Lithuanian passport among the most powerful in the world

The Lithuanian passport ranks 9^th among the most powerful in the world, granting Lithuanian citizens visa-free access to 180 countries, according to the latest Henley Passport Index (HPI). This is Lithuania’s best result since 2006 when the London-based citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners began publishing world passport rankings based on the travel freedom they afford.

The latest HPI score ranks the Lithuanian passport as one of the thirty-one most travel-friendly passports across the world, tied in the 9th place with Australia, Iceland, and New Zealand. Lithuania is now ahead of neighbouring Latvia and Estonia, which sit 10^th and 11^th on the list and grant free entry into 179 and 178 countries, respectively.

For holders of the Lithuanian passport, obtaining a prior visa is still required when travelling to 46 destinations across the world.

The best and the worst

Singapore and Japan currently issue the most powerful passports, offering visa-free or visa-upon-arrival access to 189 countries. South Korea, Finland, and Germany tie for the second place with free entry to 187 destinations while Denmark, Italy, and Luxembourg jointly hold the third position with the score of 186.

Iran and Afghanistan remain at the bottom of the global mobility spectrum, with citizens of both countries allowed to enter only 27 and 25 destinations across the world respectively without obtaining a prior visa.

The London-based citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners rates passport strength based on the number of countries that holders of a given passport can enter without a prior visa or with a visa obtained instantly upon arrival. The index, which is published quarterly, is updated in real-time throughout the year, covers 199 passports and 227 destinations and is based on the exclusive data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The full list can be accessed here.