Home Travel

New Zealand Now Has The World’s Most Powerful Passport, Knocks Off Japan

by Suchismita Pal
New Zealand Now Has The World’s Most Powerful Passport, Knocks Off Japan

According to the latest rankings, New Zealand has the world’s most powerful passport now, leaving behind Japan. The index compared the passport access grants of 193 United Nations member countries. While New Zealand was ranked ‘most powerful’, India came 58th on the global list. Japan has fallen to the second place, along with joint entries Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Ireland, South Korea and Australia. The Passport Index ranks the power of passports in real-time, analysing visa restrictions, entry requirements and legislative changes.

New Zealand Comes 1st In World Passport Rankings, India Gets The 58th Position

New Zealand has visa-free access to lesser number of countries now than the pre-pandemic time, but as per the rankings, the New Zealand passport holders haven’t faced much of a harsh blow by the travel restrictions of other countries. 129 countries now offer free visa access to the Kiwis. Kiwi is the international nickname for the people of New Zealand.

New Zealand World's Most Powerful PassportThe top 10 countries in the passport rankings mostly include European nations. Many of them have allowed access to Schengen ‘free movement’ zone with coronavirus restrictions. The United States ranked 21st in the list. However, COVID-19 in the nation has badly impacted the freedom of US passport holders. The Indian passport has ranked 58th, alongside Jordan, Gabon, Algeria and Benin.New Zealand World's Most Powerful PassportAlso Read: New Zealand Visa for Indians, Indian Passport: Types, Application Fee, Form, Requirements And Visa On Arrival

16 Countries Around The World To Allow A Visa-Free Entry To Indians

The Rajya Sabha informed that a total of 16 countries including Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Mauritius would provide visa-free entry to Indian passport holders. Also, the government pointed out that 43 countries provide visa-on-arrival facility to Indian ordinary passport holders and 36 nations provide e-visa facilities. Iran, Indonesia and Myanmar are among the countries that offer visa-on-arrival facility. Sri Lanka, Malaysia and New Zealand belong to the group of 26 countries that have e-visa facility.

New Zealand World's Most Powerful Passport
Picture Credits: Khaleej Times

Also Read: Dubai Launches 5-Year Retirement Visa For Residents And Foreigners

To ease international travel, the government has been making tremendous efforts to increase the number of countries that provide visa-free travel, e-visa facility and access on arrival to Indians. In the years to come, India might end up getting a higher rank in the global passport index. Meanwhile, here’s a virtual tour to New Zealand from the comfort of your home: