Asian nations are leading the Henley Passport Index, a ranking of all passports based on how many destinations their holders can visit without a pre-arranged visa. This index uses exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For the third year in a row, Japan holds the top spot with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 191, meaning Japanese citizens can travel to 191 destinations without needing a visa beforehand.
Singapore holds second place, while South Korea ties with Germany for third place. Both countries boast a score of 189. Notably, the United Arab Emirates has significantly improved its ranking, climbing 47 places over the last decade to reach 18th place with a score of 171. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index with a score of 26. This gap between the highest and lowest-ranking passports is the widest it’s been since the index began in 2006.
Dominic Volek, a Managing Partner at Henley & Partners, highlights the undeniable benefits of open travel policies and mutually beneficial trade agreements. He states that countries embracing global mobility are flourishing, with their citizens experiencing greater travel freedom and the advantages that come with it.
Research using historical data from the Henley Passport Index, conducted by political science researchers Uğur Altundal and Ömer Zarpli, demonstrates a strong positive relationship between travel freedom and other freedoms, including economic, political, and individual liberties.
Singapore exemplifies this positive correlation, ranking highly in nearly all economic indicators. Henley & Partners notes that Singapore’s performance in economic indicators surpasses the average for the Asia-Pacific region, especially in areas like judicial effectiveness and government integrity.
The 2020 Henley Passport Index and Global Mobility Report delves into these trends shaping international mobility patterns. In the report, Dr. Parag Khanna, author and Founder of FutureMap, emphasizes that migration should be seen as a solution rather than a problem. He believes more migration can lead to greater demand and much-needed economic growth.
Khanna observes that with the ongoing US-China trade war, Western investment is moving from China to Southeast Asia. This shift brings a new influx of foreign talent to ASEAN countries, which have facilitated migration through streamlined visa policies. For instance, Thailand has moved up in the Henley Passport Index rankings due to reciprocal visa waivers, landing in 65th place with a score of 78.
Middle Eastern countries are also making notable progress in improving trade and tourism. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have each moved up four places in the index, while Oman has climbed three spots. Saudi Arabia currently holds 66th place with a score of 77, while Oman is in 64th place with a score of 79.
However, Dr. Lorraine Charles, Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, cautions that conflict continues to be a major driver of migration and mobility in the Middle East. This trend is expected to persist in 2020 due to ongoing conflicts in countries like Libya, Syria, and Yemen, alongside renewed anti-government protests in countries like Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon.
Professor Simone Bertoli, Professor of Economics at Université Clermont Auvergne, observes a discrepancy between policy and practice regarding talent migration. While many countries claim to attract the best and brightest, the reality suggests a different story. Slow labor market recovery after the 2008 crisis and the rise of nationalist political parties contribute to a perception of immigration as a threat instead of an asset.
Volek concludes by stating that the demand and supply for investment migration programs are increasing globally. This signifies not just a desire for a competitive edge, but a perceived necessity in today’s unpredictable world. The growing interest from investors seeking travel freedom, security, and mobility, coupled with interest from sovereign states aiming to strengthen their economies, points to continued growth in the investment migration industry in 2020.