The Henley Index Q2 Update April 2020 Henley Passport Index Q2 Update: April 2020

About the Henley Passport Index

The Henley Passport Index is the original and most Explore the world authoritative ranking of all the world’s according to the number of destinations their holders can access As well as allowing users to discover the strength of their without a prior visa. The index includes 199 passports and own passports, henleypassportindex.com enables them to 227 travel destinations, giving users the most extensive and compare their passport to others, looking at differences in reliable information about their global access and mobility. access and learning where their passport ranks regionally With historical data spanning 15 years and regularly updated as well as globally. The site also allows users to explore 15 expert analysis on the latest shifts in passport power, the years’ worth of historical data, discovering how the strength index is an invaluable resource for global citizens and the of their passport has changed over the years and looking at top standard reference tool for governments in this field. climbers and fallers on the index.

Robust, reliable, and accurate

The ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the Find out where you can -free View your passport ranking over 15 years world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information, and is enhanced by the Henley & Partners Research Department.

The index’s scoring system was developed to give users a nuanced, practical, and reliable overview of their passport’s power. Each passport is scored on the total number of destinations that the holder can access visa-free. For each travel destination, if no visa is required, then a score of 1 is created for that passport. This also applies if passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) upon entry.

Where a visa is required, or where a passport holder must apply for a government-approved electronic visa (e-Visa) before departure, a score of 0 is assigned. The same applies if they need pre-departure approval for a visa on arrival.

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The information provided here reflects the 2020 Henley Passport Index ranking on 7 April 2020, and in certain 1 instances, coronavirus-related travel bans may take precedence over the visa information recorded here. 2 Henley Passport Index Q2 Update: April 2020

Rank Passport Visa-free Score

1 191 14 178 37 141 59 89

2 190 38 140 60 88 80 63

3 189 15 175 39 135

South Korea 16 174 40 134 61 86 94 49

4 188 62 85 81 62

Italy 17 172

Luxembourg 18 171 41 133 63 Papua New 84 95 Congo (Rep.) 48

Spain 42 131 64 82 82 Sao Tome and Principe 61 96 47

5 187 19 170 65 79 83 60

Denmark 43 130 66 78 84 59 97 46

6 186 44 129 98 44

Ireland (SAR ) 85 58 99 South 43

Netherlands 20 168 67 77 100 Congo (Dem. Rep.) 42

Portugal 21 167 45 127 86 Cote d’Ivoire 57

Sweden 22 166 68 76

7 185 23 161 46 125 69 75 101 41

Norway 24 160 47 124 87 56

Switzerland 25 159 70 China 74 88 55 102 40

United Kingdom 26 St. Kitts and Nevis 156 48 122 Guinea

United States 27 Bahamas 155 71 73 Sudan

8 184 28 153 49 120 72 72 103 39

Greece 29 151 50 Islands 119 73 71 89 54 104 38

Malta 51 Micronesia 118

New Zealand 30 150 Russian Federation Palestinian Territory

9 183 52 117 74 69 105 33

Canada 31 149 53 116 75 68 90 53

10 182 32 148 54 114 76 67 106 32

11 181 St. Vincent and the 55 111 Comoro Islands 107 29 Grenadines 56 101 Guinea-Bissau 108 28 33 St. Lucia 146 77 Islands 66 109 26 (Chinese Taipei) 12 180 57 95 78 65 91 52 34 Macao (SAR China) 144 92 51 35 143 Timor-Leste 36 142 13 179 58 91 79 64 93 50

The information provided here reflects the 2020 Henley Passport Index ranking on 7 April 2020, and in certain 3 instances, coronavirus-related travel bans may take precedence over the visa information recorded here. 4 Henley Passport Index Q2 Update: April 2020

Q2 Insights and Analysis: Record-Breaking Global Global Mobility and Mobility Grounded by COVID-19 Pandemic Migration Post COVID-19

