Passport Index Methodology

Moving Beyond Simple Counts

Most passport rankings simply count the number of "visa-free" destinations a passport has access to. However, we believe that not all travel access is equal. Having the right to live and work in a neighboring country is significantly more valuable than obtaining an electronic visa online.

Our Passport Index evaluates the strength of a passport by looking at the entry requirements for every destination globally and assigning a weighted score based on the quality of access.

Tiers of Travel Access

We classify the entry requirements for each destination into seven distinct tiers. When evaluating your passport, each tier is assigned a utility weight:

• Freedom of Movement (15 pts): The “Citizen Experience.” Live, work, and stay without a clock ticking.
• Visa-Free (12 pts): The Gold Standard for tourists. Walk through the border with a nod.
• ETA (10 pts): Negligible friction. Usually a one-time, 10-minute form valid for years.
• Visa on Arrival (VoA) (9 pts): Spontaneity King. No pre-travel admin required; just show up and pay.
• e-Visa (5 pts): Digital, but still “homework.” Requires portals, uploads, and waiting.
• Visa-Free Transit (1 pt): The “Airport Couch.” You aren’t staying, but you aren’t stuck in a lounge.
• Visa Required (0 pts): Full friction. Interviews, physical mail, and embassy visits.

How the Ranking is Calculated

We calculate a primary weighted score for each passport. A large block of pure visa-free destinations will outweigh a handful of Freedom of Movement privileges. The final ranking is determined by:

1. Primary Sort (Weighted Score): Passports are ranked first by their total weighted utility score, meaning easier access tiers contribute more points.
2. Tiebreakers: In the event two passports share the exact same score, we compare the proportion of destinations in each tier. If Passport A has more Freedom of Movement destinations proportionally than Passport B, Passport A ranks higher.