The Best Passport for Expats to Own in 2024 (2024)

What is the absolute best passport for expats to have in 2024? That would be Germany. It might not be the answer you expected, but our Global Passport Index uncovered this surprise after a year-long quest to find the world’s best passport for expats. The German passport scores highly for its travel freedoms, investment opportunities, and quality of life.

Read on to discover how Germany came in first place, with a detailed breakdown of what makes the German passport so appealing for expats.

We use quantitative data like composite indicators to evaluate specific criteria that make certain passports so attractive. The ranking is based on data from various international institutions and multilateral organizations such as The World Bank, the World Economic Forum, and the Sustainable Development Report, and is bolstered by senior analysts.

Learn more by taking a look at our Global Passport Index.

The Best Passport for Expats

As an expat, a powerful passport goes a long way. Not only can it help you to easily hop from country to country around the world with next to no visa restrictions, but it can also enable you to do business, invest, relocate or buy real estate in the country you have nationality in. Not to mention, you have unfettered access to an excellent quality of life.

Keeping these considerations in mind, why then is the United States the best passport for expats?

Germany as the best passport for expats

With the foreign-born accounting for 13 percent of the total population, Germany is one of the most popular and accessible destinations for expats in Europe. The country is a wonderful place to make a home, as well as to hold a passport, with a high quality of life and excellent infrastructure. The passport of Germany allows visa-free travel to 174 countries worldwide. The country has advanced infrastructure, a high quality of living, and is located in the heart of Europe, making international travel extremely easy.

Germany scores:

3rd in the Enhanced Mobility Index

11th in the Investment Index

5th in the Quality of Life Index

To understand the methodology behind the result, check out our Global Passport Index Methodology.

Other Best Passports for Expats

Some other best passports for expats to own include:

View the full ranking here.

The United States

The United States has the second strongest passport. The country offers great investment opportunities, enhanced mobility, and a relatively high quality of living. The country allows visa-free access to 173 countries, and the other 24 countries require a visa.

Since the USA performed well in each indicator, it has a high ranking in 2024. While the Quality of Life Index score is lower than usual, this is made up for by the country’s investment opportunities and travel freedoms.

The United States offers the perfect balance between work, play, and relaxation. From world-class education institutions and high quality of life to a thriving economic market with dynamic investment opportunities, a United States passport gives expats the best of both worlds. A US passport provides visa-free access to 173 countries around the world, making it particularly easy for remote workers to travel abroad.

In addition, the USA ranks highly in markets and innovation, with a GNI of $70.480 and personal taxation of 37 percent, making the US a favorable choice for investors.

The opportunities to invest in the country are ripe and backed by government-led visa programs like the EB5 Visa program and the E2 Visa program. With a transparent legal system, robust infrastructure, and investment incentives, it’s easy to understand the US’s passport appeal.

Sweden

Sweden deservedly ranks high on our list. The country has a high level of personal freedom and a strong global reputation. This year it ranked as having the third-best passport thanks to visa-free travels to 174 countries, second place in the Quality of Living Index, eighth place in the Enhanced Mobility Index, and 25th place in the Investment Index.

Denmark

One of the happiest countries in the World, Denmark boasts a high place on our list. Expats here are generally pleased with the Danish system: Good quality of life, a strong economy, excellent work-life balance, education, and digitization. As a result, this country has been placed third position in our Quality of Living Index.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands is fifth in the top ten. The Netherlands has an outstanding passport and has a wonderful strategic position in the EU. The country stands in sixth position on the Quality of Living Index, which is proven by the country’s popularity among expats.

Finland

Northern Europe is home to some of the world’s best passports, and Finland is no exception. A Finnish passport offers visa-free travel to 174 countries, ranking fourth in the Enhanced Mobility Index, first in the Quality of Living Index, and 38th in the Investment Index.

The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a fantastic place to visit. In the UK, you can enjoy a high standard of living thanks to a world-class infrastructure that includes an enormous public transportation system and the National Health Service. By obtaining a UK passport you are free to visit 172 countries without a visa.

Canada

Canada is a very safe place, and many expats are drawn to the high standard of living it provides. Cities like Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver have multicultural communities that are open-minded and where locals are accustomed to rubbing shoulders with individuals from all over the world.

Norway

Norwegians are known for being a little reserved and their country for being one of the most costly in the world. But still, it is one of the richest and most beautiful as well. A strong and stable economy, rich natural sources, and good people make the country a favorite with expats, not to mention the fact that it is very safe and very well organized. This is why Norway holds nonth position in our list, offering visa-free access to 173 countries.