With global travel almost at a standstill, the latest results of the Henley Passport Index offer disturbing insight into Dr. Parag Khanna the havoc the COVID-19 pandemic is indiscriminately Passport Power and Travel Freedom wreaking. Since its inception in 2006, the index has Founder and Managing Partner of FutureMap, a data and scenario- provided the authoritative annual ranking of global passport Dr. Christian H. Kaelin based strategic advisory firm headquartered in Singapore strength. Travel freedom has increased dramatically Chairman of Henley & Partners The combined effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on public Besides epidemiological and economic factors, technology over the period — in 2006, a citizen could travel to 58 health, the global economy, and social behavior may augur will drive people’s thinking. Telecommuting and cloud-based destinations on average without a visa from the host nation; “In a global health emergency, relative passport strength deeper shifts in our human geography — our distribution work are the new normal. As internet accessibility accelerates 14 years later, this number has almost doubled to 107. The becomes temporarily meaningless. Travel freedom is around the world. This may seem ironic given today’s it will be more widely accepted for FaceTime to replace face first ranking of the new decade published in January this contingent on factors that occasionally can be utterly beyond border closures and standstill in global transportation, but time. Digital talent will further stake its claim to remote year conclusively confirmed that overall, people were the our control. As public health concerns rightfully take as the curtain lifts, people will seek to move from poorly work from geographies of choice. most globally mobile than we had ever been in the history of precedence, even within the otherwise borderless EU, this is governed and ill-prepared places to more proactive countries humankind, with the top-ranking passport (Japan) offering an opportunity to reflect on what freedom of movement and with better medical care or where involuntary quarantine, its holders access to a record-breaking 191 destinations citizenship essentially mean for those of us who have perhaps whenever it strikes next, is less torturous. Once quarantines without requiring a visa in advance. Just three months later, taken them for granted in the past.” lift, expect more people to gather their belongings and head Some countries will prioritize public the picture looks very different indeed. to countries affordable enough to start fresh. health and welfare but citizens of Japan’s passport continues to hold the top spot on the Henley countries whose governments have been The pandemic has divided the world into ‘red zones’ that Passport Index as we enter the second quarter of 2020, failed to test, quarantine, and treat COVID-19 patients overwhelmed by the virus will make a but the reality is that current stringent travel restrictions Investment Migration adequately and ‘green zones’ that performed well under the more concerted effort to emigrate mean that most non-essential travel for Japanese nationals Dr. Juerg Steffen circumstances and flattened the curve. The density of social is heavily curtailed. This is true for almost every country contact in cities — that accommodate over 60% of the global Could entire nations benefit from post-pandemic migration? of course, as more travel bans are implemented daily, and CEO of Henley & Partners population — makes them petri dishes for the spread of It is too soon to know if any countries have truly been ever-more stringent coronavirus lockdown regulations “We believe that in the post–COVID-19 environment, contagious diseases. Affluent, modern cities such Madrid, spared, but it is clear that COVID-19 is spreading more are imposed by governments worldwide. With 3.5 billion investment migration will take on a dramatically enhanced Milan, and New York have nonetheless become virus rapidly in places that are roughly 27 degrees north latitude, people, nearly half the global population, presently living importance for both individual investors and sovereign hotspots. It is not yet clear how many people will succumb to where much of the world’s population is concentrated. It is in voluntary or mandatory confinement, the latest results states. Acquiring alternative residence or citizenship will act the virus in developing countries that have sprawling mega- worth exploring whether countries with colder or warmer from the index — which is based on exclusive data from as a hedge against the significant macro-economic volatility cities with teeming slums. Some countries will prioritize temperatures, lower population densities, or less intensive the International Air Transport Association (IATA) — that is predicted, creating even more sovereign and societal public health and welfare but citizens of countries whose participation in global supply chains are safer. raise challenging questions about what travel freedom and value across the world.” governments have been overwhelmed by the virus will make global mobility really mean, both currently and in a deeply a more concerted effort to emigrate. The pandemic has not minimized climate change. Rising uncertain post-pandemic future. temperatures imply longer flu seasons. Frequent droughts Amid the looming economic depression, millions of urban are ravaging agriculture in the world’s largest food producing dwellers will no longer be able to afford their rents and may countries. Signals are emerging around how coronavirus is soon uproot. Although asset prices in cities may significantly stressing agricultural supply chains. Farms in the US and correct after the pandemic, rural areas remain more Europe are short of seasonal farm workers as cross-border affordable and have the appeal of lower infection rates. flows have slowed, leaving food supply at risk.

