For some, a passport is a measure of access to countries around the globe. For others, it defines restrictions and boundaries to places around the world. The more countries you can travel to without the need for a visa, the more powerful your passport is.
While most of us aspire to travel the world visa-free and easy, we can only be free as our passports. The more powerful the passport, the more freedom you have.
So what are the most powerful passports in the world?
Well, according to Henley Passport Index, Japan stands at the top for the third consecutive time with visa-free access to 191 countries in the world. An astonishing contrast when comparing it to some of the least powerful passports with less than visa-free 30 countries.
Following a close second is Singapore with 190 visa-free countries, while the third place is tied with South Korea and Germany with 189 countries that you can travel without a visa. Italy, Finland, Spain, and Luxembourg secures the 4th rank with a four-way tie of 188 visa-free countries.
A clear Asian dominance is clearly seen within the ranks. According to Henley & Partners chairman and inventor of the passport index concept Dr. Christian H Kaelin, this is due to “a clear argument for the benefits of open-door policies and the introduction of mutually beneficial trade agreements.”
The United States, which has remained the most powerful country on earth for the last century, shares the 7th spot with the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, and Belgium. If you have a passport from one of these countries, you can travel to 185 countries without a prior visa. The United States and the United Kingdom are also the first two countries on the passport global ranking 2020 list that are not from either Europe or Asia.
At the bottom of the Henley’s passport index is Afghanistan as the only 109th ranked country. Having an Afghanistan passport means that only 26 countries can be accessed visa-free. A difference of 165 countries compared to Japan’s number 1 passport. Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen also landed on the bottom five spots, just above Afghanistan. Three are middle-east countries, whereas Somalia is a country in East Africa, and Pakistan is a country in South Asia.
While middle-east countries are doing relatively low in the passport ranking, United Arab Emirates is currently ranked among the top 20 most powerful passports in the world. The Maldives tops South Asia in the 62nd spot with 85 visa-free countries, while Seychelles is the most powerful passport in Africa, securing the 29th position of Henley Passport Index with 151 countries accessible without a visa.
Taking a look at the country with the most populous democracy in the world and the second-largest population in the world, India ranks 85th place in the Henley Passport Index, with a total of 58 Indian Passport visa-free countries. This includes countries from Asia such as Maldives, Thailand, Bhutan, and Cambodia, as well as destinations in Africa like Mauritius and Seychelles; and countries in North America and Oceania.
The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all world’s passports according to the number of countries accessible without a prior visa. The Index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the largest and most accurate database of travel information worldwide.
The impact of COVID-19 on the most powerful passport in the world
Of course, these rankings are without considering the travel bans and restrictions placed due to the on-going global pandemic.
Covid-19 was a reset to the most powerful passports in the world. Under the current EU ban, Americans have the same freedom as Mexico. As for the top passports holders, Japan and South Korea still have access to most countries in the world while Singapore did not meet the requirements of the EU’s coronavirus-related health and safety criteria, meaning they get less freedom than the other two top tier countries.
Chairman of Henley & Partners Dr. Christian H. Kaelin explains, “As we have already seen, the pandemic’s impact on travel freedom has been more drastic and long-lasting than initially anticipated. This latest decision by the EU indicates that there is more upheaval to come. We see an emergence of a new global hierarchy in terms of mobility, with countries that have effectively managed the pandemic taking the lead, and countries that have handled it poorly falling behind.”
What makes a powerful passport?
The passport ranks are based on a “total visa-free score,” determined by the countries that can be accessed without a visa, with a visa on arrival, or by obtaining electronic travel authorization (ETA).
The Visa-Free Score of a country depends on multiple factors, of all which are government-related. It depends on diplomatic ties, economical ties, foreign policies, and international relations that the country has.
The power of a passport also depends on the situation of a country. This means the state of economic as well as the political situation of a country as well. The better these factors are, the more powerful a passport becomes.
How to travel to countries that require a Visa
Traveling to a country that requires a visa is very difficult.
The first step is to visit the embassy of the country. The challenge here is the embassy might not be located in your city or even your country. Once you manage to contact the embassy, you have to go through the ordeal of filing a ton of application forms. Of course, this is in addition to the high visa fees required.
Sometimes, before applying for a visa, you have to book your flight beforehand. Even then, there is no guaranty that you will receive a visa. Not to mention the discrimination some countries have to face even while crossing the border even after they get their visa. It’s, without a doubt, a hectic process
As we mentioned before, obtaining a visa and traveling to countries is a difficult task. However, it’s not an impossible one. A weak passport has never stopped the most enthusiastic traveler exploring the world. That being said, having a top passport in the world like the Japanese passport will make life easier. Keep in mind, traveling around the world is a privilege, not a right.
Top 10 strongest passports 2020
1- Japan: 191 visa-free countries
2- Singapore: 190 visa-free countries
3= South Korea: 189 visa-free countries
3= Germany: 189 visa-free countries
4= Italy: 188 visa-free countries
4= Finland: 188 visa-free countries
4= Spain: 188 visa-free countries
4= Luxembourg: 188 visa-free countries
5= Denmark: 187 visa-free countries
5= Austria: 187 visa-free countries
6= Sweden: 186 visa-free countries
6= France: 186 visa-free countries
6= Portugal: 186 visa-free countries
6= Netherlands: 186 visa-free countries
6= Ireland: 186 visa-free countries
7= Switzerland: 185 visa-free countries
7= United States: 185 visa-free countries
7= United Kingdom: 185 visa-free countries
7= Norway: 185 visa-free countries
7= Belgium: 185 visa-free countries
8= Greece: 184 visa-free countries
8= New Zealand: 184 visa-free countries
8= Malta: 184 visa-free countries
8= Czech Republic: 184 visa-free countries
9=. Canada: 183 visa-free countries
9=. Australia: 183 visa-free countries
10=. Hungary: 182 visa-free countries
If you are looking for a traveler’s bucket-list visa-FREE country for ALL, look no further than the Maldives. Irrespective of the passport you hold, the Maldives welcomes visitors with free visa and airport-hassle free travel. The only requirement to travel to Maldives is a valid passport. A visitor visa valid for 30 days is issued upon arrival for free. So if you are unable to decide where to travel next, pack your bags, book your ticket and vacation packages to Maldive and fly to Maldives.