Context:
The average number of visa-free destinations has nearly doubled since 2006, according to the 2024 Henley Passport Index.
Relevance:
GS II: International Relations
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Henley Passport Index
- Henley Passport Index 2023: Key Rankings
- Henley Openness Index: Top Findings
About Henley Passport Index:
- Henley Passport Index is a comprehensive global ranking that assesses the travel freedom of citizens based on their passports.
- Initially known as Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index (HVRI), it was established in 2006.
- The index evaluates all the world’s passports based on the number of countries their holders can access without requiring a prior visa.
- It covers 199 different passports and 227 travel destinations.
- The “visa-free score” of a passport corresponds to the number of countries its holders can visit without a visa.
- Henley & Partners collaborates with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and utilizes official data from their global database to analyze visa regulations worldwide.
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
- IATA is a trade association that represents the world’s airlines and was founded in 1945.
- The primary purpose of IATA is to support and promote airline activity, as well as to facilitate the formulation of industry policies and standards.
- The association’s headquarters is located in Montreal, Canada.
Henley Passport Index 2024: Key Highlights
Top-Ranked Passports:
- France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain secure the top position as the world’s most powerful passports.
- These passports enable visa-free entry to 194 global destinations.
European Dominance:
- The top 10 positions are predominantly occupied by European countries.
Global Access Trends:
- The average number of destinations accessible without a visa has nearly doubled, rising from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024.
Indian Passport Ranking:
- India’s passport holds the 80th position.
- Indian citizens enjoy visa-free travel to 62 countries.
Lowest-Ranked Passports:
- Afghanistan ranks at the bottom, with access to only 28 countries without a visa.
- Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan follow with limited visa-free access (29, 31, and 34 destinations, respectively).
UAE’s Notable Rise:
- The United Arab Emirates has experienced significant progress, climbing to the 11th position.
- UAE passports offer visa-free access to 183 destinations.
-Source: Indian Express