The information provided here reflects the 2020 Henley Passport Index ranking on 7 April 2020, and in certain 5 instances, coronavirus-related travel bans may take precedence over the visa information recorded here. 6 Henley Passport Index Q2 Update: April 2020

The Impact of Health Security Climate Change Inertia, Inequality, and the on Travel Freedom Travel Freedom Gap

Uğur Altundal and Ömer Zarpli Charles Phillips

Researchers in Political Science at Syracuse University in the Independent researcher and consultant for Oxford Business Group whose field US and the University of Pittsburgh in the US, respectively of expertise is energy and climate change policy in the Middle East

In general, governments adopt travel restrictions temporarily, the spread of epidemics was an important underlying Since the early 1990s the UN-sponsored Intergovernmental Despite broad international frameworks that address the in response to short-term health needs. For example, reason for imposing borders. In the past, restrictions have Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has noted that human issue, holistic policies enacted by governments are few, and measures such as social distancing, which reduces face-to- always been short-term, however, in response to epidemics. migration caused by shoreline erosion, coastal flooding, and widespread environmentally-induced migration can thus be face interaction, are believed to be effective in preventing COVID-19, on the other hand, might see the current agricultural disruption may be the single greatest impact of expected in future, with a trend towards greater movement the spread of airborne viruses such as COVID-19 and restrictions becoming the norm. climate change. of people as global temperatures increase. Both wealthier eventually in bringing down the number of infections. As a countries and poorer countries will face disruption from result, governments have issued travel bans and stay-at-home A proxy to travelers having to carry health certificates, which Today, climate change is already affecting migration patterns. such movement. orders, canceled international flights, and closed border was common practice in the 20th century, is for countries to This can be seen through extreme weather events, which entry checkpoints. Although for now these steps seem to have assess the quality of the healthcare systems of other countries have been increasing in frequency and intensity as global While climate mitigation, adaptation, and some level of been taken temporarily, they are likely to affect international based on their preparedness for and early detection of temperatures increase. Mass displacement triggered by extreme relocation will be needed, the widening gap in travel freedom mobility in the long run for several reasons. epidemics of potential international concern, mitigation, the weather events is becoming the norm. In 2018, 17.2 million between citizens from developed and developing countries of quality of their health sectors, their capacity, and the risk people were displaced due to national disasters, according to the world will make it increasingly difficult for those most Many countries unilaterally, bilaterally, or multilaterally environment. The quality of health security could become a the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), and a affected by climate change to move. waive their visa requirements. Generally, countries open their consideration for visa waivers, especially for countries with further 7 million by mid-2019, with East Asia, the Pacific, and borders to citizens of other countries when it is economically economies that do not depend on inbound tourism. South Asia being the most affected. The World Bank projects A considerable barrier impeding international resettlement beneficial to do so, and security risks are minimal. Visa that by 2050, 143 million people in Latin America, South is that environmental migrants and environmental or waivers increase tourism, business travel, and bilateral Although in future health preparedness could become a Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa could move within their own climate refugees are not well defined in international law. economic transactions such as trade and investment. Other significant factor in visa waiver agreements, economic and countries if no action is taken on climate change. The current legal definition for a refugee, based on the 1951 factors such as common languages, economic, political, security-related factors appear to be more prominent at UN Refugee Convention, does not include environmental or historical, and/or cultural ties, and the quality of democracy present. This is borne out by the fact that countries such A significant challenge for quantifying and accurately climate refugees; those forced to flee due to loss of livelihood increase the likelihood of visa agreements being signed as Bulgaria, Cyprus, Liechtenstein, , , projecting climate-induced migration is the slow-onset or habitat. between countries. Before waiving visas, some countries Romania, and Slovakia have high visa-free scores in the nature of climate change. As a long-term phenomenon, such as the US also take into account visa overstay rates, Henley Passport Index despite having low scores in the 2019 climate change amplifies existing migration pressures and A major source of inequality is the relationship between visa refusal rates, the use of biometric passports, the level Global Health Security Index. drivers in addition to causing immediate displacement due to responsibility and impacts. Those least responsible for of law enforcement, immigration enforcement interests, and catastrophic climate-related weather events. emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere are often commitment to sharing information on terrorism and crime. At the same time there is a positive correlation between most affected by the adverse impacts of climate change. They health security and visa freedom. Countries that rank higher Where mitigation and adaptation to climate change factors are also less able to move and travel. Until now, countries do not appear to have considered in the Global Health Security Index tend to have stronger that might displace people are not possible, greater movement health security as a determinant or requirement when passports, on average. Australia, , , the of people can be expected. Climate-induced migration will Planning for likely patterns of both internal and international negotiating visa waivers. However, increasing public health , , , the UK, and the US all involve people in environmentally vulnerable regions moving migration induced by environmental pressures will be needed concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic may change this. rank high in both indexes. within their own countries and also attempting to move to in 2020 and beyond. Historically, when the resolution that established passports wealthier countries as their capacity to survive in their places as a requirement for international travel was adopted at the of origin deteriorates. League of Nations passport conference in 1920, controlling

