International travel might be making the world a smaller place, but Global Mobility is becoming a lot more restrictive with emerging trends showing an increase in travel bans, visa restrictions coupled with the uncertainty of Brexit and the growing support for nationalization. In this climate, it helps if you’re an expat with a passport that opens doors and requires the minimum effort as far as visas are required.

The Henley Passport Index for 2018 has just been released, which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The Henley Passport Index is a ranking of all the passports of the world according to the number of countries their holders can travel to visa-free and is often used by expats looking to maximise their travel freedom through citizenship-by-investment.

Japan and Singapore have the most powerful passports in the world

Japan and Singapore have tied in first place with the strongest passports in 2018, which allow visa-free or visa-upon-arrival access to 1105 countries. Germany follows allowing access to 179 destinations. Denmark, Finland, Italy, France, Spain and Sweden were the other European countries that followed closely behind, coming in at third place with access to 178 countries. The UK came in at 3^rd place with access to 177 countries.

South Africa ranks 3^rd in Africa in 2018

In Africa, South Africa ranked 3^rd highest African country on the index, with visa-free access to 102 countries and it is globally ranked in 53^rd position. In 2008 and 2009, South Africa reached its highest ranking over the last 10 years when it ranked 35^th on the index.

Overall the continent of Africa as a whole has seen the biggest decline in travel freedom on the 2018 Henley Passport Index with African countries accounting for 19 of the biggest falls over the past 10 years. The top country in Africa, with visa-free access to 144 countries is the Seychelles, which is placed 24^th on the global index. Mauritius is ranked second, granting its citizens visa-free access to 134 countries.

Citizenship-by-investment is the quick route to improved mobility

Many governments are opening up their countries by embracing citizenship-by-investment programmes as a way to stimulate economic development and growth. This is being favoured by wealthy and talented expats who are looking to give their families greater international opportunity, security, stability and travel freedom. Of all the countries offering citizenship-by-investment Malta is regarded as offering the top-ranked investment-migration programme globally. Malta also scores highly on the Henley Passport Index, holding the world’s seventh most powerful passport and offering visa-free access to 173 countries.

Alternative citizenship is the quickest route to global mobility and expats who have multiple passports benefit from their countries strengths and are less vulnerable to their shortcomings.

The top 10 passports for 2018:

1. Singapore and Japan – access to 1105 countries
2. Germany – access to 179 countries
3. Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Spain, Norway, Sweden, South Korea – access to 178 countries
4. Portugal, Austria, United Kingdom, Norway, Luxembourg, Netherlands– access to 177 countries
5. Canada, Switzerland, Ireland, United States – access to 176 countries
6. Australia, Greece, Belgium – access to 174 countries
7. Malta, New Zealand, Czech Republic – access to 173 countries
8. Iceland – access to 172 countries
9. Hungary – access to 171 countries
10. Latvia – access to 170 countries

FinGlobal’s financial services have already helped thousands of happy customers emigrate abroad and achieve global mobility. If you have already relocated or are planning on emigrating in 2018, contact us for expert, personalised advice concerning financial emigration, competitive foreign exchange rates and other financial aspects relating to living abroad including transferring retirement annuities and tax refunds.