Passport Index:

The Rh Capital.World Passport Index is a ranking system for passports, which utlizes a factor called the Destination Significance Score (DSS) to assign a unique value to each passport.

What is the Most Powerful Passport in the World?

According to Rh Capital. World, the Singaporean passport is the most powerful passport in the world, with a score of 90.26 as of September 2023. It is followed by the Finnish, German, Spanish, and Swedish passport respectively, to complete the top-five list of strongest passports for 2023.

Here is the complete list of all the passports ranked according to their score:

What Makes the Rh Capital Passport Index Stand Out?

 

What makes Rh Capital.World’s Passport Index different is the fact that no two passports are ranked the same. This is made possible by utilising our own Destination Significance Score (DSS) a combination of many factors which gives each passport unique value.

 

To reach a unique ranking, we assign a value, which we call Destination Significance Score (DSS), to each travel destination. A unique DSS value is assigned to each destination based on the entry policy it enforces on the passport, GDP, Power Index, Tourism Index and Human Development Index (HDI), among other factors. The DSS is multiplied with the value of the visa requirement of the destination country toward the selected passport holders.

 

We include the following visa or entry policies in our calculations:

  • Visa Free Travel. If no visa is required for passport holders from a country, then the DSS is multiplied by 1.
  • Electronic Travel Authorization.The DSS is also multiplied by 1 if passport holders can obtain an electronic travel authority (ETA).
  • Electronic visa (e-Visa). For destination countries where a passport holder has to obtain a government-approved electronic visa (e-Visa) before departure, the DSS is multiplied by 0.3.
  • Visa free travel. If passport holders can visit a country without a passport, the DSS is multiplied by 1.01.

 

Because destination countries are each assigned a unique DSS, it means that being able to travel visa-free to a destination with a higher DSS gives the selected passport a higher value than having visa-free access to a country with lowed DSS. This results in a more accurate ranking for each passport.

Once all factors are calculated, each passport has its own unique value, with no two countries having the same number of “visa-free” destinations.

 

Presumptions for Passports

 

The Rh Capital.World Passport Index applies only if the following criteria are fulfilled:

  • The passport is valid at the time of travel, with the remaining duration as set by the destination country.
  • The passport is a regular passport (not a diplomatic, service, military, or another type of passport).
  • The holder of the passport is travelling for short-term purposes (tourism, business, etc.), for the duration of time as allowed by the destination country.
  • The holder of the passport has already completed any other requirement imposed by the destination country (e.g., paying for an ETA, booking a hotel, providing proof of sufficient funds, vaccinations, etc.).
  • The holder of the passport will arrive and depart from the allowed entry points (if such a requirement is imposed.)

 

Glossary

 

  • Destination Significance Score (DSS): A unique score that is assigned to each country produced by combining factors such as the entry requirement enforced by the destination country, country GDP, and the safety and human development index, among others.
  • Visa Free: Passport holders can enter the destination country without any visa (only their passport).
  • ETA required: Passport holders are required to obtain an electronic travel authorization online prior to travelling. This is not considered a visa, as it only includes a short online procedure.

 

How Is the Data Collected?

 

The index and its contents are based on VisaGuide.World’s own data and supplemented, enhanced, and updated using extensive in-house research and open-source online data. The index includes the passports of 193 United Nations member countries and 6 territories (ROC Taiwan, Macao (SAR China), Hong Kong (SAR China), Kosovo, Palestinian Territory and the Vatican) for a total of 199 are considered and 227 different travel destinations.

 

How Is the Data Updated?

 

We have a dedicated research team working on the Index every day, by staying up to date on the latest visa policy changes across all 227 possible destinations. Our research team works closely with our news department, ensuring all the latest information is reliable and factual.