Not all passports are equal: Check your Passport Score now

Some people can book a trip in minutes. Others have to prove they deserve to travel. A new scoring system shows how much freedom your passport really gives you.

What does taking a trip abroad look like to you?

For many travelers in the Global North, which generally refers to wealthier, more industrialized countries in Europe, North America, and parts of East Asia, it’s as simple as picking a destination, buying a ticket, and packing a bag.

But for millions of others in the Global South, a term used to describe lower- and middle-income countries across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, travel often includes long visa application forms, proving financial stability, submitting supporting documents, and waiting extended periods for a decision that may not even result in approval.

The passport you carry shapes your access to the world. There is no official rating system, but the pattern is clear: some passports are trusted, and others are questioned.

To better understand this imbalance, we developed the Passport Score. It’s modeled loosely on the logic of a credit score. Not in the financial sense, but rather in terms of how much trust your travel document receives on the world stage.

This score reflects how your passport is treated abroad, not the quality or value of the country itself.

What is the Passport Score (and why does it matter)?

The Passport Score is a data-based measure of global travel access. It reflects how easily a passport holder can enter other countries, whether through visa-free travel, digital applications, or traditional embassy processes.

The scoring system considers more than just the number of countries someone can visit. It also factors in:

• How long it takes to get a visa
• How much it costs
• How likely it is to be approved

High-scoring passports tend to be accepted broadly and with fewer requirements. Low-scoring passports often face more barriers, including expensive visa costs, longer processing times, and higher rejection rates.

How passport access works

Countries offer different levels of entry requirements, depending on the traveler’s passport:

• Visa-free: No application needed. Travelers can enter with just a valid passport.

• Visa on arrival (VOA): No advance paperwork, but travelers may need to complete forms or pay fees at the border.

• ETA: A quick pre-screening used by some countries to enhance border security and streamline entry for travelers who don’t need a traditional visa.

• eVisa: An online application submitted before traveling. It still requires approval, but it’s generally easier and faster to get compared to traditional visas.

• Traditional visa: Involves an in-person application at an embassy or consulate, usually including documents, interviews, and longer wait times.

Passport scores ranked: Who has the most and least travel access

Unlike traditional rankings, the Passport Score considers visa rejection rates and application burdens alongside access.

Liechtenstein combines high visa-free access (181 countries) with 53 visa-on-arrival destinations and near-zero US visa refusal rates.

Unlike larger countries with higher travel volumes, Liechtenstein’s low application footprint often translates into fewer denials and minimal scrutiny. When paired with low average visa fees and short processing times, Liechtenstein has a strong advantage across every weighted factor in the model.

These countries score low for several reasons. Visa-free access is limited, and applicants from these nations regularly encounter high rejection rates.

According to an article by The Guardian, in 2023, travelers from West Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East faced rejection rates between 40 and 70% when applying for UK and Schengen visas.

Side-by-side: iVisa vs. Henley Passport Rankings

We ranked the top and bottom performers in our Passport Score model and placed them directly alongside their Henley Index positions. This reveals which countries are underrated (or overrated) depending on how you measure travel freedom.

Our rankings highlight that the quality of access matters as much as quantity. A country like Liechtenstein may not top Henley’s list in raw destination count, but the ease and consistency of its application processes give it the edge in real-life travel.

Why our score differs from Henley's ranking

The Henley Passport Index is well-known and widely cited, but it only measures how many countries a passport holder can enter visa-free or with a visa on arrival.

Henley doesn't take into account:

• Application costs
• Approval likelihood
• Processing time delays

This means a passport that technically gets you into 100 countries may still be burdened with high visa fees, long wait times, or frequent rejections when applying for others.

The Passport Score measures how accessible travel really is. The model combines multiple government data sources:

• Visa-free and visa-on-arrival access: Henley Passport Index (2025).

• Visa rejection rates: US B1/B2 refusal rates (FY2024, US State Department); Schengen visa refusal rates (European Commission, 2024). Regional averages were applied when country-level data was missing.

• Visa cost and processing time: Government fee schedules (US Department of State, UK Home Office, Schengen portals), embassy and consulate data. Regional averages filled gaps where data was unavailable.

By combining these data points, the Passport Score reflects not just the number of countries you can enter but also how likely you are to get there with minimal barriers.

Case study: I had the invitation and credentials, but the first US visa slot was months too late

Dr. Olamide Samuel, a Nigerian-born international security expert and diplomat, was invited to two high-level conferences in the United States in August and October 2022.

After speaking at a forum in Austria, he returned to his home in the UK on 25 June. With just under seven weeks before the first event, he began the US visa process - confident that, based on his past experiences with European visas, this would be enough time.

But the process was far more demanding than expected.

He had to complete a 12-page application, listing every phone number, email address, and social media account from the past five years. He also had to pre-book flights, accommodation, and travel insurance.

Despite all this, the earliest visa interview slot available was in January 2023, five months after the first event, and three months after the second.

