The 2022 passport ranking: the consequences of war
The Italian passport is confirmed as one of the most powerful in the world
The incidence of the world's most influential or powerful passports is calculated by the Henley & Partners since 2006. The renowned citizenship consulting firm proposes its index every year, taking into account sociological, economic and geopolitical changes. Impossible, therefore, not to find changes from 2021 related to the consequences of the war in Ukraine.
In this article:
Each analysis considers passports from 199 countries and 227 possible destinations. The system relies on data proposed by theInternational Air Transport Association (IATA), which groups hundreds of different airlines around the world. The more a passport allows travel without the need to apply for a visa, the more "powerful" it is considered to be.
Passport ranking 2022
At the top of the 2022 passport index we find two nations. On the one hand is Japan, and this is not at all surprising. Accepted in 192 out of 227 countries, it is the document that can open the most doors in the world. On the other is Singapore, which similarly guarantees travel around the globe without the need for additional visas. Behind them share second place South Korea and Germany, which boast "facilitated" access in 190 countries. Where is Italy located? Our passport situation has changed compared to last year?
We tend to ignore the relevance of our passport, which is in fact one of the most powerful in the world. Traveling from one country to another, as Italians, is definitely easier than many others. We are in third place with 189 countries ready to open their doors to us without the need for more visas. Alongside us are Finland, Spain and Luxembourg, for an unchanged situation from 2021.
Let's complete the top 10 and compare it with last year's top 10. In fourth place are Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden with 188 countries. Here, for the first time in the analysis of this index, we find a substantial difference, namely the addition of the Netherlands and Sweden, which moved from fifth to fourth position.
At number 5 are France, Ireland, Portugal and the United Kingdom. The latter jumps one position due to the early disappearance of all sorts of health restrictions. For them, access in 187 countries. Sixth on the list are Belgium, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway and the United States with 186. The last two countries have moved up a notch since 2021
Here are the rest of the top 10:
- 7 - Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Greece, Malta
- 8 - Hungary
- 9 - Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia
- 10 - Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia
Passport ranking 2022: Hungary and Russia
In just a few weeks there has been an evolution of the Ukraine situation. It currently occupies the 34th position, which is the result of Ukrainian citizens being granted access to 143 countries without requiring additional visas.
One element to consider in all this is the fact that the European Union has approved an emergency procedure to allow war refugees to work and live without restriction in all of its 27 member countries for the next three years. In general, many Western nations have simplified their entry and reception procedures.
La Russia has instead dropped four places and is in 49th place. Its free access is guaranteed in only 117 countries. Weighing heavily are decisions by the EU, the United States and Canada, as well as other Western countries, to close their airspace to Russian airlines, with international bans for certain categories of citizens from this nation. A real collapse, which may continue in the coming years.
Passport ranking 2022: last places
Let's take a look at which passports are the least relevant in the world, viz. those giving automatic access rights in fewer than 40 countries around the world. In this sad mini ranking we see North Korea with 39 visa-free entries. Further down Nepal and the Palestinian Territories with 37. Somali passport opens 36 doors and while Yemen's 35. Pakistan stopped instead at 31 countries, while Syria and Iraq are at 29 and 28 respectively.
Closing the line, confirming the 2021 position, is Afghanistan, whose passport entitles it to enter just 26 nations in the world.
- 6,000 Mile Registration Bonus
- Collect miles WITH EACH PURCHASE
- Your miles with no expiration*
- No fees for ATM withdrawals and foreign purchases
- Without having to change banks
- Autonomous card activation
- Multi-function mobile application
- Free travel insurance
- Free credit for up to 7 weeks
- Contactless Payment
- Mastercard® SecureCode