World's most powerful passport list impacted by Ukraine conflict

(CNN) — The closure of airspace due to Russia’s military aggression and the opening of borders to Ukrainian refugees has begun to exert influence on global travel freedoms, according to the latest data complied on the world’s most travel-friendly passports.

While there’s been little change at the at the top of a list of countries with so-called powerful passports — meaning those with the most visa-free travel options around the world — the recent conflict is starting to shake things up lower down the index compiled by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners.

Since the outbreak of war at the end of February, many countries have either amended their entry policies or dropped visa requirements for Ukrainian passport holders completely, meaning Ukraine has risen to a record high on the report.

Meanwhile, the European Union, United States and Canada have all banned Russian operators from their airspace, while some destinations are no longer issuing visas to Russian citizens, “effectively condemning the Russian passport to junk status throughout much of the developed world,” a report by Henley & Partners says.

Although this haven’t dramatically impacted Russia’s standing on the list as yet, the report suggests this is likely to change in the coming months.

In the list for the second quarter of 2022, Ukraine has risen one place and is now ranked 34th on the index and its nationals can now travel to 143 destinations visa-free (or visa-on-arrival). Russia has dropped four places to 49th, with open travel to 117 countries — a position expected to worsen as visa suspensions and sanctions are formalized.

The latest shake up clearly indicates “the war’s profound and perhaps irreversible impact on freedom of movement,” according to the report.

The top of the index remains the same as before, with Japan and Singapore sharing the number one spot. Holders of these passports are able to travel to 192 destinations visa-free in theory, but it’s worth noting that this does not take temporary restrictions into account.

Afghan nationals sit at the bottom of the index once again, and can access just 26 countries without requiring a visa in advance.

Europe dominates again

Further down the top 10, South Korea is still tied alongside Germany in second place, with a score of 190, and Finland, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain are all together in third place, with a score of 189.

While Austria, Denmark, Netherlands and Sweden share fourth place, with a score of 188, France has slipped down to fifth place.

The UK, which dropped all remaining Covid-19 related restrictions last month, has moved up one place to number five, sitting alongside France, as well as Ireland and Portugal, with a score of 117.

The United States stays at number six, with a score of 186, sharing the position with Belgium, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland.

There’s no change at number seven, with Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Greece and Malta staying together again, with a score of 185.

In eight place, Hungary sits alone, with a score of 183, while Poland has slid from eight to ninth on the list, sharing the spot with Lithuania and Slovakia, with a score of 182. Estonia, Latvia and Slovenia round out the top ten, with a score of 181.

Germany has the highest-ranking European passport.

Alex Grimm/Getty Images

Climate change displacement fears

The report notes that the Russia-Ukraine situation has proved to be a stern reminder of the volatility of the world, the way in which violence and conflict can lead to mass displacement, and exactly how much impact your passport can have on your standing.

“As the value of the Russian passport rapidly declines and the world opens its doors to Ukrainians, it is abundantly clear that the passport you hold determines your fate and dramatically impacts the opportunities you have,” wrote Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners and creator of the passport index concept.

“While it is impossible to predict what the world will look like in the shadow of a new Cold War, the latest index suggests that the divide between Russia and much of the Western world will only increase.”

However, the findings also suggest that the effects of climate change will prove to be the driving force for displacement in the next 25 years, particularly in less economically developed countries.

Professor Dr. Khalid Koser, executive director of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) nonprofit and member of the governing board of Andan Foundation in Switzerland, which supports displaced people, points out that 15 times more people died due to floods, droughts, and storms “in very vulnerable regions including parts of Africa, South Asia, and Central and South America,” than in the rest of the world.

Experts also indicate that we’re likely to see substantial growth in international travel, which has been hugely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Forecasts suggest that there will be demand for 10 billion passenger journeys by 2050, a considerable rise from the roughly four billion figure pre-pandemic.

This growth is likely to come “from passengers who have never had the opportunity to fly before: in Asia, Africa, and Latin America,” according to Sebastian Mikosz, Vice President of Environment and Sustainability at airline industry body IATA.

“We owe it to this next generation of fliers to find sustainable solutions, so they can enjoy and benefit from air travel as we have done so far,” adds Mikosz.

The best passports to hold in 2022 are:

1. Japan, Singapore (192 destinations)

2. Germany, South Korea (190)

3. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain (189)

4. Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden (188)

5. France, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom (187)

6. Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United States (186)

7. Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Greece, Malta (185)

8. Hungary (183)

9. Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia (182)

10. Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia (181)

The worst passports to hold

Several countries around the world have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to fewer than 40 countries. These include:

105. North Korea (39 destinations)

106. Nepal and Palestinian territories (37)

107. Somalia (34)

108. Yemen (33)

109. Pakistan (31)

110. Syria (29)

111. Iraq (28)

112. Afghanistan (26)

Other indexes

Henley & Partner’s list is one of several indexes created by financial firms to rank global passports according to the access they provide to their citizens.

The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. It is updated in real time throughout the year, as and when visa policy changes come into effect.

Its 2022 index has the United Arab Emirates in in the top spot, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 160.

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