The Henley Passport Index is one of the most rigorous and sophisticated measure of global access. It goes beyond a simple ranking of passports to provide an in-depth picture of travel freedom, including which countries travellers can access with which type of visa, how passports have changed over the years, how one nation’s passport compares to other passports
Henley & Partners, the London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm, recently released its annual ‘Henley Passport Index’ which ranks countries with most powerful passports. The Henley Passport Index is one of the most rigorous and sophisticated measure of global access. It goes beyond a simple ranking of passports to provide an in-depth picture of travel freedom, including which countries travellers can access with which type of visa, how passports have changed over the years, how one nation’s passport compares to other passports.
Japan and Singapore were at the top since both of these countries allow visa-free travel to 192 countries hence making them their passport most powerful among other nations. South Korea and Germany share the second position with access to 190 visa-free destinations.
“If we want to restart the global economy, it is critical that developed nations encourage inward migration flows, as opposed to persisting with outmoded restrictions. Resourceful countries need to futureproof their economies by attracting and welcoming the upcoming generation. It is pivotal that advanced nations consider revising their current somewhat exclusive approach to the rest of the world and reform and adapt to overcome the competition and not miss the opportunity to embrace the potential.”
— Dr Christian H Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept
India’s passport this year ranks 90, six spots lower compared to last year when it was ranked 84. Indian passport holders are allowed visa-free travel to 58 nations. Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, and Yemen are among the least powerful passports. Afghanistan passport allows visa-free travel to 26 countries which is the least in the world. The index has not considered temporary restrictions imposed by the majority of countries due to a variety of reasons including the Covid-19 pandemic.
The latest results and research from the Henley Passport Index show how barriers to entry over the past 18 months of the pandemic have resulted in a widest global mobility gap, with passport holders from top ranked countries, Japan and Singapore able to travel visa free to 166 more destinations than Afghan nationals, who sit at the bottom of the index with access to just 26 countries without requiring a visa in advance.
Based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the index, which ranks all of the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa, shows that countries in the global north with high-ranking passports have enforced some of the most stringent inbound Covid-19-related travel restrictions, while many countries with lower-ranking passports have relaxed their borders without seeing this openness reciprocated. This has created an ever-widening gap in travel freedom even for fully vaccinated travellers from countries at the lower end of the passport power ranking who remain locked out of most of the world.
Dr Christian H Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, notes that these decisions are likely to have far-reaching consequences. “If we want to restart the global economy, it is critical that developed nations encourage inward migration flows, as opposed to persisting with outmoded restrictions. Resourceful countries need to futureproof their economies by attracting and welcoming the upcoming generation. It is pivotal that advanced nations consider revising their current somewhat exclusive approach to the rest of the world and reform and adapt to overcome the competition and not miss the opportunity to embrace the potential.”
************************************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken the small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, to run a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will makes a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com