The information provided here reflects the 2020 Henley Passport Index ranking on 7 April 2020, and in certain 7 instances, coronavirus-related travel bans may take precedence over the visa information recorded here. 8 Henley Passport Index Q2 Update: April 2020

in early March that it will scrap visa fees for African, Commonwealth of Nations, and Organization Internationale COVID-19 Vaccine Collaboration and Coronavirus May Extend Free Movement Qatar on the Rise Thanks to de la Francophonie member state citizens. the Future of Human Mobility between UK and EU Strategic Alliances

Prof. Simone Bertoli Madeleine Sumption Dr. Lorraine Charles Nigeria increased its accessibility to foreign visitors with the February 2020 launch of its Nigeria Visa Policy 2020, which Professor of Economics at Université Clermont Auvergne Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Research Associate at the Centre for Business Research at the has expanded visa classes, introduced an electronic visa, and (CERDI) in France and a Research Fellow at the Institute Oxford in the UK University of Cambridge in the UK extended existing visa waiver arrangements. Nigeria is also, of Labor Economics in Germany Almost four years after the UK voted to leave the EU, the shape Qatar’s recent visa waivers with Brazil and see it rise however, one of several African states subjected to a visa ban The need to fight against the spread of the COVID-19 of the country’s post-Brexit immigration system is finally to 57th place on the Henley Passport Index. The agreements by the US government. Eritrea, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania pandemic has led to the closure of numerous international becoming clearer. When free movement ends, EU and non-EU aim to strengthen trade and tourism and demonstrate Qatar’s were accused of not adequately sharing public safety-related borders and the introduction of severe restrictions to citizens will in most cases face the same rules if they want to independent foreign policy in a divided Gulf Cooperation information with US authorities. mobility, even within countries. This necessary attempt enter the UK for work, family, or study purposes. Council (GCC). They are the most recent examples of Qatar’s to achieve social distancing must neither hinder the global opening to the world via establishing new trade links that collective effort to find a way to treat the disease by creating A new work-visa system is expected to admit people with began at the onset of the economic and diplomatic boycott a vaccine nor impede the ensuing solidarity across countries. job offers who meet regulated skill and salary thresholds. between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, supported by Bahrain and The new system will also drop some of the bureaucracy that the UAE. Since June 2017 Qatari citizens have been barred Travel Bans and Talent Drains The landscape of our world has changed in just a few weeks, currently faces non-EU citizens, such as the requirement for from entering all three states. Greg Lindsay and life after the pandemic will certainly be deeply different employers to advertise jobs in advance in the UK. For non- with respect to what we are all accustomed to. Humanity is EU workers, this is a liberalization. For example, workers in This political and economic isolation has been met with Director of Applied Research at NewCities confronted with a truly global challenge against which no middle-skilled jobs, such as carpenters or office managers, Qatar’s vigorous foreign policy actions to establish wider The unfolding effects of President Trump’s travel ban(s), country — irrespective of its level of income — can fully are not currently eligible for long-term work visas but will international links. The recent agreements with Brazil compounded by coronavirus, are evidenced in America’s protect itself. This pandemic could thus trigger renewed and become so under the new rules. For EU workers on the other and Russia, both also on friendly terms with Qatar’s GCC diminishing supply of a most precious resource: young talent. more intense international cooperation, something that has hand, the proposed system is dramatically more restrictive adversaries, could be perceived as a snub by Doha, showing (so far) not happened with the other major global challenge than the status quo: many of those who came to the UK over that it can ‘go it alone’ and establish its own relations with For the last three years the number of new international that the world is currently facing, namely climate