Friday, November 14, 2014
We have often been told that an Irish passport is one of the top 4 most powerful and desired passports in the world and so it should be. It has been something we here at Irish Around Oz have regularly questioned.
We have often said just what are the best passports to have? We did a bit of research and compiled this list of the top 10 most powerful passports in the world.
They are ranked based on the travel freedom that each passport holder enjoys.
- Liechtenstein – can travel to 159 countries without a visa
9th Most powerful passport in the world:
- Malaysia and Malta – Access to 163 countries without a visa
8th Most powerful passport in the world:
- Iceland – Access to 165 countries without a visa
7th Most powerful passport in the world:
- South Korea – Can travel to 166 countries without a visa
6th Most powerful passport in the world:
- Australia
- Singapore
- Greece
Passport holders can travel to 167 countries without a visa
5th Most powerful passport in the world:
- Switzerland
- Austria
- New Zealand
Access to 168 countries without a visa
4th Most powerful passport in the world:
- Ireland
- Canada
- France
- Japan
- Norway
- Portugal
- Spain
Access to 170 countries without a visa
3rd Most powerful passport in the world:
- Italy
- Belgium
- Netherlands
Can access 171 counties without a visa
2nd Most powerful passport in the world:
- USA
- Germany
- Denmark
- Luxembourg
Can visit 172 countries without a visa.
Number 1 Most powerful passport in the world:
- United Kingdom
- Sweden
- Finland
Can get access to to 173 countries without a visa.
Sources: Youtube, Business insider
Although Americans enjoy great travel freedom, a U.S. passport is not the strongest. The strongest passports are the United Kingdom, Finland, and Sweden, whose passport holders can travel to 173 countries without a visa.
Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, and the U.S. are also strong, with visa-free access to 172 countries.
Unsurprisingly, the least powerful passports belong to Afghanistan (whose holders can travel to just 28 countries without a visa), Iraq (31 visa-free countries), Somalia, and Pakistan (32 visa-free countries).