Passport power rankings, the best known being the Henley Passport Index, rank countries by counting how many destinations their citizens can enter without needing a visa arranged in advance, drawing on data originally compiled by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
More than one organization publishes a ranking, and different publishers, such as Henley & Partners and Arton Capital's Passport Index, can produce somewhat different results because they use different counting methodologies and update schedules, so it is worth checking which index a particular ranking comes from.
What Counts as Visa-Free Access
Why Rankings Shift Over Time
The counting method typically includes visa-free entry and visa-on-arrival access as equally counted, though some indexes treat electronic travel authorizations or e-visas differently, which can shift a country's position depending on how strictly those categories are defined.
Rankings change over the year because bilateral relations between countries shift: new visa-waiver agreements are signed, existing ones are suspended over diplomatic or security disputes, and new e-visa systems are introduced or discontinued, all of which can move a country's position up or down between quarterly updates.
Sources
FAQ
Does a higher passport ranking always mean easier travel overall?
Not entirely; the ranking measures visa-free destination count, but practical travel ease also depends on cost, flight connectivity, and processing times not captured in the count.
Do all ranking agencies rank countries the same way?
No, different publishers can use different methodologies and data sources, which sometimes produces slightly different rankings for the same country.
How often do passport rankings update?
The Henley Passport Index is typically updated quarterly, but the underlying visa policy data can change at any time as agreements shift.
About the Author
We reference Henley Passport Index, International Air Transport Association (IATA) to explain the background and current understanding of this topic.
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