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World's best and worst passports revealed

DavidSling

DavidSling

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When it comes to crossing international frontiers, there's one travel document that opens more doors than any other.

And it isn't a U.S. passport.

German citizens, it seems, have the potential for the greatest mobility in the travel world.

With a German passport, travelers can enter 177 out of 218 countries and territories without a visa, according to the 2016 Visa Restrictions Index.


World's best city for expats 2016 named

The list, compiled annually since 2006 by London-based consulting firm Henley and Partners and the International Air Transport Association, ranks nations by how freely their citizens, unencumbered by immigration red tape, can explore the planet.

This year, it shows that citizenship of a superpower doesn't carry the clout it once did.

The United States, which ranked first in 2014 and 2015, has now dropped to fourth place.

Immediately behind Germany, holding its position as runner-up for the second year running, is Sweden with visa-free access to 176 countries.

Finland, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom -- which had topped the list since 2013 -- are now tied for third place, making Northern and Western European citizens the most privileged in international travel.

Japan and South Korea were also among the group in the top three in 2014 and 2015, but have slid down to fifth and sixth place respectively this year.

Belgium, Denmark and Netherlands stand alongside the U.S. in fourth.

At the bottom of the list, labeled countries with the "worst passports," are Afghanistan, at 104, followed by Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, and Syria.


151119192129-us-passport-2-exlarge-169.jpg


Freedom factors
160301105518-czech-republic-airport-passports-01-medium-plus-169.jpg


Border controls at the airport in Prague, the Czech Republic, were lifted in 2008 as it became a member state of the border-free Schengen Area along with other newcomers.
Fiddling with the Index's interactive features yields results rich for analysis.

With cumulative data from 11 years, the site allows users to compare multiple countries' scores on a list, a color-coded world map, and a graph, or chart a country's progress regarding visa policies over the decade.

Henley and Partners, a firm specializing in immigration and citizenship services, explains that visa requirements "reflect strongly on each country's relationships with others." Threats to security and risks of violating immigration rules are also factored in.

Observing that no country has dropped more than three places while some made huge leaps, the company concludes that freedom of movement, in terms of "visa-free access," is generally improving around the world.

"Criteria that a country will consider when considering giving visa-free access to citizens of another country may include diplomatic relationships between the countries, reciprocal visa arrangements, security risks, or risks of violation of visa terms," a representative of Henley and Partners, a firm specializing in immigration and citizenship services, tells CNN.

East Timor, which gained independence in 1999, made the steepest climb of 33 places to land at 57, while Colombia, at 50th, moved up 25 spots.

Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, fell from 16th to 20th place.

A surge in country wealth that allows citizens to flash their tourism cash may also mean a warmer welcome from other destinations.

China is now at 87, tied with Cambodia, having risen from 93rd place in 2015 after countries like Japan, South Korea and the United States relaxed visa restrictions for Chinese tourists.

It's now above Chad and below Sierra Leone.

The United Kingdom and Australia have also announced plans to further ease requirements to attract Chinese tourists.

Visa Restriction Index 2006 to 2016
World's best and worst passports revealed - CNN.com

@PARIKRAMA @sarjenprabhu @mike2000 is back @Blue Marlin @Archdemon
 
Last edited:
. . .
DavidSling said:
When it comes to crossing international frontiers, there's one travel document that opens more doors than any other.

And it isn't a U.S. passport.

German citizens, it seems, have the potential for the greatest mobility in the travel world.

With a German passport, travelers can enter 177 out of 218 countries and territories without a visa, according to the 2016 Visa Restrictions Index.


World's best city for expats 2016 named

The list, compiled annually since 2006 by London-based consulting firm Henley and Partners and the International Air Transport Association, ranks nations by how freely their citizens, unencumbered by immigration red tape, can explore the planet.

This year, it shows that citizenship of a superpower doesn't carry the clout it once did.

The United States, which ranked first in 2014 and 2015, has now dropped to fourth place.

Immediately behind Germany, holding its position as runner-up for the second year running, is Sweden with visa-free access to 176 countries.

Finland, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom -- which had topped the list since 2013 -- are now tied for third place, making Northern and Western European citizens the most privileged in international travel.

