Russia has fallen four spots in three months in a ranking of countries whose citizens enjoy the most freedom of travel abroad, according to a quarterly rating of passport “strength.”
The country had tied for 47th place in the January-March index compiled by the Henley & Partners residence and citizenship planning firm, with 118 destinations available to its passport holders.
In April-June, Russia tied for 51st with Bosnia-Herzegovina. Both countries’ passport holders can now travel to 116 destinations without a visa or by obtaining a visa on arrival.
Russia fell in the ranking because Djibouti and Benin now require Russians to obtain e-visas instead of visas on arrival, Russia’s Kommersant business daily reported.
Russia remains third among post-Soviet countries, behind Ukraine with 126 available destinations and Moldova with 119.
Henley & Partners ranks the strength of 199 different passports based on the availability of visa-free or visa on arrival travel to 227 destination countries.
Japan and Singapore shared the top spot with 189 destinations available to their passport holders visa-free or on arrival.
Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan held the last three spots, with 29, 27 and 25 destinations extending relaxed visa rules to their citizens respectively.
