Finnish passports share 2nd place with South Korea and Germany for the Quarter 3 update of the Henley passport index for 2019. These countries enjoy Visa-free access to 187 destinations across the globe.
In the past, Finnish passports have been ranked #1 on numerous occasions, including the first 2 Global rankings published (2006, 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2014).
Recent changes to Pakistan’s old, extremely restrictive visa policy mean now it offers an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) to citizens of 50 countries, including Finland, Japan, Malta, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. This has been thought to have improved Finland’s ranking.
What is the Henley Passport Index?
The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
Henley & Partners Passport Index
A country’s position in the index is determined from information provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The IATA maintains the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information. Started in 2006, the Henley passport index is the result of data collected and analyzed for 14 years.
The 2019 index includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations. This is updated in real-time as and when visa-policy changes come into effect.
On a fixed date each year, Henley & Partners receive the travel data from the IATA, which becomes the foundation of the Henley Passport Index. To ensure the accuracy of the data provided, the Henley & Partners research team uses publicly accessible and trustworthy online sources to cross-check each passport against all possible travel destinations. This research process is ongoing throughout the year, coupled with a meticulous monitoring system.
How are countries scored?
A score of 1 is awarded to each passport per destination if no visa is required for travel to that country or territory. 1 point is also applied if passport holders can obtain a visa, visitor’s permit, or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) on arrival at their destination. These visa-types need no pre-departure government approval because of the special visa-waiver programs in place.
0 points are awarded where a visa is demanded, or passport holders must obtain a government-approved electronic visa (e-Visa) before departure. Also, if passport holders need pre-departure government approval for a visa on arrival, this is not considered ‘visa-free’.
Terms explained
- Visa-free: You do not need a visa to enter these destinations
- Visa on arrival: You need a visa to enter these destinations, but you can apply for and receive the visa upon arrival at the airport (no pre-departure approval necessary)
- e-Visa: You need a visa to enter these destinations, but you can apply for it online, and the visa you receive is electronic (pre-departure approval necessary)
- Visa required: You need a traditional visa to enter these destinations, and you need to apply for it in person
- Visa-free score: The total number of destinations for which you do not require a visa
- Visa list: The list of destinations that a specific passport can access visa-free, with an electronic visa (e-Visa), with a visa on arrival, or with a traditional visa
In addition, Finnair set an all-time monthly passenger record at 1.4 million in June and state rail firm VR invests 250 million in faster trains. Travel to Finland and within the country continues to improve.
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The writer of the article:
Ross Uren
References:
Japanese and Singaporeans have the world’s most powerful passports – Tourism – Foreigner.fi – Journal for expats and tourists in Finland
Henley Passport Index 2006 to 2019
Finnair sets all-time monthly passenger record | Yle Uutiset | yle.fi
State rail firm VR invests 250 million in faster trains | Yle Uutiset | yle.fi