What Is Passport Index: Why Are Some Passports More Powerful

A question that often comes up when considering second citizenship is: What is passport index? The term passport index has become much more prominent in the past few years.

There is a plethora of reasons for the sudden - and widespread - popularity of passport indices, ranging from individual fascination to mass travel confusion in times of crisis.

The COVID pandemic surely played a part in growing awareness about passport indices, as people with "strong" passports suddenly found that they couldn't travel anywhere, and passport rankings started tumbling.

The UAE' s public relations push to highlight its passport as the best in the world also drew a lot of attention, and when one index did place it at the number one spot, a viral celebration spread on the web.

Caribbean countries, as well as Malta and Vanuatu , who have a significant economic reliance on their citizenship by investment program, also use these indices as marketing tools to highlight how strong their passports are.

But there are many passport indices out there, and they seem to differ, so it is important to understand what they actually are and what information to look for when browsing through one.

What Is a Passport Index?

A passport index is a tool that "ranks" passports and assigns a score for each one based on certain criteria.

The primary focus of a passport index is how many destinations can a specific passport holder enter without the need for a visa. The higher the number of visa free destinations, the higher the passport score.

But that may be an oversimplification, as each passport index has its own scoring criteria and ranking methodology. While some do only rely on visa-free travel, others take a more comprehensive approach and take into account a wide array of variables.

Some passport indices will factor in how long a passport holder can remain in a foreign country, while others may include non-numerical (qualitative) elements such as the average happiness of certain nationalities or the standard of living in a specific country.

What Makes A Passport Powerful?

Some of the most common factors that passport indices include in their rankings are:

1. Visa free travel
2. Time allowance in destinations
3. Number of diplomatic missions abroad (embassies, consulates, etc.)
4. Economic factors such as GDP, trade deficit, etc.
5. Democracy score
6. Safety & security score
7. Quality of life scores, such as the UN's Quality of Life Index
8. Taxes
9. International brand and perception
10. Visa free travel diversity (between political and geographic blocks)
11. Passport worth estimation
12. Dual citizenship laws

The more variables included, the more complex the formula becomes, and as more passport indices continue to pop up, it is imperative that the reader understands the methodology the index uses and the weighting of each element to truly reach a satisfying conclusion.

Is There One Official Passport Index?

No. Passport indices are not official rankings, as how strong or valuable a passport is will include many quantitative and qualitative factors that will differ in importance from one person to another.

This is why one passport might rank first in one index but eighth in another. There is no official scoring system to comprehensively rank passports, nor is it likely there ever will be—the matter is simply too complex to resolve.

How to Confirm Passport Ranking?

However, that doesn't mean passport indices are not beneficial. By cross-checking a passport on more than one index, you can get a real feel as to how good the passport is depending on various factors.

For instance, if a passport continuously ranks among the top ten in four or five indices, then it truly is one of the best in the world. You don't need to know whether it is first or fifth, just that it is one of the most valuable travel documents globally.

People looking for enhanced global mobility can check a specific passport index to get a better idea of where they are at and what solutions they have available to address that issue. Others looking to set up a resolute Plan B can check an index that takes into consideration the political landscape of a passport and factors that into its ranking.

It will all come down to what each person wants to find out when checking a passport index. It is important to note, though, that these indices are run by private corporations, so the information within them is susceptible to human error or the methodology may be engineered to align with specific corporate goals.

The best way to find out how beneficial a specific passport would be for you is to talk to an expert in second citizenship who knows the ins and outs of the world of citizenship and who can explain how a second passport can benefit you in your current, specific situation.

Recap

If you would like to do that, all you need to do is contact Savory & Partners today to book a comprehensive consultation with one of our second citizenship experts.