Passport is the gateway for every traveler to legally enter into a world beyond the borders of his nation. At the starting of 2020, Henley Passport Index has created hullabaloo with its list of the world’s most powerful passports in 2020. If Henley Passport Index is an alien term for you - it is a global ranking of countries depending on the travel freedom of their citizens around the world.
More countries a passport holder can travel visa-free to, more powerful the passport is. Henley is providing the list of ‘Most Powerful Passports in the World’ on its website since 2006 in collaboration with the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Asia continues to dominate the list with the first two ranks being held by Japan and Singapore.
Rank 1: Japan
Japanese Passport is the most powerful travel document that one can own. It is the third consecutive year for Japan to hold top ranks in the list of world’s most powerful passport. Japanese Passport allows the holders to travel 191 destinations in the world without a visa. Japan is amongst the few nations that provide their passport holders a visa-free or electronic travel authorization entry to the world’s four largest economies namely, India, China, European Union, and the United States.
Rank 2: Singapore
Singapore shared the first position in the list of world’s most powerful passport last year but this year it has dropped down to rank two with visa-free travel to 190 destinations. Singapore is the only developed nation that has access to travel to Cuba without a pre-arranged visa or travel card. Singaporean Citizens have access to a visa-free entry or Electronic Travel Authorization to four largest economies in the World.
Rank 3: South Korea & Germany
The third Rank is shared by South Korea and Germany with visa-free travel access to 189 countries. Last year both the countries were sharing the second position along with Finland. South Korean Passport holders have access to travel visa-free to all G8 countries. If one has a German passport, one can work and live anywhere in the EU as per Article 21 of the EU Treaty.
Rank 4: Italy & Finland
Italy is in the fourth position along with Finland. If you have Italian or Finnish Passports, you can travel to 188 countries without a visa. A Finnish passport holder has many advantages like they have right of residence and movement in the states of Switzerland, European Economic Area and European Union.
Rank 5: Denmark, Luxembourg& Spain
Denmark and Luxembourg were in the third position last year while Spain was in the fourth. In the world’s most powerful passport list 2020, now their names are in the fifth position with access to 187 destinations without visas. To travel to Spain, Indian passport holders are required to get a Schengen visa through which they get access to travel any European country that lies within Schengen Zone.
Rank 6: Sweden & France
Anyone who holds the Swedish or French Passport can travel to 186 destinations around the world visa-free. Sweden and France have made to be on the sixth position in the list of world’s most powerful passports issued by Henley Passport Index in 2020. As per Article 21 of the EU Treaty, France and Sweden are amongst few nations which have right to free movement and residence in any states of Switzerland, the European Union, and the European Economic Area.
Rank 7: Switzerland, Portugal, Netherland, and Ireland
The seventh position in the list of world’s most powerful passport issued by Henley Passport Index is shared by four nations -Switzerland, Portugal, Netherland, and Ireland. If you have any of these passports, you can travel to 185 destinations around the world Visa-free. Swiss Passport grants you free access to Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein and 28 European Union member states as per the bilateral agreements with the EU.
Rank 8: US, UK, Greece, Belgium, and Norway
The world’s most powerful passport list has five nations in the eighth position namely, the US, UK, Greece, Belgium, and Norway. Passport holders of these nations can travel visa-free to 184 destinations across the globe. Anyone who holds British, American, Belgian, Norwegian or Greek passport can travel to India by getting an eVisa through their respective online portal.
Rank 9: New Zealand, Malta, Czech Republic, Australia, and Canada
Ninth Rank is seized by five nations namely, New Zealand, Malta, Czech Republic, Australia, and Canada. Passport holders of these nations have entrance to 183 destinations visa-free. To everyone’s surprise, Belgium has dropped from 6th to 9th rank in the list of the world’s most powerful passport.
Rank 10: Iceland, Hungary, Slovenia, and Latvia
Four nations acquire the tenth position in the Henley Passport Index’s list of world’s most powerful passport in 2020. Iceland, Hungary, Slovenia, and Latvia have access to 180 nations where the citizens of the above mentioned countries can travel visa-free. Iceland being a member of the European Economic Area has access to travel free to 28 European Union member states, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Norway.
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