POWERFUL PASSPORTS: WHICH PASSPORTS HAVE IMPROVED THE MOST OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS

Depending on your passport, travel can be as simple as just booking flights, finding a hotel, and then simply going. But for many across the world, it’s not that easy—a number of passport holders need to obtain a travel/ tourist visa prior to arrival. These visas typically require approval from the destination country’s government which can take weeks or months, and can often cost a lot of money.

Having a passport that has visa-free access to more countries enables citizens to travel with ease. This has great economic and social benefits for citizens and their countries, and governments are always looking to expand their relationships and make travel and business easier for their citizens. Currently, Japan has the world's strongest passport with access to 193 destinations visa-free.

Investment migration experts

Globalresidenceindex.com have conducted research to discover which passports have had the most improvement over the last 10 years.

United Arab Emirates sees the most growth in passport power

Colombia’s passport has had the second most growth in the last 20 years

Ukraine’s passport has improved the third most in the last 10 years

United Arab Emirates

The UAE is a desert hub for business and travel. It is between East and West, advanced economies and developing ones, and over the last 10 years the UAE has become increasingly accessible, and in return, UAE passport holders can enjoy increased mobility. In 2013 the UAE passport had visa-free access to only 72 countries, this has increased to 178 in 2023.

2013 to 2023 visa-free countries change: +106

Colombia

Colombia is a South American nation with a rapidly growing economy; one of the largest in Latin America. In 2013 Colombia only had visa-free access to 63 countries, in 2023, this has increased to 133, giving Columbians much easier access to travel and do business all over the globe. This increased global access means that citizens can travel, build and develop all over the world.

Ukraine

Ukraine has been at the forefront of international headlines over the past few years due to the ongoing conflict with Russia. However, Ukraine has seen increasing integration with the rest of the world in the form of greater visafree access to more countries. In 2013 Ukraine only had access to 77 countries visa-free, this is now 144.

2013 to 2023 visa-free countries change: +67

2013 to 2023 visa-free countries change: +70

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Moldova

Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe, with its economy relying heavily on agriculture. In 2013 business opportunities and travel opportunities were limited with only 59 countries being able to be accessed visa-free. Over the past 10 years the number of countries has grown to 120.

2013 to 2023 visa-free countries change: +61

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a southern Caribbean nation comprising a main island, St. Vincent, and a chain of smaller islands. With beautiful beaches and crystal-clear oceans, these idyllic islands are wonderful places. However, with an abundance of beauty, the islands lack many business opportunities and travel options. This is why the 151 visa-free destinations are imperative to the freedom of its citizens and the emergence and growth of business.

2013 to 2023 visa-free countries change: +59

Grenada

Grenada is another Caribbean country that has similar economic, social and political characteristics as its island neighbours, and thus citizens can have similar issues with travel and business. Since 2013 Grenada has expanded its number of visa-free travel destinations to 145 from 88.

2013 to 2023 visa-free countries change: +57

Peru

Peru is a country in South America that shares a large stretch of border with Colombia, a country that has also experienced large growth in passport power over the last 10 years. In 2013 Peru had visa-free access to 80 countries. In 2023 this has grown to 136.

2013 to 2023 visa-free countries change: +56

Dominica

Dominica is one of the poorest Caribbean countries. Whilst being rich in natural beauty it offers limited economic and social opportunities. In the last 10 years Dominica has looked to improve the power of its passports and has gone from 87 visa-free countries to 144. Dominica also offers an Entrepreneur Visa scheme which allows candidates to obtain citizenship through investment. According to the program, applicants need to invest a minimum amount of $50,000 to apply, and in doing so new citizens can utilise all aspects of being a Dominica passport holder.

2013 to 2023 visa-free countries change: +57

St. Lucia

Overall, the Caribbean has seen huge growth, influence and interest as it offers fantastic benefits to its citizens, and St. Lucia is no different. With visafree travel to 146 countries in 2023 the St. Lucia passport has become increasingly powerful over the past few years adding an extra 52 countries.

2013 to 2023 visa-free countries change: +52

Georgia

Georgia is at the intersection of Europe and Asia. It is a developing country with a very high Human Development Index, with huge improvements including GNI per capita improving by about 183.2 percent, life expectancy at birth increased by 2.1 years, and expected years of schooling gained by 2.4 years. Economic reforms since independence have led to higher levels of economic freedom, as well as reductions in corruption indicators, poverty, and unemployment. In 2013 Georgia only had visa-free access to 60 countries, and in the last 10 years that has increased to 115.

2013 to 2023 visa-free countries change: +55

A spokesperson from Globalresidenceindex.com commented:

“Holdingapowerfulpassportisacrucial advantage,whereyoucanmovevisa-free, havesignificantinvestmentopportunities andahighqualityoflifethatcomeswitha shareddutytotherestoftheglobe.

“Beingabletotravelforleisureand businessispivotalinthedevelopment andgrowthofnationsandindividuals. Passportsaresupposedtorepresent freedom,andit’sinthegovernments’ intereststomakethatfreedomas accessibleaspossible.

