Latest news with #e-Visa
Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
Canadian passport ranked more powerful than the U.S.
Canadians have one of the most powerful passports in the world, ranking ahead of the United States in a global index. U.K.-based consultancy firm Henley & Partners recently released this year's global passport ranking . It's based on mobility, meaning where in the world the holder of the passport can travel to without a visa. In order to rank the countries, it relies on exclusive information from travel information database, the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The top-ranking country is Singapore. That's because its passport holders have visa-free access to the most global destinations included in the list, at 193 destinations. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Passports receive a score if no visa is required. The same score is given if the passport holder can obtain a visa on arrival (VOA), a visitor's permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) when entering the destination. An ETA, for example, is needed when Canadians enter the United Kingdom for travel purposes such as tourism, family visits, business, and short-term study. Passports receive a different score if a visa is required, or if a passport holder has to obtain a government-approved electronic visa (e-Visa) before departure, or pre-departure government approval for a visa on arrival. For example, Canadians require a visa to enter Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan and Cuba. Canada came in 8th place in the 2025 list, tied with Estonia and the United Arab Emirates. This is ahead of the American passport, which came in 10th place this year. Historically, according to the firm's list, Canada has maintained a high ranking. Since 2006, it has not fallen below 9th place. At its peak, the Canadian passport came in second place in 2014. Canada's ranking is 'based as much as anything on other countries' confidence that Canadians won't overstay their welcome (and likewise for any set of countries),' University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy professor Drew Fagan told National Post over email on Thursday. 'Canada's relative safety and prosperity means that other countries can be confident that Canadians are coming for a good time, not a long time,' he said. In 2025, Canadians can visit 184 countries without needing a visa, according to the Henley & Partners ranking. 'Countries at the top of the ranking however must work to maintain it, or they will be overtaken. Looking back slightly further, the U.S. was number one on the ranking in 2014, but by only gaining net access to 8 destinations since then, the U.S. has fallen by 9 spots as other top ranking countries outpaced them,' said Souad Ouared, associate director, private clients at Henley & Partners Canada, in an emailed statement to National Post on Friday. 'Japan on the other hand has added 19 destinations to its score since 2014 and gained one spot in the ranking from 3rd to 2nd. Canada sits in the middle of these two. It was ranked 2nd in 2014 and has lost 6 places since then, with a net access gain of 11 destinations.' The ranking shows travellers the relative strength of the passport they hold and the global access it gives them, explained Ouared. 'There are many factors that affect a passport's ranking, including countries updating their visa systems, or diplomatic relations including bi-lateral visa free agreements. It is unusual for a passport's ranking to change significantly from year to year, but rather will see a trend of incremental gains and losses over time,' she said. One of the recent changes that has affected Canada's ranking is the country being excluded from China's list of countries that can visit without a visa . Canadians still require a visa to visit China for tourism, business, study or work. Another recent change? 'The Canadian passport lost access to Brazil, with Brazil citing a lack of reciprocity as the reason,' said Ouared. 'That being said, the Canadian passport remains one of the most powerful in the world, and it is a privilege for all who hold it, considering the broad global access it provides to key destinations.' Roughly 70 per cent of Canadians hold valid passports and more than 24.6 million passports are in circulation, according to data from the federal government updated in 2022. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Hans India
5 days ago
- Hans India
Pak passport among least powerful, below N Korea
London: Pakistan's travel document remains classified among the 'least powerful' globally, granting visa-free access to merely 32 locations, while the passports from other Asian nations have emerged as the strongest worldwide, as reported by Dawn. According to the Henley Passport Index for 2025, Pakistan is currently ranked 96th on the list, placing it ahead of conflict-ridden countries such as Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. Although still relatively low, the nation's ranking has seen a slight improvement; in 2024, the Pakistani passport was tied with Yemen as the fourth-worst globally for the fourth consecutive year. The Henley Passport Index assesses the visa-free privileges of 199 different passports across 227 travel destinations and ranks them based on the number of places their holders can visit without obtaining a visa in advance. A score of 1 is given when no visa is necessary, along with instances where a visa on arrival (VOA), a visitor's permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) is available. Conversely, a score of 0 is assigned when a visa is required, or when a passport holder must secure a government-approved electronic visa (e-Visa) prior to travel. This also applies to cases requiring pre-departure governmental clearance for a visa on arrival, as reported by Dawn. Singapore holds the top position, with Japan and South Korea tied for second place in the index.
