China’s Passport Strength Improves to Leave India Far Behind

India is placed at the 86th position in a global ranking of passport strength, alongside countries like Cambodia and Central African Republic. The top spot has been secured by Germany for the fifth consecutive year, according to the 2018 Henley Passport Index conducted by Henley and Partners.

Indians can travel to 49 countries without a visa or get visa on arrival, which is the same as last year. German citizens, on the other hand, enjoy visa-free access to 177 countries in total, up from 176 countries in 2017.

“Singapore ranks second globally on the 2018 edition of the index, with visa-free access to 176 countries,” said the index report released on Jan. 9. China has been placed at the 75th spot, with its passport holders having visa-free access to 60 countries. The Asian economic power is up by 10 points and has been featured among the biggest climbers on the 2018 index.

Other biggest climbers on the index include Georgia, which is up by 15 points and ranks 53, with visa-free access to 99 countries, while Ukraine is up by 14 points and ranks 44. The United States has been ranked fifth on the index, with its citizens getting visa-free access to 173 countries, sharing its position with Ireland, Portugal, and South Korea.

Eight countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom — share the third spot. Passport-holders of these countries can visit 175 countries without visa or visa on arrival.

Since the world economy has become increasingly globalized, the need for greater visa-free access has grown steadily. “Across the economic spectrum, individuals want to transcend the constraints imposed on them by their country of origin and access business, financial, career, and lifestyle opportunities on a global scale,” the report said.

At the bottom of the index are Somalia, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Across the economic spectrum, individuals want to transcend the constraints imposed on them by their country of origin and access business, financial, career, and lifestyle opportunities on a global scale. The Henley Passport Index shows individuals where they lie on the spectrum of global mobility, revealing the strength that their passport has in relation to other passports,” said Dr. Christian H. Kalin, group chairman of Henley & Partners.