New Zealand passport slips further in power rankings

The passport index indicates the growing gap in the mobility of countries listed. Photo / File

New Zealand passport holders have some bad news. The little black book of Kiwi travel has slipped further in the passport power rankings.

According to the Henley Passport Index, which tracks the number of visa-free travel options for passport holders, New Zealand has dropped to 9th place in the global rankings. This is down a place on last year and five whole places since its top ranking in 2015.

Japan was top of the list for a third year with visa-free access to an impressive 191 destinations. It outpaced Singapore by one place (190), with which shared the title of world's most powerful passport last year. South Korea holds joint third place with the German EU passport granting access to 189 countries visa-free.

Little black book: New Zealand Passport is slipping in the rankings. Photo / File

Asian passports appear to dominate the list, with European passports representing the remainder of the top spots.

With access to an impressive 183 countries New Zealand's passport is firmly in the top ten and still a valuable asset to any international traveller. However, it would appear part of a downward trend for English-speaking countries.

The Kiwi passport which was ranked 4th in 2015 now shares 9th place with Canada and Australia. The UK passport having held the most powerful place on the list in 2015 has slid to eighth position. There is a similar case for American passport holders, which dropped from second place four years ago to the bottom of the top 10.

Dr Christian Kaelin the chairman of Henley and Partners called this year's results a "clear argument for the benefits of open-door policies and the introduction of mutually beneficial trade agreements."

Japan was a model of this passport power play that allows its citizens to enjoy travel to 191 countries visa-free.

"Over the past few years, we have seen the world adapt to mobility as a permanent condition of global life. The latest rankings show that the countries that embrace this reality are thriving, with their citizens enjoying ever-increasing passport power and the array of benefits that come with it," said Dr Kaelin.

Another worrying trend is the difference between the top and bottom of the table. With a record 165 country gap between Japan and Afghanistan - the world's least powerful passport – there appears to be a growing gap in the mobility of countries in the league.

While Asian passports were consolidating power, the gulf states of the United Arab Emirates(66th) and Saudi Arabia(18th) are slowly climbing the rankings.

At the bottom of the list are Somalia, Pakistan, Syria and Afghanistan, which have remained unchanged in the bottom five places for the past three years.

World's most valuable passports

1. Japan (191 destinations)

2. Singapore (190)

3. South Korea, Germany (189)

4. Italy, Finland (188)

5. Spain, Luxembourg, Denmark (187)

6. Sweden, France (186)

7. Switzerland, Portugal, Netherlands, Ireland, Austria (185)

8. United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Greece, Belgium (184)

9. New Zealand, Malta, Czech Republic, Canada, Australia (183)

10. Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary (181)

The least valuable passports

100. North Korea, Sudan (39 destinations)

101. Nepal, Palestinian Territory (38)

102. Libya (37)

103. Yemen (33)

104. Somalia, Pakistan (32)

105. Syria (29)

106. Iraq (28)

107. Afghanistan (26)