By TAKEHIRO TOMODA/ Staff Writer
August 8, 2023 at 07:00 JST
A Japanese passport (Sotaro Hata)
Japan has been dethroned by Singapore at the top of rankings of countries with powerful passports, falling to third place, according to British consulting firm Henley & Partners.
Japan had held the No. 1 spot since 2018.
Based on data published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the rankings show how many countries and regions passport holders can visit without a visa.
The latest survey found that Japanese passport holders are exempt from visas to enter 189 countries and regions, a decrease of four from the previous year.
Singapore claimed the top spot this year as holders of a Singaporean passport can visit 192 countries and regions without a visa.
Second place was shared by Germany, Italy and Spain, with Austria, Finland, France, Luxemburg, South Korea and Sweden sharing the third spot with Japan.
By contrast, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria were at the bottom of the rankings.
While freedom of travel has expanded globally, the gap between top- and bottom-ranking passports has also widened, the consulting firm said.
“Far more than just a travel document that defines our freedom of movement, a strong passport also provides significant financial freedoms in terms of international investment and business opportunities,” said Christian Kaelin, the chairman of the consulting firm.
caption:
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