The UK passport has slipped to joint-sixth place in the latest Henley Passport Index, marking its lowest position since the ranking began in 2006. The index, which measures the number of destinations passport holders can visit without a pre-arranged visa, showed a decline for the UK from 186 to 185 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations, largely due to Turkey introducing e-visas.
In 2015, the UK was ranked joint-first alongside Germany, but has dropped every year since. Despite the recent fall, the UK’s overall score has improved from 126 in 2006, and outbound travel from the UK reached a record 72.8 million trips in 2017. The impact of Brexit on passport privileges remains uncertain, with the European Commission confirming that in a no-deal scenario, UK citizens would need to pay €7 for a travel permit at least 72 hours before travelling to the EU.
Japan retains the top spot for the second consecutive year, offering visa-free access to 190 countries. Asian countries dominate the top rankings, with Singapore and South Korea tied for second with 189 destinations, and Germany and France in third with 188. China has jumped 16 places in two years, from 85th to 69th, while many African nations have seen significant falls.
The index, compiled using data from the International Air Transport Association, assesses 199 passports against 227 travel destinations. Globally, visa-free access has almost doubled since 2006, from an average of 58 destinations to 107 in 2018. Henley & Partners chairman Christian H Kälin noted that open-door policies could contribute billions to the global economy and create jobs, citing South Korea and the United Arab Emirates as examples of proactive foreign policy benefiting citizens.