“Manycountrieshavebeguntoopen theirdoorstomaketravelandbusiness muchmorestreamlinedandaccessible. Despiteallofthetensionandconflict thatheadlinesthenews,globalisationis bringingmanypositivestodeveloping andestablishednations. Theworld hasneverbeensoconnected,andthe increaseinmostnations’passportpower overthelast10yearsdemonstratesthis.” globalresidenceindex.com/citizenship-by-investment

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: CLIMATE CLOCK ADDS

Gender Parity Lifeline To Clocks Worldwide

New York, Monday 06 March 2023: For International Women’s Day 2023, Climate Clock today added a Gender Parity Lifeline to its digital clock faces worldwide, alongside its other deadline and solution metrics.

Citing the latest data from the InterParliamentary Union, that just 26.5%* of women are represented in all national parliaments - the Climate Clock’s new message reads “WORLD PARLIAMENTS: 26.5% — LET’S MAKE THAT: 50%”. Women's movements and climate movements around the world aim to raise that to 50%, in order to help society better adapt to a changing climate and pursue pathways toward a more just, sustainable future.

Ahead of International Women's Day, the Climate Clock’s team of scientists, artists, educators, and activists have added a new message to the Climate Clock's 80foot digital clockface in New York City’s Union Square, as well as its other largescale clocks located across the globe in Rome, Seoul, Tokyo, London, Beijing and Harrisburg PA. In addition, the new message will appear on over 40 handheld Climate 'action' Clocks to promote climate education and spur community action and awareness - from teachers in the DRC and Italy to youth activists in Turkey and Tokyo to activist organizations in Ghana, the Netherlands, Kosovo, and Brazil.

Women’s perspectives and experiences are often overlooked in policy-making, leading to laws and regulations that do not adequately address their needs. Multiple studies show a clear positive correlation between female representation in parliaments and the robustness of climate action.

• A 2019 study showed that when women participate in decisionmaking processes, there is more effective risk management and a greater commitment to promoting climate policies that result in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

• A 2022 study by the OECD found that in countries with 38% or more women legislators, per capita forest cover increased considerably.

• The landmark 2015 Paris Agreement recognized that increasing women’s participation in decision-making is essential to achieving climate justice, establishing gender equality and the empowerment of women as key for policy design.

• In a 2019 report, the International Institute for Sustainable Development determined that women must be part of any effective adaptation to climate change.

Twitter: @theclimateclock nstagram: @climateclock.world ikTok: @theclimateclock

#ClimateClock #ActInTime

ClimateClock.world

The prolonged impact of female underrepresentation in parliaments and policy-making has led to women and girls facing greater vulnerability in times of climate crisis as compared to men. Contributing factors include inequalities in access to resources, assets, services and participation in decision-making spaces; as well as gender-based violence after disasters, which reduces women’s adaptive capacity and resilience, weakening the future resilience of communities.

“Around the world, women are disproportionately impacted by climate change. For reasons of justice, democracy, and survival, we must strive to achieve gender parity in national parliaments. Tackling the climate crisis is a collective mission, and to create an even playing field for all, we must include women in the decision-making process. By ensuring that women are better represented in parliament, we can improve the quality of decision-making and increase the likelihood of climate policies that benefit all members of society.” Becca Richie, Global Community Manager, Climate Clock

“Increasing women’s representation at every level of government is essential not only for protecting our climate but for improving our democracy as a whole. We cannot sufficiently address or resolve the most prominent issues facing our society today, like the climate crisis, when not everyone has a seat at the table. Electoral reforms such as ranked choice voting help to promote gender balance and have the power to create a truly representative democracy. We must advance reforms like these to ensure that the needs of the people are being met by those who have the power to enact change.”

Alissa Bombardier Shaw, Outreach Manager, RepresentWomen

Climate Clock was first launched in Union Square, New York City, during Climate Week in September 2020. The Gender

Parity Lifeline joins the Climate Clock’s ‘Deadline’, the digital clockface usually exhibits a single deadline (the amount of time remaining to prevent 1.5°C global warming) and four ‘lifelines’ tracking progress on key solution pathways, including the percentage of the world’s energy from renewable sources, the amount of land currently protected by Indigenous peoples, the Loss & Damage Financing owed by G20 Nations to the most vulnerable nations, and, now, the percentage of women in national parliaments. ). A recognised symbol of urgency and hope, the Clock has maintained a regular presence in global media since its viral launch.

Mark Shanahan, Associate Professor

Dr

of Political Engagement at the University of Surrey said:

“One must question whether the Illegal Migration Bill introduced to the House of Commons this week by the Home Secretary is actually likely to deliver good law, or is more about defining political clear water between the Government and the opposition parties.

“It is hard to see how a Bill that even the Government sees as having more than a 50% likelihood of breaking international law can be effective legislatively. It is questionable as to whether this Bill will deliver law that will be robust under domestic and international scrutiny, will stand the test of time, and is seen to be fair by the public. Its enforceability must also be questioned.

“What is perhaps most troubling is the tone and rhetoric adopted by the Government - populist and simple in its solution to a problem it has found intractable over the past 13 years. This proposed law does not address the causes of migration, and in seeking to criminalise all those who flee terror, war, famine and persecution in small boats, there's a strong danger it will solve nothing and harm the UK's reputation for fairness around the world.”