Israel has plummeted from 25th to 50th place in the 2024 Arton Capital Passport Index, according to the Dubai-based consulting firm specializing in global relocation and citizenship. The rankings are based on the ease of travel for passport holders, factoring in visa requirements and access.
The number of countries requiring visas for Israelis has risen from 68 to 87, with 42 nations now mandating visas be issued prior to arrival.
For the fourth consecutive year, the United Arab Emirates leads the global rankings, granting its passport holders visa-free access to 133 countries and visas upon arrival in 47 others. In contrast, Middle Eastern conflicts have continued to impact the rankings of regional nations, with Syria ranked last at 199th place.
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European nations dominate the top 20 passports, with Spain overtaking Germany for second place. Finland ranks third, followed by France and Belgium. The United Kingdom saw a notable decline, dropping from 22nd to 32nd place in a year.
The U.S. passport also fell in the rankings, slipping to 32nd, now the lowest-ranked among G-7 countries. Americans can visit 123 countries visa-free, with visas upon arrival available in 50 others. “Currently the weakest passport in the G-7, Trump’s incoming administration has all the motivation to make the U.S. passport great again,” an Arton Capital spokesperson said in a statement.
In Asia, South Korea holds the strongest passport, despite a slight dip in rank over the past year, followed by Japan and Singapore. China ranks 110th.