Luxembourg topped the 2019 Nomad Passport Index, a ranking that evaluates passports beyond simple visa‑free travel. The index combines five criteria—visa‑free access, tax freedom, dual‑citizenship permissibility, global perception, and personal freedom—to produce a composite score for each of the world’s 199 passports.
How the index is calculated
| Criterion | What it measures | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Visa‑free travel | Number of countries that can be entered without a visa or with a visa‑on‑arrival. | Directly affects convenience for frequent travelers. |
| Tax freedom | Extent to which a passport holder can avoid citizenship‑based taxation and benefit from favorable tax regimes. | Crucial for expatriates and digital nomads who earn abroad. |
| Dual‑citizenship | Whether the country allows citizens to hold additional nationalities without renouncing the original one. | Increases flexibility and reduces dependence on a single government. |
| Perception | How the passport is viewed internationally, including any stigma that may trigger extra scrutiny at borders. | Influences ease of entry and treatment by immigration officials. |
| Personal freedom | Civil liberties, press freedom, and the ability to travel without conscription or other mandatory obligations. | Reflects the overall quality of life and freedom of movement for citizens. |
Each factor is weighted, with visa‑free travel receiving the highest weight, but the other four categories can significantly shift a passport’s overall ranking.
2019 Top‑10 passports
- Luxembourg – Strong visa access, favorable tax environment, permissive dual‑citizenship rules, high global perception, and broad personal freedoms.
- Sweden – Tied with Switzerland; slightly lower personal‑freedom score after re‑introducing conscription.
- Switzerland – Tied with Sweden; similar strengths across all five criteria.
- Ireland – Robust visa‑free list, EU residency rights, and positive perception.
- Belgium – Straightforward tax residency process and permissive dual‑citizenship policy.
- Portugal – Attractive tax incentives for non‑habitual residents and easy dual‑citizenship.
- Italy – Strong travel freedom and solid personal‑freedom metrics.
- France – Wide visa‑free access and high global perception.
- Spain – Good balance of travel, tax, and personal‑freedom scores.
- Finland – High personal freedoms and favorable perception.
All ten are European nations, reflecting the continent’s generally permissive tax regimes, dual‑citizenship allowances, and positive international reputations.
The United States in perspective
Despite offering visa‑free entry to roughly 180 countries, the U.S. passport fell to around the 40th position because:
- Taxation: U.S. citizens are subject to worldwide income tax regardless of residence, earning the lowest possible score (10/50) for tax freedom.
- Perception: The passport carries a moderate stigma in certain regions, lowering its perception score.
- Personal freedom: Concerns over press freedom and extensive regulatory requirements for expatriates further depress the score.
Consequently, the U.S. ranks alongside Hong Kong and Romania, whose passports have fewer visa‑free destinations but benefit from more favorable tax policies and better global perception.
Emerging trends
- South Africa is moving toward a more restrictive tax system, which could diminish its future ranking.
- Norway and Austria are loosening dual‑citizenship rules, earning modest credit in the index.
Overall, the 2019 Nomad Passport Index underscores that a passport’s value is multidimensional. While visa‑free travel remains important, tax considerations, the ability to hold multiple nationalities, global perception, and civil liberties collectively determine the practical freedom a passport provides.
