The power of visa-free travel and going anywhere in the world is made
easier with Japan and Singapore passports, according to the latest
Henley Passport Index. Both countries broke the record with a mobility
count of 192 destinations, not taking into account temporary Covid-19
restrictions.
Taking the number two spot is another couple – Germany and South
Korea – with visa-free access to 190 destinations. Finland, Italy,
Luxembourg, and Spain share the third position with a score of 189.
Moving up the index to sixth place are US and UK passports with a score of 186, after falling to eighth place in 2020.
Based on exclusive data from International Air Transport Association
(IATA), the index highlighted that travel freedom levels have expanded
significantly over the last two decades. An individual could, on
average, visit 57 countries in 2006 visa-free as compared to 107
countries today.
A widening divide between wealthier countries and poorer ones was
also reflected. For instance, nationals from countries such as Sweden
and the US are able to visit more than 180 destinations visa-free, while
passport holders from Angola, Cameroon, and Laos can only enter about
50.
"Passports and visas are among the most important instruments
impacting social inequality worldwide as they determine opportunities
for global mobility. The borders within which we happen to be born, and
the documents we are entitled to hold, are no less arbitrary than our
skin colour.
“Wealthier states need to encourage positive inward migration to help
redistribute and rebalance human and material resources worldwide,”
commented Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and
the inventor of the passport index concept on the importance of opening
up migration channels to facilitate post-pandemic recovery.