As remote work opportunities continue to expand, living as a digital nomad is becoming a popular lifestyle choice for many people, but it also comes with unique travel challenges.
The type of passport you have can have a major impact on your ease of travel. For example, some passports allow you to enter up to 194 countries visa-free, and some even allow you to enter as few as 30. In this article we investigate which passport is the best, or strongest, for digital nomads.
To help determine the relative strength of a passport, several rating systems have been used.
Henley Passport Index
Since 2005, the Henley Passport Index has given the highest passport ratings to countries that allow their citizens to cross the border without the need for a visa. Points are also awarded when passport holders receive a visa on arrival, an electronic travel authority or a visitor permit.
After checking the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), six countries with visa-free access to 194 countries in 2024 were ranked first: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore and Spain. But is visa-free access to countries the only thing to compare when ranking the best passports?
Nomad passport index
The nomadic capitalist created the Nomad passport index in 2017, and five components make up the total index score. Visa-free travel includes 50%, taxes (20%), personal freedom (10%), global perception (10%), and the possibility of having dual citizenship receives 10%. After these additional factors were taken into consideration, one country emerged as the winner: Switzerland.
“As Switzerland stands out as the world’s best passport by 2024, our Nomad Passport Index shows global citizens how they can open their lives to new opportunities, giving them the freedom to travel, work and do business with confidence in a volatile world increases.” says Natalia Rincón, researcher at Nomad Capitalist
Europe did well overall, taking 8 of the top 10 places on the Nomad Passport Index. Ireland and Portugal came in second and third respectively, followed by Luxembourg and Finland. The UAE, Netherlands, Norway, Germany and New Zealand rounded out the Top 10, with all of these countries offering excellent opportunities for both visa-free travel and a good reputation on the world stage.
Switzerland also dominates other popular global rankings
Not only is Switzerland located in the heart of Europe and considered one of the safest countries in the world according to the Berkshire Hathaway State of Travel Insurance report, but it is also blessed with beautiful nature and a high standard of living – all fantastic things to take into account when considering citizenship. The American news and world report Switzerland also posted tops the rankings of the best countries in the world in 2023citing low corruption, security and economic stability.
Consider getting a stronger passport
If you don’t already have a strong passport, it may be worth considering how to obtain one through a digital nomad visa route, such as those offered by Spain and Portugal, or a golden visa, which in the case of Portugal requires a financial passport is required. investments in the art or cultural heritage of Portugal from approximately €200,000.
Whether we like it or not, the passport we have matters when it comes to the sense of global freedom and opportunity. For 2024, Switzerland, with its mix of stunning vistas, security, strong currency and visa-free options, is the best passport for digital nomads.
