World’s Best, Worst Passports to Hold in 2023
Henley & Partners, a London-based global citizenship and residence advice organization, has produced a new quarterly study stating that three Asian passports provide their holders with greater worldwide travel flexibility than those of any other country.
Japanese citizens have visa-free or visa-on-request access to a world-record 193 destinations, only ahead of Singapore and South Korea, whose citizens can visit 192 countries without a visa.
And now that the Asia-Pacific is opening up as a result of Operation Covid, its citizens are more inclined to take advantage of this travel freedom once more.
According to the most recent report by Henley Passport Index, which is based on information from the International Air Transport Association, global travel is now at approximately 75% of pre-pandemic levels (IATA).
Below the top three Asian countries is a glut of European nations towards the top of the rankings. Germany and Spain are tied with 190 destinations, while Finland, Italy, and Luxembourg have 189.
Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden are tied at fifth place, followed by France, Ireland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
At number seven are New Zealand and the United States, together with Belgium, Norway, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
Once again at the bottom of the index, Afghan citizens have visa-free access to only 27 countries.
Similar indexesThe ranking compiled by Henley & Partner is one of numerous indexes developed by financial institutions to rate worldwide passports according to the access they provide to its citizens.
The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports based on the number of countries visa-free travel is permitted to. Throughout the year, it is updated in real time if there are changes to visa policies.
Arton Capital’s Passport Index includes the passports of 193 United Nations member countries and six territories, including ROC Taiwan, Macau (SAR China), Hong Kong (SAR China), Kosovo, the Palestinian Territories, and the Vatican. Excluded are territories annexed by other countries.
It is likewise updated in real time throughout the year, but its data is collected by closely monitoring the portals of specific governments. Armand Arton, the founder of Arton Capital, told CNN in December that it is a platform “designed to deliver accurate, easy-to-access information for travelers’ needs.”
The United Arab Emirates tops Arton’s Global Passport Power Rank 2023 with a visa-free/visa-upon-arrival score of 181.
The majority of the second-place countries are European: Germany, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and South Korea.
Alongside Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Norway, Poland, Ireland, and New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom are ranked third.
According to the Henley Passport Index, the best passports to hold in 2023 are as follows:
– Japan (193 destinations)
– Singapore and South Korea (192 destinations)
– Germany and Spain (190 destinations)
– Finland, Italy, and Luxembourg four (189 destinations)
– Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden (188 destinations)
France, Ireland, Portugal, Great Britain (187 destinations)
– Belgium, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United States, and the Czech Republic (186 destinations)
– Australia, Canada, Greece, Malta (185 destinations)
– Hungary, Poland (184 destinations)
– Lithuania, Slovakia (183 destinations)
According to the Henley Passport Index, the worst passports to hold in 2023 are as follows:
Several countries have visa-free or visa-upon-arrival access to 40 or fewer countries. These consist of:
– Northern Korea (40 destinations)
– Nepal and the Palestinian territory (38 destinations)
– Somalia (35 destinations)
– Yemen (34 destinations)
– Pakistan (32 destinations)
– Syria (30 destinations)
– Iraq (29 destinations) (29 destinations)
– Afghanistan (27 destinations)
World’s Best, Worst Passports to Hold in 2023
