Europe’s strongest and weakest passports have been revealed, based on the countries with the most extensive visa-free travel and easiest freedom of movement.
The Passport Index, invented and empowered by Arton Capital, is the world’s original interactive passport ranking tool and the only real-time ranking system. Based on the passports of 199 countries and territories, data is based on official government information. The passports are sorted by their total Mobility Score (MS), which includes visa-free and visa on arrival privileges. The higher the MS score, the better global mobility the passport holder enjoys.
Collectively, Europe has arguably the highest concentration of powerful passports in the world, while central Africa and the Middle East fare the worst, according to Passport Index visualisations.
This year, four European Union countries rose to the top of the global list. The UK, however, earned a miserable 19th place, far behind Belgium, Ireland and Greece. 22 destinations require a visa prior to arrival.
Visa-free travel refers to the ability to travel to a foreign country without the need for a visa, with only a valid passport required for entry and exit purposes. Visa on arrival means that travellers must obtain a visa in order to enter the destination, but visitors do not need to apply for one beforehand. Meanwhile, visa required means that travellers must apply for a visa before travelling there.
The Netherlands, famous for its flat landscape of canals, tulip fields, windmills and cycling routes, received an overall MS score of 177 as well. However, when broken down, it received a score of 133 for visa-free travel, 44 for visa on arrival and 21 for required visas.
The Dutch passport provides visa-free access to 192 countries, with visa-free and visa on arrival access to countries such as Brazil, Japan, Taiwan, the UAE, the US and the entire EU.
(Image: Getty Images)
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