Travelling around the globe is one of the most exciting activities in our lifetime. It provides the possibility to explore new environments, meet diverse cultures, and even try exotic gastronomies. Tourism has become a billion industry worldwide and even is some countries’ main source of income. Sometimes, though, visa-related bureaucracies stand in the way, which can be avoided by having a powerful passport, the best way to travel the world.
The Passport Index is a passport ranking list that also highlights the conditions their holders face worldwide. Having been invented and empowered by Arton Capital, the Global Passport Index is the only real-time global ranking, as it is updated frequently as new visa waivers and changes are being implemented.
The Passport Index’s methodology considers the passports issued by 193 United Nations member countries and 6 territories (ROC Taiwan, Macao (SAR China), Hong Kong (SAR China), Kosovo, the Palestinian Territory, and the Vatican) for a total of 199 different travel documents. The data provided is based on official information provided by governments.
A 3-tier method is applied to determine the passport ranking. This method includes the possibilities that a traveller may face when arriving in a foreign country, such as "visa-free" (no visa required), "visa on arrival", "eTA" (Electronic Travel Authorization), "pre-enrolment visa" and "eVisa" (if issued within 3 days), or if a visa is necessary; “visa required". The ranking is defined considering the visa-free portion of the country’s score vs the visa-on-arrival option. The United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index is used as a tiebreaker.
Complete Rank of the top Global Passport Power in 2024
Rank: 1
United Arab Emirates179Rank: 2
France177
Germany177
Spain177
Italy177
Netherlands177Rank: 3
Sweden176
Finland176
Luxembourg176
Austria176
Switzerland176Rank: 4
Denmark175
Belgium175
Portugal175
Greece175
Norway175
Poland175
Ireland175
Portugal Has the 4th Most Powerful Passport in the World
As of the writing of this article, Portugal currently has the 4th most powerful passport in the world, being ahead of countries such as the United States, New Zealand, and Japan.
Though it ranked as high as 3rd, the Portuguese passport recently dropped to 4th. This occurred not because it lost any power, but rather because of other EU countries recently gaining the ability to travel visa-free to China.
The Portuguese passport remains extremely powerful, granting access to 175 countries. According to the Passport Index, 132 countries will let Portuguese citizens enter their borders completely visa-free. Not to mention, Portuguese nationals can travel, live and work freely in the Schengen Area, which includes 26 other countries: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. 43 will either request an eVisa, which is a document obtained online, or grant a visa on arrival. Only 23 will require a visa beforehand. Although "visa-free", 8 countries will request an Electronic Travel Authorisation from Portuguese nationals, which is a document permitting entrance when a visa is not required. The countries are Australia, Canada, Ivory Coast, Kenya, New Zealand, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and the United States of America.
According to the Global Passport Index, the Portuguese passport has a world Reach of 88%, effectively being one of the strongest passports in the world.
The D2 Visa Programme: The Key to the Portuguese Passport
With the Portugal Golden Visa no longer accepting Real Estate investments as an eligible option, the spotlight is now focused on the Portugal D2 Visa, a new investment-driven Residency solution. Its main purpose is to captivate foreign nationals to invest in a business in Portugal in exchange for Residency status in the country.
Portugal currently has the fastest path toward Citizenship in the European Union, taking only 5 years until the status is achieved. With the D2 Visa, the Portuguese Residency is acquired in 3 months, and it is the first step to Citizenship, making the Portugal D2 Visa the best Residency by Investment programme.
Portugal Homes has crafted specific D2 Visa solutions for business-minded investors who wish to obtain Residency in Portugal, with investments starting from €280k. Get started on your process today and obtain the Portuguese passport, the 4th most powerful one in the world, in 5 years, granting you access to 175 countries in the world.
