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Wednesday 1 April 2015

The Most Powerful And Worst Passports For Travel in The World Revealed

The Visa Restrictions Index analyses countries ability to travel visa-free. The latest results were based on results from May 20, 2014
It can be frustrating to plan a dreamy overseas vacation, only to face the daunting task of getting an entry visa, or worse, be denied one.
However, most countries impose visa restrictions on overseas visitors, according to the 2013 Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index – a global ranking of countries based on the freedom of travel for their citizens.
“Visa restrictions are an important tool for governments to control the movement of foreign nationals across borders,” Henley & Partners said. “Visas are a standard requirement for most countries as certain non-nationals wish to enter their territory.

“Visa requirements are also an indication of the relationship between individual nations and the status of a country within the international community of nations,” it added.
Finland, Sweden and the UK topped the index this year, with a score of 173 – indicating the number of countries and territories their nationals can visit without a visa.
Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg and the US followed closely with a score of 172 on the index.
The global ranking, produced in collaboration with IATA, includes 219 destinations in total.
Here are the nations that are lumbered with the greatest travel restrictions in the world.

AFGHANISTAN

General Images Of Kabul Economy
Rank: 93
Score (countries and territories citizens can visit without a visa): 28
Rank in 2012: 103
Population: Approx 31 million

IRAQ

IRAQ-MUTANABI-DAILY LIFE
Rank: 92
Score (countries and territories citizens can visit without a visa): 31
Rank in 2012: 101
Population: Approx 31.8 million

Where it might be expected that countries such as North Korea and possibly Cuba could take the bottom spots for the most restricted travel freedom, they actually place at 86 and 69 respectively, from a ranking of a total of 94.
Each country was given a score by global consulting firm Henley and Partners, who specialise in residence and citizenship planning.
The score was calculated based on visa regulations of all countries and territories in the world, and the number of other countries that their citizens can travel to without having to obtain a visa. 
Taking the lowest spots were Afghanistan (ranked at 94 and able to visit 28 countries visa-free), Iraq, (able to visit 31 countries), Pakistan and Somalia (able to visit 32 countries) and the Palestinian Territory (able to visit 35).
This was juxtaposed by Finland, Germany, Sweden, the UK and the US, in first position, who are able to access 174 countries visa-free. 
Henley and Partners said: 'In today's globalised world, visa restrictions play an important role in controlling the movement of foreign nationals across borders. 
'Almost all countries now require visas from certain non-nationals who wish to enter their territory. 
'Visa requirements are also an expression of the relationships between individual nations, and generally reflect the relations and status of a country within the international community of nations. '


SOMALIA

SOMALIA-UNREST
Rank: 91
Score (countries and territories citizens can visit without a visa): 32
Rank in 2012: 102
Population: Approx 10 million

PAKISTAN

Garments are seen on sale by streetside
Rank: 91
Score (countries and territories citizens can visit without a visa): 32
Rank in 2012: 100
Population: Approx 193 million

Pakistan is ranked at 92 in the Visa Restrictions Index, and citizens are able to visit 32 countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, and Dominica without a visa.
Despite this freedom, stepping over the Pakistani border into India and Iran does requires a visa. 
At the bottom of the list are the citizens of Afghanistan who are banned from entering Kuwait entirely. 
They can, however, travel to Micronesia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Haiti without a visa entirely though. 
The index reflected the decision in 2014 to allow citizens of the UAE to be allowed short stays in the EU Schengen countries without a visa, moving them up the rankings in the travel freedom index. 
A UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) report stated that three-quarters of people in the world travelling to Europe need a visa
According to the latest Visa Openness Report by the UNWTO, 62 per cent of the world’s population was required a traditional visa prior to departure in 2014, down from 77 per cent in 2008. 
A total of 19 per cent of the world’s population was able to enter a destination without a visa, while 16 per cent could receive a visa on arrival (compared to 17 per cent and 6 per cent in 2008).   

PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-DEMO-UNREST
Rank: 91
Score (countries and territories citizens can visit without a visa): 32
Rank in 2012: 100
Population: Approx 4.2 million (2012)

ERITREA

ERITREA-MARKET
Rank: 91
Score (countries and territories citizens can visit without a visa): 32
Rank in 2012: 99
Population: Approx 6.2 million

NEPAL

NEPAL-ARTS-CULTURE-PAINTING
Rank: 91
Score (countries and territories citizens can visit without a visa): 32
Rank in 2012: 98
Population: Approx 30 million

SUDAN

SUDAN-DARFUR-UNREST
Rank: 91
Score (countries and territories citizens can visit without a visa): 32
Rank in 2012: 97
Population: Approx 34.8 million

SRI LANKA

SRI LANKA-VOTE
Rank: 91
Score (countries and territories citizens can visit without a visa): 32
Rank in 2012: 96
Population: Approx 21.6 million

KOSOVO

SERBIA-KOSOVO-EU-TALKS
Rank: 91
Score (countries and territories citizens can visit without a visa): 32
Rank in 2012: 96
Population: Approx 1.8 million

LEBANON

Tyre Beach, Lebanon
Rank: 91
Score (countries and territories citizens can visit without a visa): 32
Rank in 2012: 98
Population: Approx 4.1 million
Population figures sourced from CIA World Factbook, July 2013 estimates

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