Depending on what passport you have, travel can be as simple as booking a flight and accommodation then hopping on a plane to your destination. However, it’s not so easy for many people across the world. Certain passport holders have to obtain a travel or tourist visa before heading off on holiday. These can often be expensive to acquire and it can typically take weeks or months to receive approval from the destination country.
Having a visa-free passport allows citizens to travel freely and with ease. This can have major social and economic benefits for citizens and their countries. Japan currently holds the title of the world’s strongest passport with visa-free access to 193 countries.
Investment migration experts Globalresidenceindex.com have conducted research to discover which passports have improved the most.
United Arab Emirates 2013 – 2023 visa-free countries change: +106
In the last ten years, the UAE has become an increasingly accessible desert hub for business and travel, and UAE passport holders have enjoyed increased mobility.
Colombia 2013 – 2023 visa-free countries change: +70
Colombia’s economy has grown rapidly and its increase in visa-free countries has given its citizens much easier access to travel and business all over the globe.
Ukraine 2013 – 2023 visa-free countries change: +67
Due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukraine has made worldwide headlines over the last year. However, it has integrated with other countries and gained greater visa-free access to more countries.
Moldova 2013 – 2023 visa-free countries change: +61
Moldova’s business and travel opportunities have increased significantly over the last ten years, despite being one of the poorest countries in Europe.
St Vincent and The Grenadines 2013 – 2023 visa-free countries change: +59
The increase in visa-free destinations has been imperative to St Vincent and The Grenadines emergence and growth of Business.
Dominica 2013 – 2023 visa-free countries change: +57
Dominica is a Caribbean nation rich in natural beauty but lacks economic and social opportunities. Its increase in visa-free access to other countries has been vital for its continued growth.
Grenada 2013 – 2023 visa-free countries change: +57
Grenada has similar political, social and economic issues as its island neighbours. Its number of via-free travel destinations has increased from 88 to 145.
Peru 2013 – 2023 visa-free countries change: +56
The South American nation of Peru shares a border with Colombia, a country that has also seen a large growth in passport power.
Georgia 2013 – 2023 visa-free countries change: +55
Georgia sits at the intersection of Europe and Asia. Its economic reforms since becoming independent has led to improved levels of economic freedom.
St Lucia 2013 – 2023 visa-free countries change: +52
Overall, the Caribbean has seen huge growth and St Lucia is no different, gaining visa-free access to 52 new countries in the last ten years.
A spokesperson from Globalresidenceindex.com commented: “Holding a powerful passport is a crucial advantage, where you can move visa-free, have significant investment opportunities and a high quality of life that comes with a shared duty to the rest of the globe.”
