Taiwan’s passport is the 33rd strongest in the world, with holders enjoying visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 146 countries and territories, according to London-headquartered citizenship and residency advisory firm Henley and Partners July 6.
Taiwan is one of the biggest climbers since 2010 out of the 199 countries and territories on the Henley Passport Index. Its increase of 36 spots over the past decade places it behind only United Arab Emirates at plus-46 and ahead of Colombia at plus-28.
This year’s third quarter update saw Japan and Singapore finish in the top two spots with access to 191 and 190 destinations, respectively, followed by Germany and South Korea tied in third with 189.
Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria finished in the bottom three, in that order, with preferential access to only 26, 28 and 29 countries and territories, respectively. Other Asian passports on the list included, Malaysia, 14th; Hong Kong, 19th; Macao, 34th; Thailand, 66th; and China, 70th.
Latest tallies compiled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also take e-visas into account, indicate ROC (Taiwan) passport holders can enjoy preferential visa treatment in 175 countries and territories.
First published in 2006, the index is based on data from Montreal-headquartered International Air Transport Association. (Taiwan Today)
