Alicia ChongOnce again, Singapore’s passport has come on top. According to the Henley Passport Index, the city has tied with Japan for first place, granting its citizens access to 190 countries (out of a maximum of 227) without a visa in advance.
Following the two countries are South Korea, Finland, and Germany in second place, with visa-free access to 188 countries. In third place are Denmark, Italy and Luxembourg. This data comes from the International Air Transport Association, which is the world’s largest and most accurate database of information.
According to CNN, Finland’s rise in ranks is mainly due to Pakistan’s change in their visa policy, which now allows for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) for 50 countries. Notably, the U.S. and U.K. have dropped to 6th place, the lowest rank they have held since 2010. Taking into consideration Brexit measures, the U.K. is not likely to maintain its position.
Also Read: Russia Introduces E-Visas to 53 Countries, Including Singapore
Afghanistan has once again ranked at the bottom place, allowing visa free access to only 25 countries.
The steady increase of visa-free access has proven that many countries value its passport strength for their economic and social progress. For the majority of the index’s history, the top spots have been traditionally held by countries within Europe or the US – that is, until last year. Asian countries are increasingly coming up on top when it comes to economic activity and both global mobility, the study reveals.
Image Credits: Pixabay
Also Read: This is Now the World’s Most Powerful Passport (And It’s Not Singapore!)
