Analysts from the Henley & Partners group annually compare the travel opportunities for holders of 199 different passports to visit 227 destinations.
Compared to last year, Ukraine has risen by 4 positions and now holds the 32nd place in the world passport ranking.
Evaluation Methodology
- If citizens of a country do not need a visa to enter another country, the passport is assigned 1 point.
- The same applies if a visa on arrival (VOA), visitor permit, or electronic entry permit (ETA) can be obtained for visiting a country. In this case, the passport also receives 1 point.
- If a visa is required or the passport holder needs to obtain an electronic visa (e-Visa), the passport is assigned a value of “0”.
- The total score for each passport is the number of destinations for which no visa is required or can be obtained on arrival (value “1”).
Ukraine’s Passport Ranking
Ukraine is ranked 148th. This means that holders of Ukrainian passports can visit 148 countries and territories without a visa or with visa on arrival.
As of the end of 2023, there are 256 countries and territories in the world. Among them, 196 are independent states, of which 193 are UN member states, and 3 are states with undetermined status (Western Sahara, Kosovo, Taiwan).
The passport ranking has been compiled since 2006. Ukraine holds the 32nd position, its best result to date. The lowest ranking for Ukraine was in 2010 when it held the 65th position.
Visa-Free Destinations for Ukrainians
Ukrainians do not need a visa for European Union countries. South and Central America, excluding Venezuela and Guyana, and most of Southeast Asia are also open to Ukrainians without a visa.
You can travel to African countries such as Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Madagascar, Tanzania, Tunisia, and some others without the need for a visa.
Visa Requirements for the USA and Canada
Citizens of Ukraine need a visa to enter the USA and Canada. Obtaining a visa for Canada is relatively easy, as many have received the Canadian CUAET visa, allowing them to work and live in the country.
Getting a US visa is more complex, but not dramatically so. The US Embassy in Kyiv does not issue visas due to the war caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, a US visa can be obtained at any US embassy abroad with an open appointment.
Popular countries for obtaining a US visa include Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and other European countries, as well as Indonesia and Thailand if you are in Asia.
Best and Worst Countries in the Ranking
The leaders in the passport ranking are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain (194 points). Following closely are Finland, South Korea, and Sweden with 193 points. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands complete the top three with 192 points.
Australia ranks 6th with 189 points, while the USA and Canada share the 7th position with 188 points.
Cyprus holds the 12th position, allowing its citizens to visit 182 countries without a visa. Croatia is at the 13th position with visa-free access to 179 countries. Israel is in 21st place, with its citizens able to visit 166 countries without a visa.
Traditionally, the worst-ranked countries are Afghanistan (28 points), Syria (29 points), and Iraq (31 points).
Belarus is ranked 64th in the passport ranking (81 countries without a visa), and Georgia is at the 50th position (121 countries without a visa).