Switzerland

There’s a lot more to Switzerland than spending your life on a ski slope, and the complexity of this one-of-a-kind country makes a difference. According to our Global Passport Index, Switzerland stands in 30th place in the Quality of Life Index, 19th place in the Enhanced Mobility Index, and 8th place in the Investment Index, which makes it worth living in.

The Best Passport for Expats to Own in 2024 (1)

The best passport for expats of all nationalities

Most countries that offer ctizenship by investment have a list of nationalities that are banned from applying for economic citizenship. It means that if you are from a country such as, for example, Afghanistan, Russia, Belarus, or Syria, you will probably find some difficulty in applying for economic citizenship programs. But Grenada, in the Caribbean, decided in 2022 to ban their banned nationalities list and to assess all CBI applications received, dealing with each case individually.

It means that regardless of where you come from, as long as your sources of income and activities are legal, and you can go through their due diligence process, then you and your family have a good chance of obtaining a Caribbean passport from Grenada.

Benefits of a Second Passport

Benefits are ripe for individuals seeking a powerful second passport — from enhanced travel mobility and unfettered access to business and educational opportunities to asset diversification and improved safety and security.

Other benefits include:

  • Personal freedom guarantee
  • Dual citizenship means twice the opportunities to live, work, study, and do business in two countries (without the need to renounce your previous citizenship).
  • Certain passports grant access to the European Union
  • Passport can be handed down to future generations, securing your family’s safety
  • Ultimate backup plan in case of crisis like the coronavirus pandemic

How to Get a Second Passport as an Expat

Long gone are the days where you can only obtain citizenship by marriage, birth, descent, and naturalization. Nowadays, you can obtain a second passport through programs like citizenship by investment and residency by investment. By making a qualifying investment in a nation’s infrastructure or economy, qualified and vetted individuals are granted second passports or second residency, and can, in turn, enjoy personal freedoms and financial prosperity while simultaneously protecting their assets.

Minimum Investment

To get a powerful second passport, simply apply for one via citizenship by investment scheme. If in doubt, visit our site to get a comprehensive overview of what countries offer economic citizenship and residency by investment. As a boutique investment migration consultancy, we’re focused on finding the right residency or citizenship by investment scheme for individuals wishing to secure their future and become global citizens.

Here are just some of the countries we offer passport by investment or second residency programs in:

  • Golden Visa Portugal
  • Golden Visa Spain
  • Golden Visa Greece
  • Turkey Citizenship By Investment
  • Dominica Citizenship By Investment
  • St Lucia Citizenship By Investment
  • St Kitts and Nevis Passport Guide
  • Antigua and Barbuda Passport

Curious to know more? Why not get in touch and see how one of our investment migration consultations can help? Contact us by clicking here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What countries let you buy citizenship?

Some programs let you make a government donation or a real estate investment in return for full citizenship and a passport (the minimum citizenship by investment program donation is $100,000). They are called Citizenship by Investment programs and include countries such as Dominica, Turkey, Grenada, Greece, Malta, the USA, Germany, and others.

What is the most respected passport in the world?

A Global Citizen Solutions Global Passport Index ranks Germany as the top passport in the world for aspiring global citizens. The country ranked number one and has visa-free access to 174 destinations worldwide.

What country is the easiest to get citizenship?

The countries with the easiest passport to get are Italy, Ireland, Poland, and Hungary. These four countries all have a generous and accommodating approach to citizenship by descent. Besides this, Dominica, St. Lucia, and Antigua and Barbuda are the cheapest Caribbean countries to obtain citizenship by investment, with each having a $100,000 investment pathway.

What is the safest passport to have?

According to our ranking, Germany is the best passport in the world for aspiring global citizens. You can read the full list here.

What is the cheapest passport to buy in 2024?

The most affordable Citizenship by Investment programs available in 2024 are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and St Lucia, all of them in the Caribbean. The minimum investment necessary for a single applicant starts at $100,000.

The Best Passport for Expats to Own in 2024 (2024)

FAQs

What is the most powerful passport in 2024? ›

Best passports in the world
RankCountryTotal
1Switzerland109.0
2Ireland108.5
3Portugal107.5
4TLuxembourg107.0
48 more rows
Mar 5, 2024

What is the strongest passport you can buy? ›

The most powerful passports in 2024
  • Greece, Malta, Switzerland (190 destinations)
  • Australia, Czechia, New Zealand, Poland (189 destinations)
  • Canada, Hungary, United States (188 destinations)
  • Estonia, Lithuania (187 destinations)
  • Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (186 destinations)
  • Iceland (185 destinations)
Jan 31, 2024

What is the most reliable passport in the world? ›

Passport Strength in 2024

The world's top passport is shared in a six-way tie, with visa-free access to 194 countries. 🇺🇸 U.S. While Japan and Singapore ranked first for the last five years, four European countries—France, Germany, Italy, and Spain— climbed the ranks this year.

