The world’s most powerful passports for 2019 revealed
Japan and Singapore have emerged as the world’s most travel-friendly passports this year.
The two countries offer their passport holders access to 190 countries around the world without needing a visa, according to the quarterly Henley Passport Index.
Taking the joint second place are South Korea, Germany and Finland, with access to 188 countries while Denmark, Italy, and Luxembourg are in third place with citizens being able to visit 187 countries without needing a visa in advance.
France, Spain and Sweden followed in number four with a score of 186.
According to Henley & Partners, the index’s ranking goes beyond hassle-free travel.
“Our ongoing research has shown that when we talk about ‘passport power’, we are discussing more than simply the destinations a holder can travel to without acquiring a visa in advance,” said Dr Christian H Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and the creator of the passport index.
“Often, there is a strong correlation between visa freedom and other benefits such as business and investment freedom, independence of the judiciary, fiscal health, and property rights.”
The best passports to hold in 2019:
- Japan, Singapore (190 destinations)
- Finland, Germany, South Korea (188)
- Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg (187)
- France, Spain, Sweden (186)
- Austria, Netherlands, Portugal (185)
- Belgium, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Norway, United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland (184)
- Malta, Czech Republic (183)
- New Zealand (182)
- Australia, Lithuania, Slovakia (181)
- Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Slovenia (180)
The worst passports to hold in 2019:
- Lebanon, North Korea (39 destinations)
- Nepal (38)
- Libya, Palestinian Territory, Sudan (37)
- Yemen (33)
- Somalia, Pakistan (31)
- Syria (29)
- Iraq (27)
- Afghanistan (25)