Most Powerful Passports For 2022
Henley & Partners, a London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm, says three Asian passports offer greater global travel freedom than any other passport.
Singapore and South Korea now only offer their citizens visa-free or visa-on-demand access to 192 destinations around the world, while Japan offers 193.
As a consequence, Asian citizens are less likely to be taking advantage of that travel freedom than those in Europe or the Americas due to Asia’s more cautious response to Covid-19.
According to the latest statistics from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), international passenger travel in Asia-Pacific is still less than a fifth of pre-Covid levels.
Henley Passport Index reports that Europe and North America have recovered to around 60% of their previous travel mobility levels.
Most Powerful Passports For 2022: Once again, Europe reigns supreme
A glut of European countries sit near the top of the leaderboard below the Asian top three. Spain and Germany have 190 destinations each, followed by Finland, Italy, and Luxembourg with 189.
France, Ireland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom are tied for sixth place with Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, and Sweden.
Along with Belgium, Norway, and Switzerland, New Zealand and the United States appear at No.7.
Once again, Afghan nationals are at the bottom of the index, with only 27 countries requiring a visa in advance.
As travel restrictions ease, there are signs that lower-ranking passports are gaining clout.
Reports indicate that Indian passport holders now have unrestricted access to 57 destinations around the world (compared to 23 in 2020), similar to what they had pre-pandemic.
It is more difficult than ever before for Russian passport holders to connect with the rest of the world because of the invasion of Ukraine.
The index does not account for temporary restrictions or airspace closures, so while the Russian passport currently sits at 50th place on the index, with a visa-free or visa-free on arrival score of 119, many of those destinations are effectively closed to Russian citizens.
Most Powerful Passports For 2022: These are the best passports to hold in July 2022:
1. Japan (193 destinations)
2. Singapore, South Korea (192 destinations)
3. Germany, Spain (190 destinations)
4. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg (189 destinations)
5. Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden (188 destinations)
6. United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Portugal (187 destinations)
7. The United States, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and Belgium (186 destinations).
8. Canada, Australia, Czech Republic, Greece, Malta (185 destinations)
9. Hungary (183 destinations)
10. Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia (182 destinations)
Most Powerful Passports For 2022: Here are the worst passports to hold in July 2022
There are several countries that do not require visas or have visas on arrival for 40 or fewer countries around the world. Among them are:
105. North Korea (40 destinations)
106. Nepal, Palestinian territory (38 destinations)
107. Somalia (35 destinations)
108. Yemen (34 destinations)
109. Pakistan (32 destinations)
110. Syria (30 destinations)
111. Iraq (29 destinations)
112. Afghanistan (27 destinations)
Most Powerful Passports For 2022: There are other indexes as well
According to Henley & Partners’ list, global passports are ranked according to the access they provide to their citizens.
Based on the Henley Passport Index, 199 passports are ranked based on how many visa-free destinations are accessible to their holders. It is updated live throughout the year as visa policy changes take effect.
The Passport Index considers passports from 193 United Nations member countries and six territories: ROC Taiwan, Macau (SAR China), Hong Kong (SAR China), Kosovo, Palestinian Territory, and the Vatican. The list excludes territories annexed to other countries.
With a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 171, the United Arab Emirates tops the index for 2022.
FAQ.
What are some of the other indices that rank passports in the world?
There are several other indices that rank passports, such as the Bayat Migration Index, Latitude’s Country Access Tool, and Nomad Capitalist Passport Index. It is nevertheless the Henley Passport Index and the Global Passport Index that receive the most attention.
Important Links
How is the ranking for Global Passport Index determined?
The Global Passport Index uses a three-tier methodology to rank passports. These include calculating their mobility score, checking where their country ranks on the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index, and comparing their visa-free privileges with their visa on arrival privileges.