Italian passport takes the podium: it is the second most powerful in the world
20Obtaining or renewing a passport in Italy is, these months, a nightmare: finding an online slot to travel to the [...]
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20Obtaining or renewing a passport in Italy is, these months, a nightmare: finding an online slot to go to police headquarters or police stations is almost impossible, and in fact issuance is in many cases through the so-called 'emergency procedure,' with the traveler showing up with a plane ticket for a flight leaving a few days later.
However, the document that will be delivered to you (if you succeed in the undertaking) is no less than the second most 'powerful' in the world, meaning that it will open to you the doors (in this case the borders) of as many as 190 countries around the world.
This is stated in the latest update of the Henley Passport Index, which classifies passports from 199 countries using a very simple system: it assigns a point to a passport when it allows access to a destination without any visa or with a visa, permit, or electronic travel authorization (like the American ESTA) obtainable upon arrival.
Award 0 points when the passport holder must obtain a visa approved by the government of the destination country, or if the traveler must still obtain approval from the destination government for a visa on arrival before departure.
In this way, the score obtained by each passport equals the number of accessible destinations visa-free (out of a total of 227 countries). Well, the coveted Italian passport will give you access this summer and in the months to come to a total of 190 countries around the world. A number that places Italy on the second step of the podium among the world's most 'powerful' passports, along with Germany and Spain.
Singapore surpasses all
In first place is Singapore, whose passport opens the doors to 192 countries. IJapan, which was leading in the last survey., slipped to third position (with 189 countries accessible without a visa) along with Austria, Finland, Luxembourg, France, South Korea and Sweden.
It thus completes a string of which has seen Singapore in recent months take home the title for the world's best airport, that of the best company in the world and the one for the best first class in the world. In a nutshell, if you live in Singapore you are unlikely to have a bad time if you love to travel.
Italy on the podium
The states in which citizens with Italian passports need a visa authorized by the destination government are a total of 37: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Benin, Bhutan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uganda, and Yemen. Now, minus China, India, Cuba, and Kenya, the others are not exactly the first destinations that come to mind for a trip or vacation.
Comparing our passport with that of Singapore. (a fun operation that can be carried out At henleyglobal.com.), it turns out that we can enter without visas to the Falkland Islands, Gabon, Guyana, Iraq, Sao Tome and Principe, Ukraine (maybe not now...), and Venezuela, while Singaporeans can only do so with visas. Conversely, they are free to come and go from Azerbaijan, Angola, Benin, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Ghana, and Kenya. All states that, on the other hand, require visas from us.
The Henley Index ranking highlights some curiosities, including the fourth place (barely) of the United Kingdom, whose passport gives free access to 188 states. However, this is a leap forward by two places from the sixth place occupied in the last ranking. Equally peculiar is the fact that another world power like U.S. is found only in eighth place, with 184 countries accessible without a visa.
Bottom ranking unchanged
At the bottom of the ranking are Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, whose citizens have free access to 30, 29 and 27 countries, respectively.
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