Which Is the Most Powerful Passport and How to Get It?

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The RIF Trust Passport Index

Our CEO Mimoun A. Assraoui recognizes the importance of holding the most powerful passport in the world. He reveals: “You cannot choose where you are born and your global mobility may suffer as a result. Yet, your first passport doesn’t have to be your last.”

“With the world’s first weekly-updated Passport Index,” expands Assraoui “we can help you determine which second passport to get.”

“The more visa-free countries your next passport has, the less business or leisure travel plans you have to make. For more hassle-free journeys, Citizenship by Investment is a powerful tool to land a stronger passport. Residency by Investment also allows you to become a national via naturalization and smooths the path to apply for a Plan B passport.”

“No other Passport Index can rival RIF Trust’s,” continues our Chief Executive Officer. “We collate the latest statistics to show how your passport of birth compares to your passport of choice. Our Passport Index analyzes the strength of 199 passports across 81 ranks presently.”

“The visa-free passport rank adds up the number of visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and eVisa countries,” concludes Assraoui. “Currently, the Afghan and Syrian passports hold the unwanted distinction of being in the bottom position with visa-free access restricted to a lowly 71 destinations.” 

Revealing the Most Powerful Passport Part 1

Since the launch of the RIF Trust Passport Index, the UAE passport has been the undisputed strongest passport in the world. With a United Arab Emirates passport in your hand luggage, you can travel to 126 countries without having to secure a visa in advance. These include Kuwait, Singapore (for a stay up to 30 days), and Spain (for a visit no longer than 90 days).

A UAE passport is the most powerful passport, too, thanks to the 34 countries you can enter with a visa on arrival. This involves no tedious filling in of forms. These 34 destinations include India, Indonesia, and Tanzania.

There are 23 countries that you can travel to after acquiring an eVisa.  What’s more, eVisas are easy to apply for. These 23 destinations include Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

That leaves a mere 14 countries requiring a visa for entry. They include, most significantly, the United States. As you can see, this travel document boosts your global mobility.

Want to get your hands on a UAE passport? Here’s the catch. There is no route via naturalization, even if you invest in residency there through a UAE Golden Visa.

Revealing the Most Powerful Passport Part 2

Our latest Passport Index, however, shows that the UAE passport is now joint-first most powerful passport with the Spanish passport. The regular Spanish passport, pasaporte ordinario, features a burgundy cover and space for 32 pages. Like other biometric passports, it will accommodate your passport-sized photograph alongside an electronic chip holding your key personal details, signature, and unique passport number.

So, what do the UAE and Spanish passports have in common? They both facilitate easier travel to 183 out of 199 destinations. Let’s break down the effectiveness of Spain’s passport.

You can visit 126 visa-free countries. This cuts down the travel-related paperwork. Those 126 destinations include Hong Kong (for a visit that doesn’t exceed 30 days), Switzerland, and the UK (for a stay that’s limited to a maximum of 180 days).

There are a total of 30 countries that require a visa on arrival. As this is not something you have to arrange in advance, it leads to a relatively hassle-free travel experience. Destinations include Bahrain, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

With an eVisa, you can access 27 further countries. This online application is a walk in the park compared to requesting an actual visa. Those 27 eVisa destinations include India, Kenya, and, perhaps most crucially, the United States.

This means that there are only 15 countries where you to have apply for a non-eVisa ahead of your journey. So, would you like to land this powerful passport? We’ll explain the process to acquiring one below.

How to Get a Spanish Passport

Your route to obtaining this powerful passport begins with a Spanish Golden Visa. €500,000 is the minimum investment required. You can expect to receive this Residency by Investment within 5-7 months.

To naturalize and become a Spanish citizen will take 10 years of residency. In the meantime, you can avoid the costs and delays in the Schengen area caused by launch of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). If you come from Latin America or the Philippines, Spain reduces the naturalization period to just 2 years.

If you’re from those parts of the world, you are not required to take the 2 mandatory citizenship tests. But Third Country Nationals, as in non-EU citizens, have to pass these. Both are run by the Instituto Cervantes, a government body set up by the Spanish government in 1991 to promote Spanish culture and language.

The DELE A2 is an elementary exam that tests your proficiency in comprehending and incorporating common, everyday Spanish expressions. It’s easier to pass than the intermediate B and advanced C level exams. The CCSE, as in Constitutional and Sociocultural Knowledge of Spain (Conocimientos Constitucionales y Socioculturales de España) is a multi-choice exam quizzing you on your knowledge of Spanish culture, history, and society.

Once you become a Spanish national, you qualify for a Unión Europea Pasaporte. As well as improving your worldwide travel freedom, it has extra benefits. You and your family can live, study, and work anywhere you like across the 27 countries comprising the European Union.

As a Spanish resident, you can make an online appointment to obtain a Spanish passport in person. You will need to present a valid Spanish ID card and a recent colour photograph of yourself. Passports are renewable.

Taking the First Step to a Spanish Golden Visa

Time is not on your side if you want to invest in becoming a Spanish citizen via the naturalization outlined above. The Spanish Government has revealed its intention to abolish the Spanish Golden Visa, meaning your route to the most powerful passport in the world could soon be sealed off. So, contact us now and we’ll show you how to apply for this Residency by Investment while it’s still available.