Japan and South Korea were also among the group in the top three in 2014 and 2015, but have slid down to fifth and sixth place respectively this year.

Belgium, Denmark and Netherlands stand alongside the U.S. in fourth.

At the bottom of the list, labeled countries with the "worst passports," are Afghanistan, at 104, followed by Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, and Syria.


151119192129-us-passport-2-exlarge-169.jpg


Freedom factors
160301105518-czech-republic-airport-passports-01-medium-plus-169.jpg


Border controls at the airport in Prague, the Czech Republic, were lifted in 2008 as it became a member state of the border-free Schengen Area along with other newcomers.
Fiddling with the Index's interactive features yields results rich for analysis.

With cumulative data from 11 years, the site allows users to compare multiple countries' scores on a list, a color-coded world map, and a graph, or chart a country's progress regarding visa policies over the decade.

Henley and Partners, a firm specializing in immigration and citizenship services, explains that visa requirements "reflect strongly on each country's relationships with others." Threats to security and risks of violating immigration rules are also factored in.

Observing that no country has dropped more than three places while some made huge leaps, the company concludes that freedom of movement, in terms of "visa-free access," is generally improving around the world.

"Criteria that a country will consider when considering giving visa-free access to citizens of another country may include diplomatic relationships between the countries, reciprocal visa arrangements, security risks, or risks of violation of visa terms," a representative of Henley and Partners, a firm specializing in immigration and citizenship services, tells CNN.

East Timor, which gained independence in 1999, made the steepest climb of 33 places to land at 57, while Colombia, at 50th, moved up 25 spots.

Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, fell from 16th to 20th place.

A surge in country wealth that allows citizens to flash their tourism cash may also mean a warmer welcome from other destinations.

China is now at 87, tied with Cambodia, having risen from 93rd place in 2015 after countries like Japan, South Korea and the United States relaxed visa restrictions for Chinese tourists.

It's now above Chad and below Sierra Leone.

The United Kingdom and Australia have also announced plans to further ease requirements to attract Chinese tourists.

Visa Restriction Index 2006 to 2016
World's best and worst passports revealed - CNN.com

@PARIKRAMA @sarjenprabhu @mike2000 is back @Blue Marlin @Archdemon
Click to expand...

NO WAY.......We should be 1st not 3rd
 
.
Term best and worst is misleading. Index actually represents measures of restrictions or lack thereof in the travelling. Restrictions are two way in most of the cases. Pakistan has a very restricted visa policy and it really isn't easy to get into Pakistan. Due to situation, government has tightened the inflow of foreign citizens. Same is returned by other nations and personally I'm fine with it. Let the situation improve and then we can ease on scrutiny of people wanting to enter Pakistan. Also countries with high population and low HDI have greater probability of swarming the developed nations. Therefore restrictions on visa. With a valid reason to visit a country abroad, I haven't noticed visas being denied.
 
. .
Wow... Syria ranked above pakistan , seriously even I thought Pakistan would rank like 90 at best , wth happened that they are ranked at last but one.

I thought Indians & pakistanis were among the most foreign migrations in Asia.
 
.
Paksanity said:
Term best and worst is misleading. Index actually represents measures of restrictions or lack thereof in the travelling. Restrictions are two way in most of the cases. Pakistan has a very restricted visa policy and it really isn't easy to get into Pakistan. Due to situation, government has tightened the inflow of foreign citizens. Same is returned by other nations and personally I'm fine with it. Let the situation improve and then we can ease on scrutiny of people wanting to enter Pakistan. Also countries with high population and low HDI have greater probability of swarming the developed nations. Therefore restrictions on visa. With a valid reason to visit a country abroad, I haven't noticed visas being denied.
Click to expand...
That is what the article says while explaining the criteria for computing the list. How free the movement from and to a particular country is and passport is the only travel document which is accepted across the countries, hence if the passport is self sufficient without any extra travel document (read it as VISA) it is best passport and if one requires additional travel document (visa etc) with lot of effort then it is worst passport. I think the title is appropriate.
 
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have, lots of money , then it's not important which passport you are having.
 
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Bangladesh at 96? Glad I got an American passport.
 
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