Finally, there’s a good news for the enthusiastic travelers of Japan, as the country overtakes Singapore and becomes the holder of the world’s most powerful passport. According to the latest report of Henley Passport Index, the citizens of Japan now have the leverage of traveling to 189 countries without needing a visa.
As per the reports published by Henley on 28th February 2018 Japan and Singapore tied with 180 countries while Germany held the second rank in terms of giving a visa-free access to 179 countries.
Now as Japan wins the battle of winning the world’s most powerful passport, Singapore and Germany tied at the second rank in terms of giving a visa-free access to 188 countries.
In this league of winning the title of the most powerful passport, while the other countries are fighting to reach the top, United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the fastest climber ranking at 23rd place, after ascending 38 places since 2008. As the country started securing new-visa waivers in 2018 for its citizens, its rise has been significant.
Suggested Read: Getting A Japan Visa Will Now Be Easier Than Buying A Movie Ticket!
What is a Henley Passport Index?
This Passport Index is issued by Henley & Partners, which is a global citizenship and residence advisory firm. It is an authenticated report which measures the power of a passport based on the number of countries a citizen can visit without a visa which is further based on the data generated by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Highlights of the Recent Henley Passport Index, 2018
- Countries like South Korea, Finland, France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden hold the third rank on the index, while the United States and the United Kingdom are tied at the fourth place.
- Greenland, Faroe Islands, Monaco, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Palestine, Vatican City, and San Marino are some of the territories and Micro-states which Henley has added in its list.
- While the Asian countries are holding the top ranks, Russia declared to waive off visas for the tourists holding a FIFA World Cup ticket, which is to be held in the country this year.
- Saudi Arabia declares its plan to issue tourist visas for the first time, whereas Uzbekistan and Belarus are deciding to eliminate visa requirements in order to strengthen tourist numbers.
Do you think Singapore will be able to get back to its initial rank on the Passport Index? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
A mass-media graduate, Priyanka is a passionate writer and an avid traveler. Whether it’s about capturing the sunsets or hogging up some delicious food from different places, she never leaves a second to decide. Her mantra of keep going is “work, save, travel, repeat” which she lives by heart.
