Passport to Adventure: See Where It Can Take You Visa-Free

 

If you’re an international traveler, you have a passport. Every country issues its own, and they are similar in many respects. They’re designed to provide identification for the bearer and allow him or her entry into virtually every country in the world, as well as entry back into their home country. But some passports, evidently, are better than others.

            The major factor in determining how “powerful” passports are is how many countries are accessible and visa-free for that nation’s citizens. As we know, some countries require a visa, in addition to a valid passport, for legal entry. But not everyone has to have a visa for every country they go to. The consultancy firm Henley & Partners puts together the Henley Passport Index, based on exclusive and official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). So, based on that ranking, we know who has the most powerful passport in the world…and it’s not the United States.

            It’s Singapore, the small but economically significant southeast Asian nation. Singapore passport holders can travel visa-free to a total of 195 countries, more than any other nation. There’s a five-way tie for second place between Japan, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, but they’re only three countries behind Singapore.

            Denmark moved up to third place last fall when it gained visa-free access to China. Joining the Danes on the third tier at 191 destinations are Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea and Sweden. Four other countries are slated to move up after gaining visa-free access to China. They are Portugal, Greece, Slovenia and Norway.

            Where are we at? U.S passport holders currently can travel to 186 countries visa-free. That’s still a lot of countries—the United Nations lists 195 countries, including two non-member observer states (Vatican City and Palestine)—so we are only 9 away from getting complete, visa-free access to the world. Only Singapore is there now.

            Ten years ago, the U.S. and the United Kingdom held first place in the index, but we and our British cousins have been eclipsed by the ongoing global trend toward greater travel freedom. The average number of destinations travelers can now visit without a visa is 111, nearly double what it was back in 2006 (58). But the top-tier nations are advancing faster toward visa-free travel than the lower-ranked countries. Afghanistan, for example, can access only 26 countries visa-free. Those countries moving toward open travel are increasingly making this quest part of their diplomatic efforts.

            So, at present, there are 9 countries Americans can’t enter without a visa. What are they? Well, that’s not necessarily easy to find. The Henley Passport Index doesn’t list them. A quick check of Wikipedia listed 19 countries which require U.S. visitors to have visas, including China, Yemen, Venezuela, Turkmenistan, Sudan, Russia, Niger, Nauru, Mali, Liberia, Iran, Ghana, Eritrea, Republic of the Congo, Chad, Central African Republic, Belarus, Algeria and Afghanistan. Others require an “eVisa upon arrival,” such as Tanzania, which my husband and I visited in October.

            It can get kind of confusing, can’t it? The best way to handle it is to ask us to help you with your passport and visa requirements when you plan your trip with us. If some sort of visa is required by the country you intend to visit, it’s best not to find out when you get off the plane or the ship. Give us a call, and we’ll help you make sure all your credentials are in order.