport power in each of the world's countries by assignment of a world
openness or "visa-free" score: a comparison of how much travel freedom
their citizens enjoy. The index compares passports from 193 countries,
as well as six territories: Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Kosovo, Palestine
and the Vatican. Each country is ranked by the total number of nations
its citizens can visit without having to apply for a visa in advance or
upon arrival.
In a general sense, global openness ranking is
based on a the health of that country's diplomatic and political ties to
other countries, but is also influenced by factors such as security
risk, reciprocal visa arrangements, and historical rates of visa or
immigration regulation violations by its travelling citizens. Scores can
also be affected by social or political events such as elections,
revolutions or political or financial crises. Countries such as Somalia,
Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan, are ranked lowest in global passport
power. Citizens of these countries must apply for a visa before
travelling to all but 30 countries. For those who possess these
highly-restricted passports, international travel can be a costly and
time-consuming bureaucratic nightmare. Conversely, citizens of the
wealthiest and most politically-stable countries may enjoy a
near-universal freedom of movement across the globe. Passports from
these countries are considered valuable because citizens do not have to
go through the financial cost and difficulty of applying for a visa
before travelling.
10. Estonia
Estonia trails slightly behind its neighbouring eastern European
countries with a visa-free score of 148. However, this country has risen
steadily in rank since 2015.
9. Tie: Slovenia/Slovakia/Poland/Lithuania/Latvia
Five eastern European countries share a ranking of ninth, with a
global openness score of 149: Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Latvia and
Lithuania. Lithuania's score has been slowly increasing since 2015.
Despite a fluctuating score, Latvia has also been increasing in the
rankings over the past two years. Poland has remained ninth in the
rankings for three years, despite slight losses and gains in its overall
score. Slovenia and Slovakia have travelled in tandem since 2015: two
years ranked tenth, with a drop of two points between 2015 and 2016, and
climbing up to ninth in 2017.
8. Hungary
Hungary is ranked eighth, with visa-free access to 150 countries.
Holding steady since 2016, the country's score has dropped two points
since it was ranked seventh in 2015.
7. Tie: Malta/Czechia/Iceland
With a score of 152, Malta, Czechia and Iceland are tied for seventh
in the rankings. Back after a slight dip in 2016, Czechian citizens
still enjoy relatively comprehensive global travel freedoms. Iceland's
score has risen by two points (and two ranking positions) since 2015.
After dropping slightly in 2016, Malta's visa-free score increased by
four points in 2017.
6. Tie: Greece/New Zealand/Australia
Greece, New Zealand and Austria are ranked sixth. Citizens of these
countries may visit 153 countries without a visa requirement. Greece's
score is slowly improving after a drop from fifth to seventh in the
rankings in 2016. While New Zealand's score has fluctuated slightly, it
has maintained its place in the rankings for the past three years.
Australia's position has been steadily improving since 2015.
5. Tie: Malaysia/Ireland/Canada
Ranked fifth, with a visa-free score of 154, are the diverse
countries of Malaysia, Ireland and Canada. Malaysia has risen to this
status from a ranking of eighth in 2015. Ireland has returned to its
position after a two-point drop in 2016. Canada's score has also risen
two points since 2016.
4. Tie: Luxembourg/Switzerland/Netherlands/Belgium/Austria/Portugal
Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and
Portugal have visa-free access to 155 countries. After seeing a dip in
2016, Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria are back up to fourth place.
Ranked second two years ago, Switzerland's score has been slowly
decreasing. The Netherlands have dropped slightly in ranking as well.
Belgium has remained fourth in the rankings, but its score has increased
by one point since last year.
3. Tie: Denmark/Finland/Italy/France/Spain/Norway/Japan/United Kingdom/United States
Tied for third are seven European countries: Denmark, Finland, Italy,
France, Spain, Norway, the United Kingdom, as well as Japan and the
United States. Denmark dropped to a ranking of fourth last year, but is
now back up to a visa-free score of 156. Spain, Finland and France were
ranked second in 2015, but after a drop of two points have now climbed
back up in the rankings. Italy is back as well after a dip in 2016.
Norway and the United States, and Japan have all seen increases in score
over the past two years. Citizens of the United Kingdom must apply for
visas before visiting Iran, Mongolia, and Turkey, countries in which
their German neighbours enjoy visa-free access.
2. Tie: Sweden/South Korea
Sweden and South Korea come in second, with a visa-free score of 157.
The Scandinavian nation was ranked number one in 2015, and after a
slight fall in 2016 is now seeing a slight increase in global travel
freedom. Although it is no longer the strongest Asian nation, South
Korea's visa-free score has risen rapidly over the past year, moving the
country up from a rank of sixth to second overall.
1. Tie: Germany/Singapore
Citizens of Germany and Singapore enjoy the most freedoms in their
international travel, with visa-free access to 158 countries. After a
slight dip in 2016, Germany returned to its spot at the top of the
rankings. Germany's success may be attributed, in part to its current
open-door policy to immigrants and asylum-seekers. After Ukraine
extended its visa-on-arrival policy to Singaporean passport holders, the
country is tied with Germany at the top of the rankings. Singapore's
world openness score has been steadily increasing over the past several
years, passing South Korea to become the strongest passport in Asia.
Along with German citizens, they now hold the world's most powerful
passports.
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