Though the whole world is now becoming more globalised, huge difference in the levels of freedom to travel among the countries still exists. The requirement of the visa shapes and defines the ability of the individual for traveling abroad.
They also reflect on the relationships between the countries, especially the diplomatic relationships along with the visa arrangements, visa risks, security risks and violations of immigration rules.
Henley & Partners, residence and citizenship planning consultancy released its annual “Visa Restriction Index” , with this year’s latest edition, had said that the UAE has been captured in the spotlight as it became climber with its rank climbing from 55 to 40th spot, with its addition of total 37 countries.
US, Canada and the European countries continue to dominate the list of top 10 countries. UAE’s performance has to be applauded for the improvement in the country’s international relations, which is reflected in the index of improved ranking. As said by Henley & Partners, Managing Partner , Marco Gantenbein.
Malta is the country in the EU which runs programs of citizenship by investment as 1 billion Euros were raised and now it has ranked 7th in the list of best passports of the world.
With the access to 173 countries out of 218, Germany and the UK are the other two countries who holds the top spot. The US, Finland and Sweden have dropped to 2nd place. The countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Pakistan remain the world’s worst four passports.
Since the last decade, the European countries like Italy, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Sweden and Spain have maintained their stability and they all remain in the same position as they were 10 years before.