Canada's passport ranks among the world's most powerful documents, according to a new report.
Arton Capital has released its 2024 Passport Index round-up, which ranks passports from around the world based on how many countries their holders can visit visa-free, with a visa on arrival, an eVisa (if issued within three days), or with an Electronic Travel Authorization, using 2023 data.
The United Arab Emirates has the world's most powerful travel document, with a global mobility score of 180 and its citizens gaining visa-free access to a whopping 123 countries in 2024.
There is a five-country split for the second spot, with residents of Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands gaining access to over 120 countries visa-free.
Third place was a four-way tie between Finland, Sweden, Luxembourg, and Austria, with a global mobility score just one point below second place.
China saw the largest gain in passport power on the Index, rising by an "impressive" nine points. However, the world's most populous country still has a long way to climb, ranking 52nd overall.
On the other end of the spectrum, Syrian passport holders can only visit six countries visa-free, with a global mobility score of 40.
The Canadian passport was ranked seventh in the world, with a global mobility score of 173, and its passport holders have visa-free access to 116 globally. They can also get a visa on arrival in 51 countries and will require an Electronic Travel Authorization in six.
Canadian passport waiting times and changes
Over the pandemic, locals expressed waiting in lines for upwards of 11 hours and then getting turned away, while others camped outside of Service Canada locations overnight. One woman flew to Edmonton to get her passport faster.
Passport waiting times have dramatically improved, but people who want a travel document with the new Canadian passport design may want to wait a few months.
Find out more information about passport wait times, including what service options are available and how long you can expect to wait at passport offices across Metro Vancouver.
