To be Japanese citizen now automatically means to have the strongest passport in the world, Guardian reported. overtaking Singapore, according to research released today. The Henley Passport Index ranks passports according to their travel power using data from the International Air Transport Association.
The 2018 Henley Passport Index was released today, it shows the new top five of the strongest passports of the planet. Japanese passport now tops the rating, citizens of this country can travel without a visa or gain a visa on arrival in 190 destinations – the most globally. This year, the Japanese passport overtook the Singapore passport, which allows travel to 189 destinations without a prior visa, after gaining visa-free access to Myanmar in 2018.
Germany, another country to hold the top spot in previous years, is now in third place alongside South Korea and France. The passports of the US and the UK both give access to 186 destinations to their holders, however, neither have gained access to any new jurisdictions in 2018.
‘The travel freedom that comes with a second passport is significant, while the economic and societal value that CBI programs generate for host countries can be transformative,’ says Dr Christian H. Kälin, Group Chairman of Henley & Partners.
Meanwhile, the UAE has made the most remarkable ascent on the Henley Passport Index, from 62nd place in 2006 to 21st place worldwide currently. However, their progress might be outstripped by Kosovo which officially met all the criteria for visa-liberalization with the EU in July and is now in discussions with the European Council.
While the Japanese passport opens visa-free doors to 190 countries of the world Iraq and Afghanistan continue to be at the bottom of the Henley Index.
