LONDON: As we enter the new decade, Asian countries have firmly established their lead on the Henley Passport Index, the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
1St Spot : Japan, for 3rd Consecutive year retains this spot with Visa – Free / Visa-on-Arrival Score of 191
2Nd Spot : Singapore holds on to its position with a Score of 190
3rd Spot : South Korea Drops down to third rank, alongside Germany with access to 189 destinations
Remarkably, The UK and The US, continue their downward trajectory. Although still in the Top 10 Group, they share the 8th Spot, which is a Significant Drop from 1st position in 2015
Besides these countries, Finland and Italy share 4th place, with a score of 188, while Denmark, Luxembourg, and Spain together hold 5th place, with a score of 187.
India, currently shares 84th position with Mauritania and Tajikastan, with access to 58 countries
Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, with access to only 26 destinations worldwide
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, says although people are more mobile than ever before, the latest results also indicate a growing divide when it comes to travel freedom. “Japanese passport holders are able to access 165 more destinations than Afghan nationals. Analysis of our historical data reveals that this extraordinary global mobility gap is the starkest it’s been since the index’s inception in 2006
Download the 2020 Henley Passport Index and Global Mobility Report
If you possess a powerful passport like Japan, Singapore and South Korea passport then traveling around the world would be much easier and hassle free. Well not everyone is as lucky as those holder of powerful passport.