According to the Henley Passport Index, a global ranking that evaluates the travel freedom of citizens from different nations, the Philippines has climbed four spots in passport ranking in the third quarter of 2023, occupying the 74th spot — an advancement from its 78th position in 2022.
This improvement can be attributed to the Philippines’ expanding economy, as explained by Scott Moore, the managing director of Henley & Partners, during an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Final Word last July 2023.
Throughout the history of the index, the Philippines reached its highest rank at 62nd place in 2009. However, it faced its lowest rankings in 2015 and 2022, both at the 80th position.
With the advancement in passport ranking, Philippine passport holders are granted the privilege of traveling to 67 countries and territories without a need for a visa.
The Henley Passport Index utilizes data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to assess the travel potential of 199 passports globally.
At present, Singapore has claimed Japan’s spot as the most powerful passport in the world. Germany, Italy, and Spain share the second place, enabling their citizens to travel to a minimum of 190 countries without visas.
While Japan has now fallen to third place, offering visa-free access to 189 countries, which is a decrease from the previous year’s 193 countries.