Which country is easiest to get citizenship by investment? ›

Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment is one of the easiest countries to get dual citizenship by investment. The Antigua and Barbuda CBI grants qualifying individuals citizenship rights and an Antigua and Barbuda passport in three to six months in exchange for the starting investment amount of $100,000.

What is the most powerless passport in the world? ›

Afghanistan, with the least powerful passport, has access to just 12% of countries globally. By contrast, top-ranking passports such as Japan, have visa waivers to 85% of the world. This imbalance can be explained by political factors, including the Taliban's return to power in 2021, along with economic reasons.

What is the hardest passport to obtain? ›

The Hardest Countries To Get Citizenship
  • Qatar. Qatar, nestled in the Persian Gulf and known for its immense wealth driven by the natural gas industry, is renowned for the stringent requirements for obtaining citizenship. ...
  • Vatican City. ...
  • Liechtenstein. ...
  • Bhutan. ...
  • Saudi Arabia. ...
  • Kuwait. ...
  • Switzerland. ...
  • China.
Sep 22, 2023

Which country is best to invest in 2024? ›

Officially the best country to invest in: Denmark leads this year's Global Opportunity Index. Denmark has scored the top spot in the Global Opportunity Index 2024, surpassing Sweden for first place!

Which is the best permanent residency in the world? ›

Top 10 programs for:
RankProgram
1stCanadaCanada Reputation: 10
1stNew ZealandNew Zealand Reputation: 10
1stSwitzerlandSwitzerland Reputation: 10
2ndAustriaAustria Reputation: 9
6 more rows

Which passport has the most privileges? ›

10 most powerful passports
  • France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, Singapore.
  • Finland, South Korea, Sweden.
  • Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands.
  • Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom.
  • Greece, Malta, Switzerland.
  • Australia, Czechia, New Zealand, Poland.
  • Canada, Hungary, United States.
  • Estonia, Lithuania.
Jan 12, 2024

Is the US passport powerful? ›

Consulting firm Henley & Partners released the 2024 ranking of the world's most powerful passports. Two Asian and four European countries were tied for having the world's most powerful passport. The US ranked in seventh place, alongside Canada and Hungary, and behind 25 countries.

What countries can a US passport not go to? ›

State Department Level 4 Countries (April 17, 2024)
AfghanistanBelarus
IranIraq
LibyaMali
North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)Russia
SomaliaSouth Sudan
5 more rows
Apr 29, 2024

How many citizenships can you have? ›

Yes, there is no restriction on obtaining multiple citizenship and passports through the legal citizenship programs. Many citizens from the United States invest in multiple programs to have more than one citizenship and passport.

Which country gives you the fastest citizenship? ›

Vanuatu is the fastest country to obtain citizenship, with its citizenship program. The process can be completed in as little as one month. However, it's worth noting that Argentina also has a relatively fast process, where citizenship could be granted in as short as two years.

Which country is the easiest to get residency? ›

16 Easiest Countries to get a Residence Permit
  • Malta. Minimum Investment Cost Rank: 7. ...
  • Costa Rica. Minimum Investment Cost Rank: 6. ...
  • Cyprus. Minimum Investment Cost Rank: 13. ...
  • Malaysia. Minimum Investment Cost Rank: 9. ...
  • Canada. Minimum Investment Cost Rank: 1. ...
  • Panama. Minimum Investment Cost Rank: 5. ...
  • Spain. ...
  • Greece.
Mar 29, 2024

What is the easiest country to get dual citizenship? ›

Different countries have different rules, but the easiest countries to get dual citizenship are states like Turkey, Vanuatu, Grenada, and Dominica. They offer citizenship by investment that can be obtained in 2—8 months.

How many countries can a US passport enter without a visa? ›

As of 2024, holders of a United States passport may travel to 189 countries and territories without a travel visa, or with a visa on arrival. The United States passport currently ranks 6th in terms of travel freedom, according to the Henley Passport Index. It is also ranked 7th by the Global Passport Power Rank.

How strong is the Mexican passport? ›

We rank the Mexico passport as number 15 in the world in line with our Passport Index ratings. As a Mexico citizen, you'll be able to travel visa-free to 165 countries.

How strong is a China passport? ›

We rank the China passport as number 51 in the world in line with our Passport Index ratings. As a China citizen, you'll be able to travel visa-free to 107 countries.

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