As a result, citizens of some regions find it easier than others to travel wherever they want, thanks to the power of international passports.
The value of passports varies globally, so almost every passport in the world has a different statistical value.
Global citizenship and housing advisory firm Henley & Partners understands this fact and has for the past 18 years delivered the Henley Passport Index, a ranking of the best passports based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA).
As the company notes, the index covers 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations. It is updated monthly, and is considered the standard reference tool for global citizens and sovereign nations when evaluating the place of passports in the spectrum of global mobility.
This year, the company has released its first passport index including 109 regions. Japan has the most powerful passports, as it allows holders visa-free access to 193 countries. These countries include Singapore, South Korea, Germany and Spain.
42 of the 109 regions are African with Seychelles having the most powerful passports on the continent.
According to Henley & Partners, the index is derived using a carefully structured methodology. This methodology according to the company is as follows; for each travel destination, if no visa is required for passport holders from the country or region, then a score with a value of = 1 is made for that passport.
A score with a value of = 1 also applies if the passport holder can obtain a visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) upon entering the destination. This type of visa does not require government approval prior to departure, as there is a specific visa-waiver program. If a visa is required, or the passport holder must obtain an electronic visa (e-Visa) approved by the government before departure, a score with a value of = 0 is given.
A score with a value of = 0 is also given if the passport holder needs government approval before departure for a visa on arrival, a scenario we do not consider ‘visa-free’. The total score of each passport is equal to the number of destinations for which a visa is not required (value = 1), according to the conditions defined above.
Below are the top ten African passports based on the above metric system.