New Zealand has one of the biggest gaps in the index between the number of countries that its citizens get visa-free access to versus the number of international visitors it allows to enter this country without a visa.<\/p>\n
Kiwis have access to 186 nations visa-free, putting our passport in sixth place on the latest Henley Passport Index. Photo \/123rf<\/p>\n
Henley & Partners chairman and index creator Christian Kaelin said visa reciprocity matters. <\/p>\n
\u201cNations that embrace openness and co-operation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
New Zealand ranked 73rd in openness, only allowing visa-free access to citizens from 61 countries. Benin, Ghana and Guyana also ranked 73rd.<\/p>\n
The United States fell out of the world\u2019s top 10 most powerful passports ranking<\/a> for the first time in 20 years. A decade ago, the US passport topped the index.<\/p>\n The drop coincides with the crackdown on US immigration and travel policies under the Trump administration. While American passport holders can currently access 180 destinations visa-free, the US itself allows only 46 other nationalities to enter without a visa.<\/p>\n Australia has the widest disparity between visa-free access and openness on the index, followed by the US, which is just ahead of Canada, New Zealand and Japan. <\/p>\n Singapore maintained its reputation for having the world\u2019s \u201cmost powerful passport\u201d, occupying the top spot, followed by South Korea in second and Japan in third.<\/p>\n This year New Zealand edged in front of Australia, which is tied for seventh alongside the Czech Republic, Malta and Poland.<\/p>\n