Canada has been included on the list of the most powerful passports in the world to kick off the start of 2022.
Empowered by Arton Capital, the Passport Index is a global mobility intelligence platform providing interactive travel requirements and the ability to compare, rank and improve passports based on their mobility scores.
Arton Capital's latest report covers the state of Global Mobility in the fourth quarter of 2021 and highlights the biggest shifts in passport power due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Passports of 193 United Nations member countries and 6 territories (ROC Taiwan, Macao (SAR China), Hong Kong (SAR China), Kosovo, Palestinian Territory and the Vatican) for a total of 199 are considered.
The United Arab Emirates has earned the title of the “World’s Most Powerful Passport” in 2021, boasting a mobility score of 160. The Emirati passport grants widespread visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a large swathe of the world.
Report authors remark that "as the host of the Expo 2020 Dubai (which runs through March 2022), the UAE improved its passport power by subsidizing country pavilions for lower-income nations in exchange for visa-free agreements. The result? The most inclusive world’s fair in history, a record visitor turnout, and the UAE’s rapid ascent in the passport rankings. The UAE is not only the highest-ranking Arab country on the Passport Index but also the only one in the top 10."
Following the UAE, Germany, Finland and Italy share the second spot, with their respective travel documents granting Visa-free entry to over 100 countries worldwide. Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland, South Korea, and New Zealand share the third spot, while the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, and Australia landed the fourth.
France, the Czech Republic, Malta, Norway, Poland, Hungary, Ireland, and the United States of America placed fifth. Canada shared the sixth spot with Greece, Slovakia and the United Kingdom.
Blue passports in 2021
Report authors note that "blue passports" reigned supreme In 2021. Out of 199 countries, 83 had a blue passport cover, including the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Barbados, Bhutan, Dominica, El Salvador and more. By comparison, 67 countries have a red passport; 42, green; and 7, black.
"While it varies widely by country and culture, blue passports often symbolize the “new world,” free markets and the ocean. Red covers tend to be associated with Communist countries or Christian history, while green is often the [colour] of choice among Muslim countries because it has religious significance. As the rarest colour, black tends to symbolize local culture or politics and, on a practical level, hides wear and tear."
Have a look at the complete Passport Index list for 2022.