change. the past 20 years are working in low-wage positions that powerful states outside the GCC. This demonstrates Qatar’s students at US colleges and universities has declined. But the pandemic will also lead us to consider the increased would not meet the new requirements. EU citizens coming strategy of risk diversification, creating robust alliances While this is partly due to demographic forces, Institute horizontal fragmentation of global production chains and for family and study purposes will also face many more outside the GCC to protect its sovereignty. of International Education surveys reveal students being the lack of self-sufficiency even of high-income countries in restrictions than they do at present, including high visa fees turned away, stuck in immigration limbo. This places at risk some key sectors, such as the production of drug substances, for both temporary and permanent stays. a research university system bolstered by USD 41 billion from a different perspective. annually in international students’ contributions. When will all this happen? The default timetable is January Africa’s Border Liberalization The world might become more interconnected, or major 2021. However, the recent upheaval caused by the coronavirus Pre COVID-19 Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, America’s chasms might divide countries and cause a sharp decline in throws this into doubt. The UK can implement its new Ryan Cummings flight restrictions trapped almost 370,000 Chinese students international migration flows. Our hope is that international immigration system only when the post-Brexit ‘transition in the US. The decision to close campuses confused success in the fight against the current pandemic in the period’ is over, and if this is extended to give negotiators Independent consultant to international news outlets, matters further, with over a million international students coming weeks or months will be able to reduce the risk of more time to discuss trade and other issues, we may not be publications, and think-tanks, and a Director at Signal Risk potentially in violation of their visas. For the children of a increasing barriers to human mobility in the years to come. seeing the end of free movement quite yet. While prevailing developments in global migration are rising global middle class with more and more options, this dominated by restrictive measures to curb the coronavirus, pandemic may prove to be the tipping point in choosing before the outbreak African states continued to liberalize educational destinations. their borders in line with the African Union’s Vision 2063 agenda, which aims to create an interconnected continent. When the world recovers, the best and brightest may well Leading the charge is Rwanda, which already has one of the take coronavirus response into consideration when deciding most open visa policies in Africa. The government announced on their future options.

The information provided here reflects the 2020 Henley Passport Index ranking on 7 April 2020, and in certain 9 instances, coronavirus-related travel bans may take precedence over the visa information recorded here. 10 Henley Passport Index Q2 Update: April 2020

Strongest Passports in Q2 2020 Weakest Passports in Q2 2020

Moving into the second quarter of 2020, Japan remains 1st 105th in the top spot on the Henley Passport Index, with a visa- free or visa-on-arrival score of 191. Singapore sits in 2nd Visa-free access to Visa-free access to place with 190, and Germany and South Korea hold joint- 191 destinations Japan 33 destinations Somalia Yemen 3rd place, with citizens of those countries able to access 189 destinations around the world without a prior visa. At the other end of the global mobility spectrum, the Afghan 2nd 106th passport remains the world’s weakest, in 109th place, with a visa-free or visa-on-arrival score of just 26. Visa-free access to Visa-free access to 190 destinations Singapore 32 destinations Pakistan

3rd 107th

Visa-free access to Visa-free access to 189 destinations Germany South Korea 29 destinations Syria

4th 108th

Visa-free access to Visa-free access to 188 destinations Finland Luxembourg 28 destinations Iraq

5th 109th

Visa-free access to Visa-free access to 187 destinations Austria Denmark 26 destinations Afghanistan

This infographic shows the countries that occupy the highest and lowest ranks on the Henley Passport Index. In certain cases, a rank is shared by multiple countries if these countries all have the same level of visa-free or visa-on-arrival access.

