Do You Have One of The World’s Most Powerful Passports?

Do You Have One of The World’s Most Powerful Passports?


Thanks to an emerging group of travel savvy online communities, like Travel Noir, and Nomadness Travel Tribe, trekking abroad is more of a reality now than ever before, for young black professionals, and with summer just around the corner, a bit of travel prep is in order, with “passport”, at the top of many to do lists, but did you know that depending on what country’s passport you’re carrying, determines your level of world mobility?

[Related: 5 Apps to Help You Travel Like a Local]

CNNMoney reports, a passport from a country in good diplomatic standing is a powerful summer tool, that may enhance your global experience by allowing holders to cross several borders with ease.

Financial firm Arton Capital, which specializes in helping wealthy individuals obtain multiple citizenships, sometimes through immigrant investor programs, has put together a ranking of the world’s most powerful passports.

The report shows which passports gives travelers the most global freedom, based on how many countries can be visited without a visa, or by getting one upon arrival.

Countries with strong economies hold top rank and tied in first place is U.S and U.K passports giving holders access to 147 countries.

Passports from, China, offer quick access to 74 countries. Indian passport holders are slightly limited, with only 59 easy destinations, but  Russian passport holders are provided with  98 country options.

Here are the top-ranked passports, followed by the number of countries they offer access to:

  • U.S., U.K. (147 countries)

  • France, South Korea, Germany (145)

  • Sweden, Italy (144)

  • Denmark, Singapore, Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands (143)

  • Switzerland (142)

And the bottom-ranked passports:

  • Congo (Dem. Rep.), Yemen, Central African Republic, Kosovo (41)

  • Equatorial Guinea, Bhutan, Comoros, Burundi (40)

  • Somalia, Eritrea (39)

  • Afghanistan, Djibouti, Iraq, Ethiopia, Nepal (38)

  • South Sudan, Solomon Islands, Palestinian Territories, Sao Tome and Principe, Myanmar (28)

Obtaining dual citizenship maybe worth the paperwork hassle, if you’re interested in crossing as many boarders as legally possible, while in your respective home countries. To learn more, check out the helpful interactive passport index, where you can have a look at each country’s rank and see the passport of every country in the world.


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