A few years ago, the German passport was the most valuable in the world. It ranked third last year, and in the latest ranking this year, it has achieved a tied second-place position.
Swiss law firm Henley&Partners has evaluated passports from 160 countries worldwide, incorporating data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the passports of two Asian countries top the list!
Among the 195 countries recognized by the United Nations, visas issued by Japan and Singapore provide visa-free access to 189 countries globally! They are currently the most valuable passports in the world!
The number of visa-free countries for holders of a German passport is 187, followed by Finland and South Korea, which are tied for second place.
Ranking third are Denmark, Italy, and Luxembourg, with 186 visa-free countries. France ranks fourth with 185. The United States and the United Kingdom, which held the top spot until 2014, are now ranked sixth, with 183 visa-free countries.
Russia ranks 51st with 116 visa-free countries, and China ranks 74th. The passport of Afghanistan is the least attractive in the world, with only 25 visa-free countries and territories.
Countries with significant changes in ranking
Many European countries rank high mainly because the European Union itself includes 28 member states, and citizens of EU countries can travel to the other 27 EU countries without a visa. Brexit may cause the UK's ranking to decline.
The United Arab Emirates has seen a significant change in its visa-free ranking; its number of visa-free countries has doubled in just five years, reaching 165 countries and leaping into the top 20. Observers note that among the 30 countries in the top 13 of the visa-free passport ranking (due to ties), all are democratic countries except for Singapore. The rapid rise of the UAE passport is not considered typical.