Nomad Passport Index: UAE Passport Ranked as the Strongest in the World

Travelling to a new country is always an exciting experience. However, it can also involve a lot of paperwork, appointments with embassy offices, and financial preparation. But what if your passport is strong enough to simplify the process?

According to the latest ranking by Nomad Capitalist, a boutique tax and immigration consultancy, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport is now becomes the strongest passport in the world.

Nomad Capitalist Ranking Methodology

To determine the strength of each country’s passport, Nomad Capitalists considered five major factors. Visa-free travel is 50%, taxation of citizens is 20%, perception is 10%, dual citizenship is 10%, and personal freedom is 10%.

The rankings are based on the consultancy’s assessment of what is important to the people of each country. The index is based on data from nearly 20 different sources.

Top 10 Strongest Passports

According to the Nomad Passport Index, the UAE passport allows you to travel to 181 countries visa-free, making it the top-ranked passport in the world. Other countries in the top 10 include:

1. United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates has entered the top ten for the first time this year, jumping from 35th to first place. This is largely due to recent changes that allow foreigners to apply for dual citizenship, which, when combined with the travel freedoms provided by a UAE passport, as well as the country’s business-friendly environment and enviable tax system, places the UAE at the top of the list of strongest passports for 2023.

2. Luxembourg

Luxembourg fell to second place this year after two years at the top. This small but prosperous EU member state provides its citizens with a high level of freedom. It also has good passport perception. And, fortunately for the expats who live there, naturalisation as a citizen has recently become easier.

3. Switzerland

Swiss citizens enjoy high levels of liberty and privacy. This year, the country has risen from fifth to third place, making it one of only three non-EU countries to make the top ten. Meanwhile, the country’s well-known neutrality ensures that Swiss citizens are among the most respected travellers in the world.

4. Ireland

Ireland has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in Europe, and its passport has one of the highest visa scores. Because of the country’s excellent reputation, travelling as an Irish citizen is generally trouble-free. While Ireland is not a member of the European Schengen Area, it is a member of the Common Travel Area (CTA), which means free travel to and work in the United Kingdom.

5. Portugal

Portugal is an open and friendly country with one of the best passports in Europe. Portuguese citizens are also widely welcomed around the world, with visa-free travel to countries such as South Africa available to other European Union citizens. Expats are also welcomed in Portugal, which has high levels of English fluency and a favourable tax exemption programme.

6. Germany

Germany’s economy is high-tech and heavily industrialised, with a strong work ethic. Germany often referred to as the “engine of Europe,” is the EU’s largest economy and the world’s fourth-largest economy overall. It is also the most populous country in Europe. As a result, German passports provide a high level of travel freedom; however, the tradeoff comes in the form of higher taxes than many of its European counterparts; thankfully, leaving the German tax system is relatively simple.

7. Czech Republic

The Czech Republic, which has remained in the top ten for four years in a row, is a popular expat destination with a rich culture. The country, which is located in the heart of Europe, joined the EU in 2004. As a result, Czech passport holders have a high level of travel freedom. Furthermore, with proper structuring in place, you can enjoy a significant degree of tax freedom.

8. New Zealand

A newcomer to the top ten passports, New Zealand’s warm climate, easygoing nature, and cinematic landscapes help ensure the country’s popularity with expats remains as strong as ever. Although the country imposed strict lockdowns during the pandemic, citizens today generally enjoy a high level of personal freedom within the country as well as global travel freedom.

9. Sweden

Despite dropping from joint second to ninth place last year, Sweden has a seven-year streak as a top ten passport. This is due to the country’s excellent global reputation as well as the high level of personal and travel freedoms provided but at the expense of extremely high taxes.

10. Finland

Northern Europe has some of the best passports in the world, and Finland is no exception. Despite being ranked first only a few years ago, a Finnish passport still allows visa-free travel to a large number of countries, but more stringent tax policies for expats have reduced the country’s score.

It is important to note that while scores for the other four factors are also given in the report, we’ve just mentioned the number of countries every passport permits its citizens to travel visa-free.

Conclusion

The UAE’s top-ranked passport offers its citizens a variety of advantages when travelling abroad. The UAE passport allows for easy and affordable travel to 181 countries without the need for a visa. Nomad Capitalist’s ranking is a source of pride for Emiratis because it highlights the country’s strong international reputation and emphasises the importance of visa-free travel.