Italian passport is the third most powerful in the world

The new report published by the Henley & Partners emphasizes how Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the passport gap. Reference is made to the "weight" that this document boasts depending on the country to which it refers. A new high has been marked in the gap between the parties analyzed, going to substantially alter a general balance that had persisted since 2006. Reading such news, the first question that arises is: what is Italy's position? Our passport is for now in the Top 10.

Passport ranking

London-based Henley & Partners has compiled a list of the world's "strongest" passports, via theHenley Passport Index. Something that is especially valuable today, considering the limitations due to the pandemic in place. It should be noted, however, that the ranking in no way takes temporary restrictions into account.

What is the yardstick for this particular list? The crucial element is the ability of a passport to open the doors to a given country without the use of a visa. At the top we find there Japan e Singapore, with Europe largely dominating the rest of the Top 10.

Italy finds room at the top of this initial mini-list. We are third, on par with Finland, Spain and Luxembourg in terms of the number of destinations. It can be said, therefore, that obtaining this document in our country is equivalent to having one of the "safest" on the planet in your pocket.

Italian passport

It is certainly useful to take an in-depth look at the Italian passport and its potential. There are just 38 countries in the world where we apply for a visa. And here we rank second in Europe, with only the Germany that has the upper hand, and it does so for a single country. It is specifically the Mongolia.

Why is this ranking now more important than ever? The pandemic has been a game changer, freezing predictions about a possible increase in global mobility rates. It was believed that freedom of travel would increase dramatically, offering more choice to strong passport holders.

Deferred discussion, of course. Slowly, however, the limitations implemented will be lifted, and being in the Top 10 allows one to have a broad and calm view of one's chances of traveling around the world.

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What has changed

Within a year, the status of the Italian passport has improved, if only slightly. The document is now in third place in this ranking, having added a country to those accessible without a visa. Henley & Partners proceeded to update the roster from 188 to 189. Here is the complete list:

• Oceania: Australia, Kiribati, Micronesia, Palau Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu
• Middle East: Armenia, Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Saudi Arabia
• Europe: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, Andorra, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, Vatican City
• Caribbean: Antigua and Barduda, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago
• Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Maldives, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Uzkekistan
• America: Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, United States, Venezuela, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay
• Africa: Botswana, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Comores Islands, Eswatini, Gabin, Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia

Strongest passports, the Top 10

1. Japan, Singapore - 192 destinations
2. South Korea, Germany - 190 destinations
3. Italy, Finland, Spain, Luxembourg - 189 destinations
4. Denmark, Austria - 188 destinations
5. Sweden, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Ireland - 187 destinations
6. Belgium, New Zealand, Switzerland - 186 destinations
7. Czech Republic, Greece, Malta, Norway, United Kingdom, United States- 185 destinations
8. Australia, Canada - 184 destinations
9. Hungary - 183 destinations
10. Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia - 182 destinations

Weaker passports

109. North Korea - 39 destinations
110. Palestinian territories, Nepal - 37 destinations
111. Somalia - 34 destinations
112. Yemen - 33 destinations
113. Pakistan - 31 destinations
114. Syria - 29 destinations
115. Iraq - 28 destinations
116. Afghanistan - 26 destinations

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