Japanese passport strongest in the world, overtakes Singapore
According to 2018 Henley Passport Index the Japanese passport is now the strongest in the world. It has surpassed Singapore, placing Germany, South Korea and France in the third position.
Travel for Japanese citizens to 190 countries is possible without visa or they can gain visa on arrival. While Singapore passport allows travel to 189 destinations without a prior visa, it earlier gained visa-free access to Myanmar.
The citizens of Germany, South Korea and France can enter 188 countries without a prior visa. After gaining visa-free access to Uzbekistan and Myanmar respectively France and South Korea jumped to the third place.
In this year’s ranking the UK and US both having 186 destination open to their citizens moved from fourth to fifth place. Since the start of 2018 both the countries can’t access a new country without a visa. However, in 2015, the UK and US passports were the most powerful.
Iraq and Afghanistan took the bottom spot (106th position)as citizens of both countries can only access 30 destinations without getting a visa first.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the most powerful passport in the Middle east at 21st place. This was up from 62nd place in 2006.
Russia and China remained in the similar position, Russia went down from 46th to 47th place and saw a short-term in September after Taiwan announced of visa waiver programme for its nationals which will be valid until next July.
Although China’s citizen could gain entry to St Lucia and Myanmar without a prior visa, it fell two places to 71.
The global ranking of the world’s passport is based on data from the International Air Transport Association . This is based in the number of destinations holders can access without a prior visa.
