Citizens of Denmark, Finland, U.S. have most freedom to travel without visas

Citizens of Denmark, Finland, U.S. have most freedom to travel without visas
15:50:28 EST Feb 2, 2006

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) - Citizens of Denmark, Finland and the United States enjoy the greatest freedom to travel without needing visas, according to a study published Thursday.

The report, compiled by the Zurich-based firm Henley & Partners AG, found that Danes, Finns and Americans can travel to 130 countries or territories without a visa.

These three are followed by Germany, Ireland and Sweden - whose citizens can visit 129 countries without a visa - then Britain, France, Italy and Japan (128).

Canada was tied with Austria, Luxembourg and New Zealand in 16th place on the list. Citizens of these countries can visit 125 states without a visa.

"In today's globalized world, visa restrictions play an important role in controlling the movement of foreign nationals across borders," said Henley & Partners, which advises private and business clients on international tax and real estate issues. "Almost all countries now require visas from certain non-nationals who wish to enter their territory."

Afghanistan came in last place, with its citizens allowed free travel to just 12 countries. Internationally isolated Iran was next at 14, followed by Iraq, Myanmar and Somalia at 15.

Henley & Partners - which compiled the results by assessing some 40,000 combinations of countries and territories - said it was the first global ranking showing international freedom of travel.

"Visa requirements are also an expression of the relationships between individual nations, and generally reflect the relations and status of a country within the international community," the company said.

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Countries and territories of the world, ranked according to how many other states their citizens can visit without requiring a visa. The list is from a study compiled by Henley & Partners AG of Zurich.

1. Finland, 130.

(tie) Denmark, 130.

(tie) United States, 130.

4. Germany, 129.

(tie) Ireland, 129.

(tie) Sweden, 129.

7. Britain, 128.

(tie) France, 128.

(tie) Italy, 128.

(tie) Japan, 128.

11. Belgium, 127.

(tie) Norway, 127.

(tie) Spain, 127.

(tie) Switzerland, 127.

15. Netherlands, 126.

16. Austria, 125.

(tie) Canada, 125.

(tie) Luxembourg, 125.

(tie) New Zealand, 125.

20. Portugal, 123.

21. Singapore, 122.

22. Australia, 120.

(tie) Greece, 120.

(tie) Iceland, 120.

(tie) Malaysia, 120.

26. Liechtenstein, 116.

27. South Korea, 115.

(tie) Malta, 115.

29. Cyprus, 113.

30. Hong Kong, 110.

31. Chile, 109.

(tie) San Marino, 109.

33. Monaco, 108.

34. Poland, 106.

35. Slovenia, 105.

36. Israel, 104.

37. Argentina, 101.

(tie) Brunei, 101.

(tie) Hungary, 101.

40. Andorra, 99.

(tie) Brazil, 99.

(tie) Uruguay, 99.

43. Czech Republic, 98.

(tie) Mexico, 98.

45. Slovakia, 97.

46. Costa Rica, 95.

47. Lithuania, 94.

48. Venezuela, 92.

49. Estonia, 91.

(tie) Latvia, 91.

51. Vatican City, 87.

52. Croatia, 84.

53. Bolivia, 83.

(tie) Bulgaria, 83.

55. Guatemala, 82.

(tie) Panama, 82.

(tie) Paraguay, 82.

58. El Salvador, 81.

59. Honduras, 80.

60. Nicaragua, 75.

61. Romania, 73

62. Barbados, 71.

(tie) Bahamas, 71.

(tie) Macau, 71.

65. Trinidad and Tobago, 66.

66. South Africa, 65.

67. St.Vincent and Grenadines, 64.

68. St.Lucia, 63.

(tie) Antigua and Barbuda, 63.

70. St. Kitts-Nevis, 62.

71. Grenada, 60.

72. Belize, 58.

73. Jamaica, 57.

74. Solomon Islands, 54.

75. Guyana, 53.

(tie) Gambia, 53.

77. Dominica, 52.

(tie) Mauritius, 52.

