If you ’re American , your nationality will open many doors — but not all of them , according to the 2016 Visa Restrictions Index . The yearly tilt , released by London - based consulting firmHenley and Partnersand the International Air Transport Association , order the countries that have the most traveling freedom , based on how many body politic its citizens can confab without a visa or by receiving one after they land . This twelvemonth , CNN report , America is in fourth place , down from its first - place rank in both 2014 and 2015 . And the new leader of the pack ? Germany .
German passport holders can enter 177 out of 218 countries and territories without first receive a visa . Coming in 2nd is Sweden ’s pass , which allows tourists entrance to 176 countries . And splice for third with 175 are Finland , France , Italy , Spain , and the United Kingdom . U.S. travelers can only enroll 174 countries , the same number as voyagers from Belgium , Denmark , and the Netherlands .
Curious how these ranking were formed ? According to CNN , who utter with a representative from Henley and Partners , visa essential are affected by “ diplomatic relationships between the state , reciprocal visa arrangement , security peril , or risk of infringement of visa terms . ”
Despite the U.S. pass ’s mooring to 4th berth , USA Todayreportsthat no country on its top 10 tilt ( which bewilderingly admit 28 countries ) expend more than three places . This suggest “ that overall , visa - free access code is improving around the worldly concern , ” Henley & Partners enounce in a instruction .
Still , it ’s ameliorate at a slower pace for some countries . Afghanistan remains the country with the " bad pass , " allowing visa - detached travel in only 25 rural area . Meanwhile , Pakistan came in at 29 , Iraq at 30 , Somalia at 31 , and Syria at 32 . desire to see how your recommendation stack up ? Check outthe full list online .
[ h / tCNN ]
