Ramsay Passport Index

The Ramsay Passport Index employs a comprehensive methodology to evaluate and compare passports worldwide. By meticulously analyzing visa requirements and policies imposed by destinations across the globe, the index ranks 199 passports in descending order, corresponding to the countries and territories that issue their own passports.

The ranking is primarily based on the number of visa-free travel destinations available to passport holders out of a total of 229 destinations. These destinations encompass countries and territories with independent passport systems. Additionally, the index considers 31 territories that, although not issuing their own passports, are counted as destinations for evaluation purposes. This approach ensures a thorough assessment of each passport’s strength and the extent of travel freedom it provides.

The Ramsay Passport Index adheres to a comprehensive methodology outlined as follows:

• Analysis of Visa Requirements: The visa requirements for ordinary passport holders from all countries and territories issuing passports (199 passports) are meticulously studied when traveling to each of the 229 worldwide destinations intended for short-stay purposes like tourism and business. Multiple information sources, including data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), relevant government websites, and other official and reliable visa policy sources, are utilized.
• Categorization of Destinations: Based on the available information regarding visa policies and requirements for each destination, the destinations associated with each passport are categorized into five fundamental groups:
  • Visa-free access
  • Visa on arrival
  • Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
  • Visa Online
  • Visa Required
• Calculation of Visa-Free Destinations: The number of destinations falling into the first three categories (visa-free access, visa on arrival, and electronic travel authorization) is summed for each passport, providing the total count of destinations where a pre-arranged visa is not required—referred to as visa-free destinations for a passport.
• Ranking by Visa-Free Destinations: Passports are arranged in descending order based on the number of visa-free destinations associated with each passport. The top-ranked passport, occupying the first position in the ranking, signifies the most powerful passport globally, granting its holder the highest degree of global freedom of movement and access to the largest number of visa-free destinations.
• Ongoing Monitoring and Updates: Visa policy updates are continuously monitored, and the passport ranking is promptly updated to reflect changes in the number of visa-free destinations per passport.