NI Bureau
According to the latest Henley Passport Index, Singapore has taken over Japan to claim the title of having the world’s most powerful passport, providing visa-free access to 192 global destinations. Japan, after reigning supreme for five consecutive years, has now dropped to third place due to a decrease in the number of destinations its passport allows entry to without a visa, as stated in the ranking published by Henley & Partners, an immigration consultancy based in London.
The United States, once the reigning champion nearly a decade ago, has slipped two spots to eighth place. On the other hand, the United Kingdom, despite a setback caused by Brexit, has climbed two positions to secure fourth place, a rank it last held in 2017.
Singapore has become a magnet for wealth, with an influx of individuals driven by China’s crackdown on private enterprise and concerns surrounding geopolitical tensions. However, obtaining the privilege to utilize Singapore’s travel document is no easy task. With a population of 5.6 million, the nation granted citizenship to around 23,100 individuals last year, and earlier this year, authorities ruled out granting citizenship based on an individual’s net worth.
Henley’s ranking is based on data from the International Air Transport Association, employing a methodology that differs from other passport indexes. For instance, the one published by financial advisory firm Arton Capital placed the United Arab Emirates in the top position last year.
Aniket Sardhana
