[dropcap]H[/dropcap]aving a passport is an essential part of being a well-traveled and fully-formed individual. After all, if you don’t have a passport you can’t possibly hope to immerse yourself in foreign cultures while seeing the many exotic and alluring sights that this world has to offer. Despite how essential a passport is for a well-lived life of international allure, however, not all passports were created equally – as a matter of fact, some of them are far superior to others.
Which passports will get you out of a bind? Which will ensure the locals love you the most? Here are the 3 best passports to have on you wherever you roam in the world.
Forget about the United States
Many Westerners falsely assume that their passport must be one of – if not the – best to have on them as they traverse the world. Many Americans naturally assume that being from the most powerful country in the world necessitates that their passports are more useful than others. The truth of the matter, however, is Western passports often mark you as a tourist with plenty of money, which leads local populations to upcharge you for basic goods and services.
In reality, you want a passport from Singapore and Japan as a wealthy traveler. This is because Singapore and Japan are still wealthy nations, yet few international audiences will hassle you for extra cash if you hail from one of these nations. More importantly, Singapore and Japan permit you to access many exotic locations without having to apply for a visa, which is perhaps the finest trait of any good passport. Other excellent nations to have a passport from include Denmark, Italy, and Germany, which similarly permit you access to many locations without having to concern yourself about a visa.
As more people travel, more passports and visas are being printed. Malaysia visas for Indians, for instance, have come into hot demand because of recent economic changes that permit additional tourists to flock where they please. As time goes on, the ratings of the best passports inevitably change, but a few passports will consistently serve you well wherever you go.
The best of the best
Are you really interested in possessing the best of the best when it comes to a passport? If so, then you’ll likely want to head over to the United Arab Emirates, which presently dominates the global passport index which helps travelers monitor the usefulness of their legal documents. Finland and Luxembourg come in a close second and third place, respectively, again because of their incredible ability to offer visa-free travel to many places around the world. On the opposite end of the spectrum, passports from places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria will bog you down as you attempt to cross international waters for a variety of economic and geopolitical reasons.
It’s useful to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of passports, visas, and other important legal documents before you embark on lengthy and expensive trips abroad which could be disrupted by a lack of ample preparation. Familiarize yourself with the differences between passports and visas before applying for one and to ensure that you have a stellar trip that goes off without a problem.
At this moment, it’s hard to be the UAE, Finland, and Luxembourg when it comes to excellent passports, yet the rankings are always changing based on international politics and domestic economics. Spain, Germany, and Switzerland are consistently safe backup bets for some of the best passports, though global winds are always shifting. Keep this knowledge in mind, and soon you’ll be travelling the world without a care about passport difficulties.
