The privilege of holding a U.S. passport ranks as the world’s most powerful passport for travelers from Japan, Singapore, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, according to a report this week from global immigration firm Henley. It is said to be insufficient compared to &partner.
In recent years, the world’s wealthy have flocked to investment residency programs, buying homes and investing in economies from Singapore to Dubai, aiming for a Plan B to avoid geopolitical turmoil and onerous taxes. ing. Are there any additional benefits of the citizenship scheme for investment? Freedom to travel.
According to Henley & Partners’ 2024 Henley Passport Index, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), nationals of Japan, Singapore, France, Germany, Italy and Spain can fly to 194 out of 227 destinations. It turns out that you can visit without a visa. The four EU countries join two Asian countries to form a six-nation tie, with Japan and Singapore holding the top spot for the past five years.
more: If you are considering selling your home without going through an agent, read this first
South Korea also moved up in the rankings, joining Finland and Sweden in second place (193 cities), followed by Austria, Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands in third place (192 cities). The rest of the top 10 is mainly made up of European countries.
Advertisement – SCROLL TO CONTINUE
The United States tied for seventh place with Canada and Hungary. Passport holders from these countries can travel visa-free to 188 territories. It has been 10 years since 2014, when the US and UK jointly ranked number one on the index.
The United Arab Emirates, with 183 destinations, was the country that rose the most in the index over the past decade, rising 44 places from 55th to 11th place.
This list can be a useful tool for wealthy individuals considering alternative residency or citizenship options. Another recent report from Henley & Partners found that around 120,000 of the world’s billionaires will move to a new country in 2023, up from 84,000 in 2022.
Mansion Global Boutique: Add some style to your kitchen with these chic counter stools
Australia, the top migration destination identified in the study, has access to 189 visa-free destinations. The other top five countries on the list were the UAE, Singapore, the United States, and Switzerland (190 cities).
Although the trend toward greater travel freedom has continued since the ranking was created 19 years ago, the gap in mobility between the world’s top and bottom countries is at an all-time high.
“The average number of destinations that travelers can access without a visa has nearly doubled, from 58 in 2006 to 111 by 2024,” said Henry & Partners chairman and creator of the Passport Index concept. said Christian H. Kaelin in the report. . “However, as we enter the new year, the countries at the top of the rankings now have an astonishing 166 countries that they can travel to without a visa, while Afghanistan, the lowest ranked country, has only 28 countries that they can travel to without a visa. remains.”