Australia has been ranked fifth in the world, tied with Portugal in an announcement from the Henley Passport Index. Australian and Portuguese passport holders can access 189 destinations without a visa or with a visa, visitor’s permit, or electronic travel authority (ETA) obtainable upon arrival.
This positions Australia among the most powerful passports globally, reflecting its strong international mobility.
Singapore has reclaimed its title as the world’s most powerful passport, breaking away from the six countries that previously shared the top spot at the beginning of the year. Singaporean citizens now enjoy visa-free access to 195 travel destinations out of 227 worldwide, setting a new record score.
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain have dropped to joint second place, each with visa-free access to 192 destinations. Meanwhile, Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden now sit in third place, each with access to 191 destinations without a prior visa.
The UK, along with Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland, holds fourth place, despite its visa-free destination score falling to 190. The US, however, continues its decade-long decline, dropping to eighth place with access to 186 destinations visa-free. Once a dominant force, the UK and US jointly held the top position in 2014. Afghanistan remains the world’s weakest passport, offering its citizens access to only 26 countries visa-free, the lowest score recorded in the index’s 19-year history.
India has made some uptick in global mobility, now ranking 82nd on the Henley Passport Index as of July 2024. This ranking marks an improvement of two spots from the previous year. Indian passport holders can access 61 destinations without needing a visa, including popular tourist spots such as Thailand and Malaysia.
Overall, India’s incremental improvements indicate positive developments in its diplomatic relations and international standing, but there remains substantial room for growth to match the world’s most powerful passports.
Commenting on the July 2024 edition of the Henley Global Mobility Report, Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, stated,
“The general trend over the past two decades has been towards greater travel freedom, with the global average number of destinations travellers are able to access visa-free nearly doubling from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024.”
“However, the global mobility gap between those at the top and bottom of the index is now wider than it has ever been, with top-ranked Singapore able to access a record-breaking 169 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan.”
IATA (International Air Transport Association) highlights that airlines will connect nearly 5 billion people over 22,000 routes on 39 million flights in 2024, transporting 62 million tonnes of air cargo, facilitating an astonishing USD 8.3 trillion in trade.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, remarked on the industry’s tight margins, stating,
“Our industry expects to record revenues of almost USD 1 trillion this year. Expenses, however, will also be at a record high of USD 936 billion.”
“Net profit will be USD 30.5 billion. This translates to a modest net margin of around 3%, making the profit per passenger just USD 6.14 — barely enough for a single espresso in a typical hotel café. Additionally, this year, the return on invested capital is projected at 5.7%, significantly below the average 9% cost of capital. Despite this, the real cost of air travel has fallen 34% over the last decade.”
Biggest Climbers and Fallers
The UAE has made a historic entry into the Top 10, having added 152 destinations since 2006, rising from 62nd to 9th position.
Dr Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, attributed this ascent to “deliberate and concerted efforts by the Emirati government to position the UAE as a global hub for business, tourism, and investment. Our research has consistently shown a strong correlation between a country’s visa-free score and its economic prosperity. Nations with higher visa-free scores tend to enjoy greater GDP per capita, increased foreign direct investment, and more robust international trade relationships.”
China and Ukraine are notable climbers, with China moving from 83rd to 59th place and Ukraine from 53rd to 30th place over the past decade. Conversely, Russia has fallen from 38th to 45th place. The most significant decline has been seen in Venezuela, which dropped from 25th to 42nd, reflecting its ongoing economic and political turmoil.
Visa Rejections and Disparities
Henley & Partners’ research also shed light on the disparity in visa rejection rates, particularly for African applicants. Prof. Mehari Taddele Maru’s study revealed that 30% of African Schengen visa applicants were rejected, compared to 10% worldwide. Algeria, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Guinea, and Mali had the highest rejection rates. By contrast, only one in twenty-five applicants from the US, Canada, or the UK faced rejection.
Prof. Maru emphasised the bias against African applicants, stating, “While factors such as per capita income, the incidence of illegal overstays, and the low rate of return and readmission of Africans illegally present in Europe partially explain these higher rejection rates, they do not fully account for the significantly greater restrictions against African Schengen visa applicants.”
“It is highly likely that European migration policies, shaped by national identity politics, play a more significant role in these discriminatory restrictions than is officially acknowledged.”
Impact on Economic Prosperity
The Henley Global Mobility Report 2024 also highlighted the correlation between travel freedom and economic prosperity. Andrew Amoils, Head of Research for New World Wealth, noted, “The ability to travel visa-free or having the option to move your business to a more favourable city have become crucial elements in international wealth and legacy planning for affluent individuals. Increasing numbers of global investors are utilising investment migration as a mechanism to invest in, access, and operate across a range of wealth hubs worldwide.”
As nations continue to navigate the complexities of global mobility, the Henley Passport Index remains a crucial barometer of the evolving dynamics of travel freedom and its profound impact on economic and social landscapes worldwide.
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