Singapore ranked 5th in travel freedom for two consecutive years: Index

SINGAPORE — The Republic has been ranked fifth in travel freedom for two consecutive years and those holding a Singapore passport can travel to 169 countries without needing a visa, according to a global index.

The annual Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index, produced in collaboration with the International Air Transport Association, ranks countries according to the number of other countries that their citizens can travel to, without having to obtain a visa.

The countries ranked first this year are Germany and United Kingdom. Both have held their position in the top spot since the 2014 index, and citizens holding either of their passports can access 173 countries without a visa.

Finland, Sweden, and USA, countries that were in the top spot last year, are now ranked second, with 172 countries accessible without a visa. Japan is in the third spot, alongside seven other countries including South Korea and Denmark. In the fifth ranking with Singapore are Austria, Ireland and Switzerland.

Source: Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions 2015 Index

In 2013, Singapore was ranked sixth, with visa-free access to 167 countries.

In this year's index, Malaysia ranked ninth with visa-free access to 163 countries, while Hong Kong ranked 16th with visa-free access to 152 countries. Thailand ranked 72nd with visa-free access to 69 countries, with Indonesia trailing behind in 83th place with visa-free access to 55 countries.

Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan ranked the lowest in the index, with Afghanistan taking the last place at 109th, allowing access to only 25 countries without a visa.

Malta, the European Union country which runs a citizenship-by-investment programme with over €1 billion (S$1.6 billion) in capital raised since its launch about 18 months ago, further improved its position and is ranked 7th, with visa-free access to 167 countries.

The United Arab Emirates, one of only 22 to have moved up in the rankings from 2014, climbed from 55th to 40th place with an addition of visa-free access to 37 more countries. Those with a UAE passport can a total of 114 countries without visa requirements.

There are a total of 219 destination countries/territories with a maximum score of 218. Points cannot be assigned to a national traveling to their own country. The number of nationalities/passports evaluated are 199: The 193 Member States of the United Nations, Taiwan, Kosovo, Palestinian Territory, Vatican City, Hong Kong, and Macau. Countries considered a nationality do not enforce their own visa regulations and are not considered a destination. WONG CASANDRA