Visa-free to more 170 countries
For more information on Henley & Partners’ Visa Restriction Index, please visit visaindex.com.
Meanwhile, the demand by Afghans for passports has increased a year ago with the deteriorating security situation across the country, forcing many Afghans to travel overseas, specifically to the Western countries by risking their lives and travelling through risky routes.
Henley & Partners has launched its Visa Restrictions Index for 2016, showing the best countries to own a passport for freedom of travel.
Germany has retained its position in the top spot among a list of 218 countries, with visa-free access to 177 countries.
This is two more countries than South Africa had access to in the previous ranking, however South Africa dropped two rank levels. The list of countries can be found here, but unfortunately for those who intend to travel far, the bulk of the list is comprised of Asian (including all Southeast Asian) countries.
The least accepted passports worldwide were Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, with their holders granted visa-free access to only 25, 29 and 30 countries respectively.
We may shoot up in the rankings in the near future though, as Indonesia is now under review to receive visa waivers for short visits to Schengen member states in Europe.
Citizenship isn’t only acquired through immediate relatives and living in the country for years – you can also become a citizen of certain countries through investment. It shares the third-place ranking with Finland, France, Italy and Spain.
The UAE passport leads the region for the 2nd year in a row for the most powerful passport, increasing by two spots to 38.
In 4th place were Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and the U.S. (174 countries), and Austria and Japan tied at 5th (173).
Gantenbein added: “The continued development of these countries demonstrates the critical nature of good visa-free access to countries offering investor migration programs”.
About Henley & Partners Henley & Partners is the global leader in residence and citizenship planning.