The recent release of the Henley Passport Index 2023 has seen the Indian passport climb seven places to secure the 80th rank. This represents a significant improvement from its 87th position in the previous year. Consequently, possessing an Indian passport now gives individuals visa-free access to 57 countries worldwide.
Digging Deeper: The Henley Passport Index Explained
Henley & Partners, a renowned global citizenship and residence advisory firm, annually compiles and publishes the Henley Passport Index. This index is essentially a ranking system that evaluates all the world’s passports based on their visa-free access to different travel destinations globally. In total, the index assesses 199 passports and covers 227 travel destinations.
Global Passport Rankings: A Look at the Shifts and Standouts
Singapore now has the distinction of having the most powerful passport in the world, according to the Henley Passport Index. This position grants Singaporean citizens visa-free access to a staggering 192 out of 227 travel destinations worldwide. This position was previously held by Japan for five years. The second spot on the index is shared by Germany, Italy, and Spain, while Japan, along with several other countries including Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea, and Sweden, occupies the third place. Notably, over the past decade, the United States has observed a steady decline in its ranking, currently holding the eighth spot.
Henley Openness Index: Unveiling The Most and Least Open Countries
In addition to the passport ranking, Henley & Partners also introduced the Henley Openness Index. This is a separate list that measures the number of nations a country allows visa-free access to. On this front, India was ranked 94th out of a total of 97 countries, with visa-free access to only four nations.
The ‘most open’ countries are primarily small island nations and African states, including 12 countries offering exceptional openness: Burundi, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Maldives, Micronesia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu. These countries provide visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to all 198 global passports, excluding their own. Notably, Cambodia is the only non-African, non-island nation in this category. At the other end of the scale, Afghanistan, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, and Turkmenistan were ranked at the very bottom of the Henley Openness Index for not allowing visa-free access for any passport holders.
Comparing Visa-Free Access and Visa on Arrival
Visa-free access and visa on arrival are crucial concepts when it comes to international travel. Visa-free access implies that citizens of certain countries can enter another country without the need for a prior visa. The duration of stay is usually determined by bilateral agreements or international treaties. Comparatively, visa on arrival allows travelers from specific nations to obtain a visa upon reaching their destination country’s airport or border checkpoint, thus facilitating instant entry.