Passport index and
visa information

Visa-free countries are destinations that passport holders can enter without obtaining a visa beforehand. However, all travelers to visa-free countries must carry a valid passport or identity card to prove their nationality and identity throughout their journey.

The rank of a passport (passport ranking) refers to the position that the passport occupies in the overall passport ranking index. Compared to the passports of other countries around the world, the strength of a passport depends on the total mobility score that the passport provides to its holders. This is measured by the total number of countries to which its passport holder can travel to, either without a visa (visa-free access), with a visa on arrival, or with an electronic travel authorization. The greater the number of these destinations, the higher the total points for freedom of movement, and therefore the stronger the passport.

There are many types of passports, including ordinary passports, official passports, diplomatic passports, service passports, and emergency passports.

A biometric passport or electronic passport is similar to an ordinary passport. The difference is that it contains a smart chip in its cover or on one of its pages, which includes the passport holder’s data. Biometric passports were created as a way to respond to the growing threat of identity theft and threats to national security.

Passport rankings matter because they indicate a country’s global standing and its passport holders’ freedom of movement. They are how we determine what is the most powerful passport in the world. A higher-ranked passport typically:

• Cuts costs by eliminating or reducing visa fees
• Saves time by avoiding lengthy visa applications
• Provides easier access to more global opportunities
• Speeds up travel with quicker, smoother border crossings

The strength of a country’s passport is primarily determined by the ease of access to countries around the world and how many countries the passport holder has visa-free access to. Although a country may welcome travelers from all over the world, it may only offer visa-free entry to citizens of select countries and may require other travelers to complete extensive visa checks before gaining permission to enter. The more countries a passport holder can travel to without a visa, the stronger the passport is and the higher the passport will rank.

However, visa-free travel is not the only factor that determines a passport’s strength. Being able to apply for a visa-on-arrival or being eligible for an electronic travel authorization (ETA) or an e-Visa also contributes, and the sum of visa-free access, visa-on-arrival access, e-Visas, and ETAs all contribute to the passport ranking. The highest-ranked (and, therefore, strongest) passports are those that have the most international accessibility.

Visa-free travel makes global tourism much easier and more accessible and has contributed to the growth of worldwide travel. Visas can be expensive, and the application process can be time-consuming. The risk of visa-processing delays, rejected applications, or the logistics of attending visa appointments can put some travelers off international travel. Strict visa requirements typically result in decreased international tourism.

Higher income and a higher GDP (Gross Domestic Product) typically lead to increased visa-free travel. Passport holders from countries with a stronger economy, stronger economic influence, and stronger economic ties are more likely to be granted visa-free access to countries around the world.

International relations play a significant role in determining the most powerful passports in the world. If a country has strong diplomatic ties with other countries around the world, passport holders from that country are more likely to have visa-free access to other countries around the world. Additionally, countries with strong diplomatic and economic ties may have bilateral agreements with other countries, increasing their passport holders’ visa-free travel options.