The information provided here reflects the 2020 Henley Passport Index ranking on 7 April 2020, and in certain 11 instances, coronavirus-related travel bans may take precedence over the visa information recorded here. 12 Henley Passport Index Q2 Update: April 2020

Passport Power Worldwide

This map shows the differences in relative passport power on a global scale, with light gray used to indicate the passports with the lowest visa-free or visa-on-arrival scores and dark blue used to indicate the passports with the highest scores.

Passport rank

1–10

11–20

21-30

31-60

61–90

91–109

The information provided here reflects the 2020 Henley Passport Index ranking on 7 April 2020, and in certain 13 instances, coronavirus-related travel bans may take precedence over the visa information recorded here. 14 Henley Passport Index Q2 Update: April 2020

Biggest Climbers and Fallers on the Henley Passport Index: 2010 to 2020

This graph shows the countries that have climbed the highest up the Henley Passport Index rankings over the past decade, as well as those that have fallen most sharply over that period.

+47

+36

+28 +28 +24 -17 -17 -16 -16 -16 +22 +21 -21 -20

United Arab Taiwan (Chinese Colombia Timor-Leste Albania Bosnia and Ukraine Nigeria Syria Libya Yemen Sierra Sri Lanka Bangladesh Emirates Taipei) Herzegovina Leone

2020 18 33 45 57 54 52 44 2010 76 87 87 88 64 84 85

2010 65 69 73 85 78 74 65 2020 97 107 104 105 80 100 101

Rank Rank

Biggest Climbers Since 2010 Biggest Fallers Since 2010

The information provided here reflects the 2020 Henley Passport Index ranking on 7 April 2020, and in certain 15 instances, coronavirus-related travel bans may take precedence over the visa information recorded here. 16 Henley Passport Index Q2 Update: April 2020

Henley & Partners is the global leader in residence and Antigua and Barbuda Hong Kong Thailand citizenship planning. Each year, hundreds of wealthy individuals +1 268 562 2625 +852 3101 4100 +351 213 970 977 +662 041 4628 and their advisors rely on our expertise and experience in this [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] area. The firm’s highly qualified professionals work together as Australia Jersey (British Isles) Singapore one team in over 30 offices worldwide. +61 3 8680 2525 +44 1534 514 888 +65 6438 7117 +44 207 823 10 10 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] The concept of residence and citizenship planning was created by Henley & Partners in the 1990s. As globalization has expanded, Austria Latvia Slovakia Vietnam residence and citizenship have become topics of significant +43 1 361 6110 +371 66 05 10 09 +421 2 3231 0675 +84 28 3827 1797 interest among the increasing number of internationally mobile [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] entrepreneurs and investors whom we proudly serve every day. Canada Malaysia South Africa +1 514 288 1997 +603 2731 9340 +27 21 850 0524 The firm also runs a leading government advisory practice that [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] has raised more than USD 8 billion in foreign direct investment. Trusted by governments, the firm has been involved in strategic Cyprus Malta South Korea consulting and in the design, set-up, and operation of the +357 2531 1844 +356 2138 7400 +82 2 2008 4664 world’s most successful residence and citizenship programs. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Dubai (UAE) Moldova St. Kitts and Nevis +971 4 392 77 22 +373 22 109 209 +1 869 465 6220 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Greece Montenegro St. Lucia +30 21 0983 8705 +382 20 674 074 +1 758 458 9777 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Grenada Philippines +1 473 443 4000 +63 2 8669 2771 +41 44 266 22 22 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

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The information provided here reflects the 2020 Henley Passport Index ranking on 7 April 2020, and in certain 17 instances, coronavirus-related travel bans may take precedence over the visa information recorded here. 18