The Star
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking
The Singapore passport allows visa-free access to 193 destinations. - Photo: ST file SINGAPORE: Singaporeans continue to hold the world's most powerful passport, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 193 destinations out of 227 globally, according to the latest Henley Passport Index released on Tuesday (July 22). The Republic retained its first-place ranking despite a slight dip from 195 destinations in the January 2025 edition of the index. Singapore lost visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Pakistan and West African country Mauritania after both switched from visa-on-arrival to e-Visa systems. E-Visas, unlike visa-on-arrival arrangements, require travellers to obtain approval before departure and are not counted as visa-free access in the index. This reduced Singapore's tally by two points, but it retained its lead, as other top-ranked passports were similarly affected. In second place are Japan and South Korea, with access to 190 destinations. Seven European Union countries share third place with access to 189 destinations - Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain. The UK and US have slipped down the index, continuing a long-term downward trend. Once the world's most powerful passports – the UK in 2015, and the US in 2014 – they now rank sixth and 10th, respectively. The UK offers visa-free access to 186 destinations, while the US has 182. The US is on the verge of falling out of the Top 10 for the first time in the index's 20-year history, said Henley & Partners, which compiles the ranking. At the bottom is Afghanistan, at 99th position, with its citizens able to access just 25 destinations without a prior visa, a stark contrast to the 193 destinations accessible to top-ranked passports. Syria is in 98th place with 27 destinations, followed by Iraq at 97th with 30. Over the past six months, India has made the largest jump in the rankings, climbing eight places from 85th to 77th, despite adding only two new visa-free destinations to take its total to 59. Saudi Arabia has recorded the biggest gain in visa-free access, adding four destinations since January and rising four places to 54th, with a total of 91 visa-free countries. Henley & Partners, a global citizenship and residence advisory firm, compiles the ranking using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association. It is published twice a year - in January and July - and tracks the number of destinations passport holders can enter without needing a prior visa. A spokeswoman for Henley & Partners told The Straits Times that the index is dynamic and changes monthly due to shifting visa policies, with new agreements signed or reversed regularly. 'The January index reflected the scores and ranks at the beginning of the year, and we publish the July updated ranking each year to coincide with the summer holidays in the Northern Hemisphere when there is a significant uptick in travel,' she added. The index, launched in 2006, now covers 199 passports and 227 destinations. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
22-07-2025
- Straits Times
Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The Singapore passport allows visa-free access to 193 destinations. SINGAPORE – Singaporeans continue to hold the world's most powerful passport, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 193 destinations out of 227 globally, according to the latest Henley Passport Index released on July 22. The Republic retained its first-place ranking despite a slight dip from 195 destinations in the January 2025 edition of the index . Singapore lost visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Pakistan and Mauritania after both countries switched from visa-on-arrival to e-Visa systems. E-Visas, unlike visa-on-arrival arrangements, require travellers to obtain approval before departure and are not counted as visa-free access in the index. This reduced Singapore's tally by two points, but it retained its lead as other top-ranked passports were similarly affected. The index is compiled by global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association. It is published twice a year - in January and July - and tracks the number of destinations passport holders can enter without needing a prior visa. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Miscalculation of MOH subsidies and grants led to $7m in overpayments, $2m in shortfalls Asia Indonesia on high alert as dry weather fans forest, peatland fires in Sumatra Singapore 2 charged over alleged role in posting bail for man who later absconded Singapore Teen charged after allegedly selling vaporisers, advertising e-cigarettes on WhatsApp Singapore 2,500 turtles seized in India and sent back to S'pore, put down humanely after salmonella detected Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving A spokeswoman for Henley & Partners told The Straits Times that the index is dynamic and changes monthly due to shifting visa policies, with new agreements signed or reversed regularly. 'The January index reflected the scores and ranks at the beginning of the year, and we publish the July updated ranking each year to coincide with the summer holidays in the Northern Hemisphere when there is a significant uptick in travel,' she added. In second place are Japan and South Korea, with access to 190 destinations. Seven European Union countries share third place with access to 189 destinations - Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain. At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan remains in last place at 99th, with access to just 25 destinations. Syria is ranked 98th with 27 destinations, followed by Iraq at 97th with 30. The index, launched in 2006, now covers 199 passports and 227 destinations.
Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Foreign Office warns 800,000 Brits risk ‘harsh' detention under new travel rules
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has issued travel advice for British passport holders heading to Thailand, where new visa rules came into force earlier this year The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has warned British travellers of new entry requirements for travel to Thailand. At the beginning of May this year, the Southeast Asian country, which welcomed in one million Brits during its pre-pandemic peak and around 800,000 annually now, introduced a new visa system for everyone without a Thai passport. "From 1 May 2025, all foreign nationals entering Thailand, whether by air, land or sea must complete a digital arrival card online before arrival. Travellers can register for an arrival card within 3 days before they arrive," the FCDO explains on its website. UK passport holders are able to visit Thailand for a period of 60 days for the purpose of tourism, business engagements, and urgent or ad-hoc work. This visa category can be extended for another period not exceeding 30 days. However, those who overstay their visa are putting themselves in serious jeopardy, according to the FCDO. "If you overstay the period of your visa, you will get a fine of 500 Thai baht a day up to a maximum of 20,000 baht (£450). You risk being: held in detention, deported at your own expense, banned from re-entering Thailand for up to 10 years. Conditions in detention centres can be harsh," the governmental organisation warns. There are other entry rules that you'll have to follow when travelling to Thailand. Your passport must have an 'expiry date' at least six months after the date you arrive and have at least one blank page. You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen. If you're a dual national, it is best to leave Thailand on the same passport you used to enter – this will avoid problems at immigration. You can also apply in advance for a multiple-entry visa for up to 60 days. As of May this year, Thailand has reinstated the requirement for tourist visa applicants to provide financial proof. This measure, which was temporarily suspended in November 2023 to give post-pandemic travel a boost, requires that all applicants demonstrate the ability to support themselves during their stay. According to Thailand's official e-Visa portal, applicants must now submit financial evidence showing a minimum of 20,000 Thai Baht. Acceptable documents include bank statements from the last three months or a sponsorship letter if the trip is being financed by someone else. Earlier this year, a British man was arrested in Thailand after overstaying his 30-day visa by more than 25 years. The man, who is now 60 years old, arrived in Thailand on a short-term tourist visa on 9 January 2000, and then went on to evade Thai authorities for 25 years. Thai police said it was a 'record' visa overstay, beating the previous record of a Pakistani man who overstayed his visa by 10 years, according to AFP news agency.
