Countries According to Passport Strength [Infographic]

A strong passport not only reflects the freedom and flexibility of international travel but also represents the ease with which a person can enter other countries. Visa-free access means travelers can enter a country without having to go through the often time-consuming and costly process of applying for a visa. In contrast, Visa-on-arrival allows travelers to obtain their visa once they land, eliminating the need for pre-approval but still requiring some paperwork at the point of entry.

Did you know …. The person with the most diverse passport portfolio in the world holds citizenship from eight countries: Canada, the UK, Ireland, Belize, Grenada, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Cape Verde.

This collection provides unparalleled global mobility, allowing visa-free travel to over 180 countries and access to exclusive benefits, including investment opportunities and E-2 Investor Visa eligibility. It’s a powerful strategy for ensuring flexibility in both business and personal travel.

However, visa requirements often introduce challenges like bureaucratic delays, additional fees, and in some cases, the possibility of denied entry, which could severely impact travel plans. This is why passports with more visa-free or visa-on-arrival access are deemed superior in terms of travel flexibility and ease.

Strongest Passports: The Global Leaders

The rankings of passports are largely based on the Mobility Score (MS), which assesses the number of countries a passport holder can access without a visa. In this ranking:

1. United Arab Emirates (UAE)
   • Visa-free access: 133 countries
   • Visa on arrival: 46 countries
   • The UAE boasts the strongest passport globally, allowing Emiratis to move freely across much of the globe without the need for extensive visa procedures. This is especially significant for business, leisure, and diplomatic travel.
2. European Union (EU) Countries
   • Spain, France, Italy, Germany (Tied for 2nd)
   • Visa-free access: Typically 190+ countries for EU passport holders
   • Visa on arrival: Varies by country
   • EU countries, particularly Spain, France, Italy, and Germany, provide robust travel freedom. Their passports rank high because of the Schengen Area, which allows free movement among 26 European countries, as well as other global agreements that simplify travel across continents.

Weaker Passports: Limited Mobility

On the other end of the spectrum, some passports provide limited access to the world due to geopolitical situations, conflict, or global sanctions. The countries with the weakest passports have a significantly smaller number of countries they can enter without a visa:

1. Syria
   • Visa-free access: 9 countries
   • Visa on arrival: Very limited options
   • Due to civil war and international sanctions, Syrian passport holders face extreme restrictions on international travel. With only 9 countries accessible without a visa, they often face border issues and difficulties obtaining visas from many countries.
2. Afghanistan
   • Visa-free access: 6 countries
   • Visa on arrival: Very limited
   • Afghanistan’s passport holds one of the lowest rankings due to political instability and conflict. This severely limits Afghan citizens’ ability to travel without extensive paperwork and potential visa denials.

Countries with Significant Travel Embargoes or Restrictions

In addition to the general difficulty in travel for citizens of certain countries, some countries are subject to embargoes or severe travel restrictions due to diplomatic, economic, or military reasons.

These embargoes make it incredibly difficult for citizens from these countries to obtain visas or gain entry to certain regions.

1. North Korea
   • Subject to global sanctions and restrictions, North Korean passport holders face significant limitations in global travel. Even though North Korea maintains some diplomatic ties with a few countries, most nations impose restrictions on travel from or to North Korea.
2. Iran
   • Due to US-led sanctions and regional political tensions, Iranian passports have limited access to countries without requiring visas. Many Western nations, including the US, UK, and Canada, impose severe travel restrictions on Iranian citizens.
3. Cuba
   • Despite recent shifts in diplomatic relations, Cuban passport holders still face travel restrictions due to an ongoing embargo primarily by the United States, limiting their ability to travel freely to certain countries without visas.
4. Syria
   • As mentioned, Syrian passports face extreme restrictions due to the ongoing civil war, international sanctions, and diplomatic isolation. Many countries refuse entry to Syrian nationals or require lengthy visa procedures and justifications for travel.
5. Afghanistan
   • Similar to Syria, Afghan passport holders face limited mobility, partly due to international sanctions, instability, and conflict in the region, preventing them from enjoying the same level of visa-free access as many other countries.

War Zone Russia and Ukraine

Belarus

• Visa-free access: Citizens of Belarus can travel to about 70-80 countries without a visa or with visa-on-arrival access. This includes several countries in Europe, Asia, and South America, but access to many Western countries is limited.
• Visa on arrival: Belarusian passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in various countries like Jordan, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, but it is generally not as broad as for many Western or European Union countries.

However, since 2020, Belarus has faced international isolation following controversial political events, notably the disputed 2020 presidential election and the subsequent crackdown on opposition protests. This has led to:

• Diplomatic strains with many Western nations resulted in visa requirements and a challenging travel environment for Belarusians seeking to visit countries like the United States, Canada, and European Union member states.
• Sanctions imposed by the European Union, the US, and other countries, make travel and access to financial systems difficult.

Despite these restrictions, Belarusians still enjoy easier travel within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which includes Russia, Kazakhstan, and a few other countries.

Russia

• Visa-free access: Russian citizens can travel to approximately 118 countries without needing a visa or with visa-on-arrival access, which places Russia somewhere in the middle in terms of global passport strength. Russian citizens have access to many former Soviet states (like Kazakhstan and Armenia) and some countries in Asia, South America, and Africa.
• Visa on arrival: Like Belarus, Russian passport holders can also access some countries with a visa on arrival, including Maldives, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Kenya.

However, Russia’s passport strength has significantly been impacted by the ongoing geopolitical situation, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent sanctions imposed by many countries:

• European Union and United States have imposed stringent visa restrictions and sanctions on Russian citizens, making it much harder to travel freely to these regions. Many countries now impose visa bans for Russian passport holders or make the application process significantly more challenging.
• Diplomatic isolation and travel bans have restricted Russian citizens from visiting many Western countries, although they can still travel to countries with less stringent visa policies or countries that have maintained diplomatic relations with Russia.

Despite these challenges, Russia still maintains close ties with several Eastern countries like China, Turkey, and other Central Asian nations that allow relatively easier travel for Russian citizens.

Key Points

• Belarus and Russia passports are somewhat limited in terms of Western travel due to the geopolitical tensions and sanctions.
• Belarus has more restrictions due to recent political isolation, making it harder for Belarusian passport holders to access many Western nations.
• Russia still enjoys a relatively high level of access to non-Western countries but faces increasing visa restrictions from European and North American nations due to ongoing international sanctions.

Travel Challenges:

1. Visa requirements for Western nations, including the United States and European Union countries.
2. Bureaucratic hurdles, such as extra paperwork and lengthy processing times for visas to high-demand destinations like the UK, Canada, and Schengen Area countries.
3. Increased travel isolation as global sanctions continue to affect their access to many regions.

Conclusion

The strength of a passport, measured by its Mobility Score and the number of countries accessible without a visa or with visa-on-arrival, plays a vital role in the freedom and convenience a passport holder experiences while traveling. Countries with strong passports, like the United Arab Emirates and EU members like Germany and Spain, offer vast travel opportunities without bureaucratic delays. Conversely, countries like Syria and Afghanistan face significant challenges due to geopolitical issues and restrictions, severely limiting their citizens’ ability to travel globally.

Russia and Belarus face significant challenges in global mobility due to ongoing political tensions, international sanctions, and diplomatic conflicts. While citizens of these countries can travel freely to many Eastern and Eurasian nations, they face substantial travel restrictions in the Western world. Therefore, citizens may need to adjust their travel plans and prepare for additional paperwork or denials when attempting to travel to more restricted regions.

Understanding the global visa landscape and its associated limitations can be crucial for international travel planning and understanding the mobility afforded by different passports.