According to a new report by The Henley Passport Index, which periodically measures the world’s most travel-friendly passports, the US passport is now as weak as the passport of Mexico
Before Covid-19 came, Air traffic had been rising steadily for decades and the average US passport-holder worldwide was enjoying visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 107 global destinations.
But now faced with travel bans, coupled with the fact that the US has the highest number of Coronavirus cases, the Henley Passport Index, has placed Japan and Singapore, both Asian countries, as the passports that allow its holders visit the most countries.
Japan, according to the index is offered visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 191 destinations around the world while Singapore is in second place (with a score of 190) and South Korea ties with Germany in third place (with a score of 189).
According to the index, the best passports to hold in 2020 are:
- Japan (191 destinations)
- Singapore (190)
3. South Korea, Germany (189)
4. Italy, Finland, Spain, Luxembourg (188)
5. Denmark, Austria (187)
6. Sweden, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Ireland (186)
7. Switzerland, United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Belgium (185)
8. Greece, New Zealand, Malta, Czech Republic (184)
9. Canada, Australia (183)
10. Hungary (181)
The worst passports to hold include:
103. North Korea (access to 39 destinations)
104. Libya, Nepal, Palestinian Territory (38)
105. Somalia, Yemen (33)
106. Pakistan (32)
107. Syria (29)
108. Iraq (28)
109. Afghanistan (26)
The Henley Passport Index is based on data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations. It is updated in real-time throughout the year, as and when visa policy changes come into effect.