Singapore named world’s most powerful passport – CNN.co.jp

2017.10.26 Thursday 12:04 JST Posted

(CNN) Singapore recently topped a ranking that compares the validity of passports issued by countries around the world, based on the number of countries and territories that passport holders can enter without a visa or prior clearance.

The ranking is updated in real time by Canadian financial consulting firm Arton Capital.

For the passports issued by 193 countries of the United Nations and the six regions of Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Kosovo, Palestine, and the Vatican, the company publishes the “Passport Index” in terms of the number of countries that the passport can enter.

Previously, Singapore and Germany tied for the top spot with 158 points, but the South American country Paraguay recently decided to grant Singapore visa-free, leading Singapore with 159 points.

According to the head of the company’s Singapore office, this is the first time an Asian country has topped the list. “Singapore has a proven record of open diplomatic relations and effective foreign policy,” he said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has slipped in the rankings since Trump took office. Türkiye and Central Africa recently removed visa waivers for their countries.

Germany ranked second with 158 places. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Here are the current scores for each country:

1. Singapore 159

2. Germany 158

3. Sweden, South Korea 157

4. Denmark, Finland, Italy, France, Spain, Norway, Japan, UK 156

5. Luxembourg, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal 155

6. Malaysia, Ireland, Canada, the United States 154

7. Australia, Greece, New Zealand 153

8. Malta, Czech Republic, Iceland 152

9. Hungary 150

10. Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia 149

The worst five are Afghanistan (22), Pakistan and Iraq (26), Syria (29) and Somalia (34).

According to the company, the Passport Index will serve as a reference for the world’s wealthy seeking a second passport, for example through a citizenship-by-investment program.

British consultancy Henley & Partners and air transport industry body the International Air Transport Association (IATA) publish an annual ranking based on the number of countries and territories that passport holders of 218 countries and territories can enter.

In the latest ranking, published in March, Germany topped the list for the second consecutive year with 176 points. Sweden is second with 175, followed by Denmark, Finland, Italy, Spain and the United States with 174.