(tie) Seychelles, 52.

(tie) Turkey, 52.

81. Lesotho, 51.

82. Tuvalu, 50.

83. Kiribati, 49.

(tie) Western Samoa, 49.

85. Botswana, 48.

(tie) Malawi, 48.

87. Fiji, 47.

(tie) Sierra Leone, 47.

(tie) Vanuatu, 47.

90. Kenya, 46.

(tie) Maldives, 46.

(tie) Swaziland, 46.

(tie) Tonga, 46.

94. Ghana, 45.

(tie) Zambia, 45.

96. Nauru, 44.

97. Taiwan, 42.

98. Ecuador, 41.

(tie) Namibia, 41.

(tie) Papua New Guinea, 41.

(tie) Peru, 41.

(tie) Tanzania, 41.

(tie) Zimbabwe, 41.

104. Suriname, 40.

105. Kuwait, 39.

(tie) Mauritania, 39.

(tie) Uganda, 39.

108. Bahrain, 38.

(tie) Mali, 38.

(tie) Tunisia, 38.

111. Guinea, 37.

(tie) Ivory Coast, 37.

(tie) Niger, 37.

(tie) Qatar, 37.

(tie) Senegal, 37.

116. Benin, 36.

(tie) Cape Verde, 36.

(tie) Marshall Islands, 36.

(tie) Oman, 36.

120. Burkina Faso, 35.

(tie) Nigeria, 35.

(tie) Russia, 35.

(tie) Togo, 35.

(tie) United Arab Emirates, 35.

125. Guinea-Bissau, 33.

(tie) Micronesia, 33.

(tie) Philippines, 33.

128. Belarus, 32.

(tie) Colombia, 32.

(tie) Palau Islands, 32.

(tie) Serbia-Montenegro, 32.

(tie) Ukraine, 32.

133. Liberia, 31.

(tie) Macedonia, 31.

(tie) Saudi Arabia, 31.

136. Morocco, 30.

137. Indonesia, 29.

(tie) Moldova, 29.

(tie) Thailand, 29.

140. Azerbaijan, 28.

(tie) Bangladesh, 28.

(tie) Central African Republic, 28.

(tie) Georgia, 28.

(tie) Kazakhstan, 28.

(tie) Kyrgyzstan, 28.

146. Armenia, 27.

(tie) Chad, 27.

(tie) Congo Brazzaville, 27.

(tie) Cuba, 27.

(tie) Tajikistan, 27.

151. Cameroon, 26.

152. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 25.

(tie) Dominican Republic, 25.

(tie) India, 25.

(tie) Madagascar, 25.

156. Egypt, 24.

(tie) Gabon, 24.

(tie) Mongolia, 24.

(tie) Uzbekistan, 24.

160. Algeria, 23.

(tie) Rwanda, 23.

162. Haiti, 22.

(tie) Mozambique, 22.

(tie) Sao Tome and Principe, 22.

(tie) Sri Lanka, 22.

166. East Timor, 21.

(tie) Jordan, 21.

168. Comores Islands, 20.

(tie) Equatorial Guinea, 20.

(tie) Eritrea, 20.

(tie) Laos, 20.

(tie) Nepal, 20.

173. Angola, 19.

(tie) Bhutan, 19.

(tie) Djibouti, 19.

(tie) Libya, 19.

(tie) Turkmenistan, 19.

178. Burundi, 18.

(tie) China, 18.

(tie) Ethiopia, 18.

(tie) North Korea, 18.

(tie) Vietnam, 18.

(tie) Yemen, 18.

184. Albania, 17.

(tie) Cambodia, 17.

(tie) Lebanon, 17.

(tie) Pakistan, 17.

(tie) Sudan, 17.

189. Congo, 16.

(tie) Syria, 16.

191. Iraq, 15.

(tie) Myanmar, 15.

(tie) Somalia, 15.

194. Iran, 14.

195. Afghanistan, 12.
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/060202/w020264.html