Singapore passport ranked fifth in the world: Report

Singapore passport holders now possess the world's fifth best-rated passport - up from sixth last year - according to a report by residence and citizenship planning firm Henley Global, released on Thursday (Sep 25). Joining New Zealand and Switzerland in the fifth spot, Singapore passport holders can now travel to 170 countries around the globe without a visa, the Henley and Partners Visa Restrictions Index stated.

Countries at the top of the index include Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States. Citizens of these countries are able to travel visa-free to 174 destinations. 

(Graphic: Henley and Partners)

“Visa requirements continue to play an important role in controlling the movement of individuals across borders,” said Dr. Juerg Steffen, Head of Asia Pacific at Henley and Partners. “Visa policies are also an expression of the relationships between individual nations and generally reflect the relations and status of a country within the international community,” he added.

The report also noted that passport holders from Hong Kong, which is in 15th position, have much better travel accessibility than their counterparts in China, which is 83rd.  - CNA