“I didn’t realize it would take seven months, not just a few weeks, to get a visa interview. It quickly became clear that I never really had a chance of attending. Even if I had applied the same day the conference dates were announced, I still wouldn’t have made it in time.”

The whole experience inspired him to write a paper about it.

His inability to attend was not due to a lack of qualifications or documentation. It was the result of a system that delays access for applicants from certain countries, regardless of the urgency or professional relevance of their travel.

Can you “improve” your Passport Score?

While you can’t control the passport you were born with, there are ways to expand your access to the world. We asked several iVisa experts to share the practical steps travelers can take to increase their mobility.

1. Get a second passport

With Jan Koelle, Head of Operations at iVisa

“People often assume a second passport is something only billionaires can afford, but there are options that are more accessible than most expect,” says Jan Koelle.

“The key is finding a path that matches your situation - whether that’s ancestry, long-term residence, or investment.”

Countries like Dominica, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Antigua offer citizenship through financial contributions. For example, Dominica grants citizenship for a $100,000 donation to its Economic Diversification Fund, giving applicants visa-free access to over 130 countries.

Others qualify through family ties. “Ancestry-based citizenship is incredibly underused,” he says. “If you have an Italian, Irish, or Polish grandparent, you may already be eligible for citizenship.”

This process typically involves gathering documentation to prove lineage, such as birth and marriage certificates, and submitting an application to the relevant country's consulate or embassy.

Another viable option is naturalization after a period of residency. "Countries like Argentina and Peru offer relatively short residency requirements - around two years - before one can apply for citizenship," Koelle notes. These countries often have easier residency obligations, making them attractive options for those seeking a second passport without significant financial investments.

2. Avoid actions that make travel harder

With Patricia Masias, Product Specialist Coordinator at iVisa

Visiting destinations under sanctions or international scrutiny - such as North Korea, Syria, Iran, or Yemen - can raise questions during future applications.

“Consulates may ask for additional documentation, or they may treat the traveler as higher risk,”* Patricia Masias explains.

Overstaying a visa, even by a few days, can trigger consequences that affect your ability to re-enter that country or apply for visas elsewhere. According to Masias, travelers are often unaware that these infractions are recorded and shared across immigration systems.

“We’ve seen cases where someone overstayed once in the Schengen Zone and then couldn’t get another European visa for five years,” she says.

Masias recommends a few simple habits to help travelers stay on top of their dates. Setting calendar reminders as soon as your visa is approved can prevent accidental overstays. Travel apps like TripIt or Google Trips also allow you to track your itinerary and alert you before your visa expires.

3. Build a stronger travel history

With Ra’eesah Manack, iVisa senior travel reporter

According to Ra’eesah Manack, building a strong travel history can influence how embassies assess your application.

“Think of it like a ladder,” she says. “You start with countries that are easier to enter; places that offer visa-free or eVisa access. Once you’ve shown that you travel and return on time, you become a more credible applicant.”

For example, travelers from Nigeria or Pakistan may find it easier to get visas to Southeast Asia or Latin America before applying to the US, UK, or Schengen Zone. “It’s a longer game, but it works. Each trip strengthens your record,” advises Manack.

Proving financial stability, which is a requirement for US, UK, and Schengen visas, has proven to be a major obstacle for many travelers. Freelancers and self-employed applicants, explains Manack, can provide tax records, client contracts, or invoices. Salaried workers may be asked for employment letters and recent pay slips.

“You just need to show that you have enough reason to come back after your trip,” she says. This can include steady employment, consistent income, and ties to your home country.

She also notes that consulates often assess whether your travel plans make sense financially. “If someone is earning $500 a month and applying for a $5,000 trip, they’ll want to see where that money is coming from.”

Even strong passports face new barriers

Travel requirements are shifting. Countries that once allowed entry with just a passport are now requiring travelers to apply for electronic travel authorizations before departure. These systems are not full visas, but they do add a new layer to the entry process.

The United Kingdom introduced its ETA system in 2025. Citizens from visa-exempt countries, including the United States, Canada, and members of the European Union, must now complete an online form, pay a fee, and wait for approval before traveling.

Israel’s ETA-IL went live in early 2025. It follows a similar structure, with an online application and a processing window that can take up to 72 hours. Japan has also confirmed plans to launch its own system, JESTA, targeting nationals from 71 countries that previously did not need a visa.

Travel freedom is changing for everyone

Electronic travel authorizations are reshaping how countries manage entry. What used to be a simple process now often involves added costs, wait times, and pre-screening, even for travelers with historically strong passports.

The Passport Score helps clarify this shift. It goes beyond counting destinations to show how mobility is shaped by deeper systems, including approval rates, visa costs, and where you’re applying from.

As the rules evolve, so does the meaning of access. Travel has never been equal. Knowing where your passport stands is one way to stay prepared in a world where movement is not guaranteed.

There’s an easier, expert-backed route to getting your visas as you travel around the world. iVisa helps travelers submit complete, accurate applications and stay informed throughout the process.