American passport tops the world’s best passport list for first time in 15 years; Germany and Canada round out top three.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. – Global Citizen Solutions, a data-driven immigration investment consultancy firm headquartered in Portugal with offices around the world, announced the release of its first-ever, cutting-edge Global Passport Index. Conducted using a robust quantitative scoring system across several criteria and categories, the index evaluated not just how many countries a passport provides access to, but also the investment opportunities and quality of life indicators of each nation.
The top 10 passports ranked in the Global Passport Index are:
1. United States of America
2. Germany
3. Canada
4. The Netherlands
5. Denmark
6. Sweden
7. United Kingdom
8. Finland
9. Norway
10. New Zealand
With a total score of 96.4, the United States emerged as the world’s strongest passport, performing well in investment opportunities, quality of living and travel mobility. Indexes evaluated as part of the overall study included:
- The Investment Index (U.S. Placed 4th): With a Gross National Income (GNI) of $66,080 and personal taxation of 37%, the U.S. is a “most favorable” option for investors.
- The Enhanced Mobility Index (U.S. Placed 10th): A U.S. passport provides visa-free or visa on arrival access to 172 countries or territories. It is the third-highest country that is not a member of the European Union (EU), after Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- Quality-of-Life Index (U.S. Placed 23rd): The U.S. ranks highly in many aspects related to overall quality of life including sustainable development, freedom, environmental performance, migrant acceptance, and happiness.
Each of the three indexes evaluated can be used as a standalone ranking where users can filter results for individual country statistics. The final list was developed in collaboration with senior STI analysts and is based on data from various institutions and multilateral organizations including The World Bank, the World Economic Forum and The Sustainable Development Report.
“The United States offers investors a developed and diversified economic market as well as access to the most advanced and lucrative consumer market in the world,” said Patricia Casaburi, Managing Director of Global Citizen Solutions. “Given the popularity of investment programs in return for a green card, the U.S. has consistently laid out opportunities for economic success.”
In the past, passport rankings have focused on the number of countries a passport grants the holder access to; however, other new and emerging factors such as the prospect of opening a business in another country have brought forth a renewed interest in the benefits of acquiring a second passport.
“This is one of the key reasons why the U.S. placed fourth on the Investment Index is because the country offers many attractive visa solutions for expats looking to invest in America, such as the EB5 Visa program and the E2 Visa program,” Casaburi continued. “The U.S. Business Visa also allows citizens to spend 90 days in the country for business ventures.”
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
