Henley & Partners Press Release — London, Tuesday 5 April 2022
Six weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the impact on travel freedom and mobility has been more dramatic than even the most pessimistic commentators were predicting. The latest results from the Henley Passport Index — the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa — clearly illustrate the war’s profound and perhaps irreversible impact on freedom of movement as a new Iron Curtain descends. The invasion has triggered the worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, with more than 4 million Ukrainians having fled to neighbouring countries. In response, the EU, the US, Canada, and other Western countries have closed their airspaces to Russian air carriers, imposed stiff travel bans on individual Russian citizens, and in many cases have stopped processing visa applications altogether, effectively condemning the Russian passport to junk status throughout much of the developed world.
According to the latest Henley Passport Index, Ukraine currently has a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 143 — a record high for the country, which now ranks 34th on the index — while Russia trails behind in 49th place with a score of 117, a gap that is likely to increase even further in the coming months. Elsewhere on the ranking, Japan and Singapore continue to share number one spot, with their passport holders able to access 192 destinations around the world visa-free. Germany and South Korea hold joint-2nd place with a score of 190, while Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain share 3rd place with a score of 189. The UK now sits in 5th place with a score of 187, and the US in 6th spot with a score of 186. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, with its nationals only able to access 26 destinations visa-free.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, commented: “As the value of the Russian passport rapidly declines and the world opens its doors to Ukrainians, it is abundantly clear that the passport you hold determines your fate and dramatically impacts the opportunities you have. The accident of one’s place of birth should not have to define one’s destiny.” Henley & Partners has experienced an 80% increase in new enquiries over the past 12 months for investment migration programs that provide a pathway to residence rights or alternative citizenship acquisition.