Canadian Passport Ranking: Canada Places Seventh Among the World’s Strongest Passports
August 1, 2024 Canada 8 min read
The 2024 global passport rankings have just been released, with some notable shifts. The Canadian passport ranking, however, holds steady: Canada remains in the top 10 strongest passports in the world.
The Canadian passport holds seventh place worldwide
Henley & Partners recently published its 2024 global passport ranking, the Henley Passport Index, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). According to the report, the Canadian passport once again ranks 7th among the world’s strongest passports.
The ranking draws on several criteria, including the number of countries a passport holder can enter without a visa. The Canadian passport offers visa-free access to 187 countries and territories. The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Malta share seventh place with Canada.
The Canadian passport consistently ranks among the top 10 strongest passports in the world (Source: Henley & Partners)
Canadian passport holders can travel to many countries without a visa, which opens doors for business, travel, and study. Canada also permits dual citizenship, so Canadian citizens may hold and use another passport alongside their Canadian one. This allows them to draw on the advantages of each country and live as global citizens.
Canadian citizens also benefit from the protection of the Government of Canada, both at home and abroad. Even when overseas, Canadian citizens can seek protection and assistance from the Government of Canada through its embassies, consulates, and other offices around the world.
The strongest passports in the world in 2024
The 2024 ranking brought a notable shift: Singapore now holds the No. 1 spot alone, after 6 countries had previously shared it, with visa-free access to 195 destinations — the highest figure recorded in the 19 years the index has tracked global travel freedom. The other five — Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain — slipped to second place, with visa-free access to 192 countries and territories. The United States, despite its strong global presence, fell to 8th place this year, with visa-free access to 186 destinations. Afghanistan ranks last, with visa-free access to just 26 destinations.
The top 10 strongest passports at a glance:
- Singapore – 195 destinations
- Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain – 192 destinations
- Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden – 191 destinations
- Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom – 190 destinations
- Australia, Portugal – 189 destinations
- Greece, Poland – 188 destinations
- Canada, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta – 187 destinations
- United States – 186 destinations
- Estonia, Lithuania, the United Arab Emirates – 185 destinations
- Iceland, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia – 184 destinations
In Southeast Asia, Malaysia ranks next after Singapore, in 12th place with 182 visa-free destinations, followed by Brunei (19th, 166 destinations), Thailand (60th, 82), Indonesia (65th, 76), the Philippines (73rd, 67), and Cambodia (86th, 53). Vietnam ranks 88th with 51 visa-free destinations, ahead of Laos and Myanmar.
How to get a Canadian passport
To hold a Canadian passport, you must first become a Canadian citizen. For those not born in Canada, the process usually begins with obtaining permanent residence through an immigration program. Once you have been physically present in Canada for at least 3 years, you may meet the physical presence requirement to apply for citizenship.
Other citizenship requirements include:
- Be a Canadian permanent resident.
- File your income taxes, if required, and pay any taxes owed for your period of residence.
- Pass the citizenship test on the rights and responsibilities of citizens and knowledge of Canada.
- Meet the language requirement: at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in English (roughly equivalent to IELTS 4.0) or French.
- Have no criminal record inside or outside Canada.
At the time of writing, citizenship applications took approximately 7 months to process, from submission to the grant of citizenship.
At the time of writing, business immigration was drawing strong interest from international applicants, particularly the Start-up Visa Program and the provincial entrepreneur streams. These programs can offer a pathway to permanent residence and, in time, Canadian citizenship, with requirements suited to the profile and background of investors who are entrepreneurs or senior managers.
If you are interested in Canadian business immigration, contact IMM Group or leave your details below. Our experienced advisors will provide detailed guidance and help assess your application’s prospects of success. We are committed to keeping your personal data confidential and will use the information you provide only to advise on your family’s application.
IMM Group
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