Important Facts For Prelims
Henley Passport Index 2023
- 21 Jul 2023
- 3 min read
Why in News?
In the latest Henley Passport Index 2023, Indian passport has climbed seven places to secure the 80th rank, up from 87th in 2022, giving its holders visa free access to 57 countries.
What is Henley Passport Index?
- About:
- The Henley Passport Index is a ranking system that evaluates all the world's passports based on the number of travel destinations their holders can access without the need for a prior visa.
- This index encompasses 199 different passports and covers 227 travel destinations.
- It is compiled and published by Henley & Partners, a global citizenship and residence advisory firm.
- The Henley Passport Index is a ranking system that evaluates all the world's passports based on the number of travel destinations their holders can access without the need for a prior visa.
- India's Passport Performance Over the Years:
- Global Rankings and Shifts:
- Top Position: Singapore now holds the most powerful passport in the world, granting its citizens visa-free access to an impressive 192 travel destinations out of 227 worldwide.
- Japan previously held the top spot on the Henley Passport Index for five years.
- Runners-up: Germany, Italy, and Spain share the second position on the index.
- Japan, along with Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea, and Sweden, shares the third spot.
- Decline of the United States: Over the past decade, the United States has experienced a steady decline on the index, falling two places to the eighth spot.
- Top Position: Singapore now holds the most powerful passport in the world, granting its citizens visa-free access to an impressive 192 travel destinations out of 227 worldwide.
- Henley Openness Index:
- About:
- Henley & Partners also introduced the Henley Openness Index, which measures the number of nations a country allows visa-free access to.
- In this ranking, India was placed 94th out of 97 countries, offering visa-free access to only four nations.
- Most Open Countries: The top 20 'most open' countries predominantly comprise small island nations and African states, with the exception of Cambodia.
- 12 countries offer exceptional openness, providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to all 198 passports in the world (excluding their own).
- These countries are Burundi, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Maldives, Micronesia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu.
- Least Open Countries: Afghanistan, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, and Turkmenistan were ranked at the bottom of the Henley Openness Index, as they do not permit visa-free access for any passport holders.
- About:
Visa-Free Access V/s Visa on Arrival
- Visa-Free Access: Visa-free access means that citizens of certain countries can enter another country without the need to obtain a visa in advance.
- They are allowed to stay for a specified period, usually determined by bilateral agreements or international treaties, without the requirement of obtaining a visa.
- Visa on Arrival: Visa on arrival means that travelers from specific countries can obtain a visa upon arriving at their destination country's airport or border checkpoint.
