On July 6, 2021, Henley & Partners published the data of the World Passport Index for the third quarter of 2021.
Despite some progress of the global vaccination, international mobility has been restored by only 12% from the level of 2019. The gap between the theoretical capabilities of passports and the actual access to travel remains significant.
According to the estimates of political scientist Omer Zarpli from the University of Pittsburgh, tourism in the European Union has decreased by almost 90%, in the UK – by 73%, and in the United States – by 69% since the announcement of the pandemic. Some countries continue to keep their borders closed, including the countries that occupy the first places in the Henley & Partners Passport Index of which are Japan, Singapore, and Germany.
The Japanese passport retains first place in the Index, which means that the borders of 193 countries of the world are open to Japanese citizens.
Singapore remains in second place with visa-free access to 192 countries, South Korea and Germany share third place with visa-free access to 191 destinations. But this is in theory, in practice, the owners of Japanese passports have access to less than 80 destinations (equivalent to the passport of Saudi Arabia, which is on the 71st place in the rating). Holders of Singapore passports have actual access to 75 destinations (equivalent to the passport of Kazakhstan, which is in 74th place).
Even in countries with a high level of vaccination of the population such as the United States and the United Kingdom, there is a weakening of the actual capabilities of passports. The UK and the US together occupy 7th place in the Index (in 2014, both countries were in the first place of the Henley & Partners rating). In theory, these countries have visa-free access to 187 destinations around the world. But due to the current bans, UK passport holders have access to 60 destinations (equivalent to the capabilities of the passport of Uzbekistan). US passport holders have visa-free access to 61 destinations (equivalent to a Rwandan passport).
Russia and the CIS countries almost did not change their positions during the observation quarter. The movements in the rating were also provided by changes in the positions of other countries. Russia has acquired temporary visa-free access to Albania but has moved from 48th to 51st place in the ranking. Holders of a Russian passport can, in theory, travel to 119 destinations without a visa.
Ukraine dropped from 35th to 37th place, but signed a visa-free access agreement with New Caledonia, increasing the strength of the passport by one point. Holders of a Ukrainian passport can travel without a visa or with a visa on arrival to 137 countries of the world.
Kazakhstan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia did not change their positions and did not conclude agreements on visa-free travel during the reporting period.
Chris Kälin, the founder of the consulting company Henley & Partners and the author of the Index notes that it is not known how long the travel restrictions will be in effect, but it is already obvious that global mobility will be severely restricted during 2021: "The increase of isolationism and the trend towards deglobalization will undoubtedly have serious consequences, including in the form of further damage to the global economy, a significant reduction in international mobility and restrictions on people's choice for their families and businesses."
Ranking | Country | Visa-free entry |
---|---|---|
1 | Japan | 193 |
2 | Singapore | 192 |
3 | Germany | 191 |
South Korea | ||
4 | Finland | 190 |
Italy | ||
Luxembourg | ||
Spain | ||
5 | Austria | 189 |
Demark | ||
6 | France | 188 |
Ireland | ||
Netherlands | ||
Portugal | ||
Sweden | ||
7 | Belgium | 187 |
New Zealand | ||
Switzerland | ||
United Kingdom | ||
United States | ||
8 | Czech Republic | 186 |
Greece | ||
Malta | ||
Norway | ||
9 | Australia | 185 |
Canada | ||
10 | Hungary | 184 |