South African passport drops three places on Henley Passport Index

The South African passport was strongest in 2007 and 2008 when it was ranked 35th.

Picture: iStock

The South African passport has dropped three places in the 2020 ranking of the Henley Passport Index.

Based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Henley Passport Index has ranked Japan first for the third year running, with the country’s citizens able to access 191 destinations without having to obtain a visa in advance.

Singapore took second place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 190 – dropping one place from 2019, while South Korea and Germany took third place with access to 189 destinations.

Dr Christian H. Kaelin, chairperson of Henley & Partners said: “Asian countries’ dominance of the top spots is a clear argument for the benefits of open-door policies and the introduction of mutually beneficial trade agreements. 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.”

Also read: Nigeria introduces visa on arrival for all Africans

Unfortunately, South Africa has again slipped from 53rd place in 2019 to 56th in 2020. The passport was ranked 52nd in the world in 2018.

The South African passport was strongest in 2007 and 2008, when it was ranked 35th. Despite slipping three places, the Seychelles passport is the best in Africa with access to 151 destinations. It was ranked 29th.

These are 100 visa-free countries South African passport holders they can travel to:

Note: Those with asterisks require visa on arrival.

Asia:

Cambodia *
Hong Kong (SAR China)
Indonesia
Kyrgyzstan *
Laos *
Macao (SAR China)
Malaysia
Maldives *
Nepal *
Philippines
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka **
Tajikistan *
Thailand
Timor-Leste *

Europe:

Ireland
Kosovo
Russian Federation

Africa:

Angola
Benin
Botswana
Cape Verde Islands *
Comores Islands *
Eswatini (Swaziland)
Ethiopia *
Gabon
Ghana *
Guinea-Bissau *
Kenya
Lesotho
Madagascar *
Malawi
Mauritania *
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Reunion
Rwanda *
Senegal
Seychelles *
Sierra Leone *
Somalia *
St. Helena *
Tanzania
Togo *
Tunisia
Uganda *
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Oceania:

Cook Islands
Fiji
Marshall Islands *
Micronesia
Niue
Palau Islands *
Samoa *
Tuvalu *
Vanuatu

Caribbean:

Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Haiti
Jamaica
Montserrat
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands

Americas:

Argentina
Belize
Bolivia *
Brazil
Chile
Costa Rica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Falkland Islands
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela