Passport Index

The methodology of Guide Passport Index ranks passports by evaluating the scope of visa-free travel regardless of economic or political factors impacting the country or the popularity of the destination for travelers. This approach ensures that all countries and territories are considered with objectivity and neutrality concerning the passports they issue and their status as travel destinations. Our precise methodology provides clear data for assessing the strength of passports based on the scope of international visa-free travel they offer to their holders.

Guide passport Index relies exclusively on official information sources, such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and relevant government websites, among other trusted sources for visa policy-related information. The methodology adopted by Guide Passport Index can be summarized in the following steps:

• Analyzing the visa requirements imposed by 229 destinations worldwide, including those with independent travel policies or common policies with other countries or territories, on holders of regular passports from 199 countries and territories with independently issued Therefore, the Index includes 199 passports, and for each of them, the maximum number of travel destinations is 229.
• These 229 destinations are categorized into five groups according to visa requirements imposed on holders of the specific passport:
  • Visa-free access
  • Visa on arrival
  • Electronic travel authorization (eTA)
  • Visa online
  • Visa required
• The total sum of destinations included in the first three categories (visa-free access, visa on arrival, and eTA) is calculated for each passport. This total represents the number of visa-free destinations for that passport.
• All 199 passports included in Guide Passport Index are ranked in descending order based on the number of visa-free destinations each passport allows. In other words, passports that grant access to a larger number of visa-free destinations will be ranked higher (as the stronger passports) than those that permit travel to fewer visa-free destinations (the weaker passports).
• The ranking of all passports is updated regularly according to changes in visa policies that affect the number of visa-free destinations for a passport.