The Best Passport to Own in 2023 is Revealed with a Surprising No. 1 Country and Difficult News for Aussie Travelers
- Australian passport dropped six places
- There are 199 countries on the list, with Afghanistan being the last
The best passports for 2023 have been revealed in a new global index, but it’s bad news for Aussie travelers as their passports dropped from 32nd to 38th.
There was a shock at the number 1 travel document, with the list – compiled by consultancy Nomadic capitalist – placing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the top.
The 199 countries included were ranked according to: visa-free travel options, taxation of citizens, dual citizenship options, perception and personal freedom.
The UAE, which includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi – known to many Australians as hub airports en route to Europe and the US – had an overall average score of 110.5.
Australia’s average score fell from 107.5 in 2022 to 101 in 2023, with the drop entirely due to visa-free travel eligibility criteria, from 185 to 172, while each of the other four factors remained the same as last year.
The best passports for 2023 have been revealed in a new global index, but it’s bad news for Aussie travelers as their passport (pictured) drops from 32nd to 38th
Australia scored 20 on the citizen ranking, 30 each for its international perception and personal freedom, and 50 for its dual nationality capabilities.
In a breaking down of its ranking, Nomad Capitalist said that “Australia allows citizens to move to avoid tax”, but that “citizens experience medium hostility” abroad.
It also said Australian citizens have ‘intermediate freedom’ and are ‘almost always allowed to hold other nationalities’.
There are 110 countries that Australian passport holders can enter without a visa, 56 that Australians can enter by getting a visa on arrival, and six electronic travel authorization (eTA) destinations.
In total, Australian passport holders can enter 172 countries without a visa, via a visa on arrival or via an eTA.
However, Australia’s closest neighbour, New Zealand, fared better, tied for eighth on the list alongside Sweden and Finland, with a score of 106.
The rise of the UAE to the top was even more surprising given that it was ranked 35th in 2022 and 38th in 2021.
His passport jumped onto the list because it has visa-free travel privileges to most countries – 181 in all – no income tax and an ever-expanding presence on the world stage.
The passport of the United Arab Emirates is number 1 on the list. The Burj Khalifa building in Dubai – one of the Emirates – is pictured in the center
These factors, among many others, make it an attractive place for aspiring global citizens, according to the Nomad Capitalist index.
No other Middle Eastern passports appear in the top 20.
Luxembourg dropped from 1st place in 2022 to 2nd place in 2023, with Switzerland in 3rd place and Ireland – praised for its low corporate tax rates – in 4th place.
The UK passport dropped from 26th to 30th last year with an aggregate score of 102.50, with 30 points for taxation, 20 for perception, 50 for dual nationality and just 30 for freedom.
The US Passport ranks 43rd among the best in the world.
Afghanistan finished last – a position it has held for many years – with just 26.5 points.