Perhaps in Spain we are already accustomed to the fact that doors such as the Schengen Area mean traveling through Europe without restrictions. In fact, dispensing with the need for visas is something that may seem common but it is not at all.
This is clear from the Henley Passport Index, an index that analyzes all the passports in the world and where it considers the most powerful passports that allow their bearers to access more countries without the need for apply for a visa.
Interestingly, although it may not come as a surprise to people familiar with this ranking, the top spots in the ranking are held by Asian countries. In particular, Japan, which has been ‘the best passport in the world’ for five consecutive years, since in this 2023 they are nothing less than 193 countries those that allow Japanese citizens to travel the globe without the need for a prior visa.
Not far away are South Korea and Singapore, which tie for second place on the list as their passports allow them to visit 192 countries without requiring a prior visa. Curiously, Singapore has dropped one position in 2023, since in previous years it was tied with Japan.
Total We are talking about 227 countries around the world, where only 13% do not allow access without a prior visa. Outside of Asia, which tops that podium, we already find European countries such as Germany and of Spaintwo powerful passports that allow you to enter 190 countries without the need for a prior visa.
Spain and Germany are seconded, since below that border of 190, other countries such as the United Kingdom, Sweden or Austria, which present very similar numbers above 180 countries.
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In the caboose, however, we find Asian, African and Middle Eastern countriesbeing the ones that have the most difficulties to travel without a visa, as is the case with Afghanistan, Iraq or Syria, the three countries with the most closed doors, although not far from what the safe-conduct of Pakistan, Yemen or Somalia supposes.
Images | Henley Passport Index/Freepik
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