The Philippines has shown stability in the latest Henley Passport Index, reaffirming its consistent position in mobility, with particular strength in access around South East Asia.
According to the recent 2024 Henley Global Passport Index, the Philippine passport still ranks 73rd as compared to January of this year, giving access to 67 countries without applying for a visa.
Notably, the current Philippine passport ranking of 73 is still a significant improvement from last year’s ranking of 78.
“From 2015 until now, besides COVID-19, the general trend is up for the Philippines passport ranking. The Philippines is viewed as quite stable right now, and as the Philippine economy continues to grow, it should continue to see improvements on the passport’s visa-free access,” explained Scott Moore, Managing Director of Henley & Partners.
Referencing the Philippines’ latest performance, he explained the correlations between economic growth and visa-free access, pointing out that Henley & Partners’ research “has consistently shown a strong correlation between a country’s visa-free score and its economic prosperity. Nations with higher visa-free scores tend to enjoy greater GDP per capita, increased foreign direct investment, and more robust international trade relationships.”
Globally, Singapore has reclaimed its position as the world’s most powerful passport, allowing visa-free access to 195 destinations. The latest report highlights a growing gap between the most and least powerful passports, with top-ranked Singapore able to access 169 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which remains the weakest passport with access to only 26 countries.
