Passport Strength Gains Momentum in Eastern Europe

The Henley Passport Index measures the strength of a passport based on how freely its holder can travel around the world. According to the index, Polish citizens have seen significant improvement in their visa-free travel capabilities over the past decade and a half.

In 2010, Poles could travel visa-free to 145 countries. By contrast, Germans had access to 161 countries without a visa. British passports were even stronger, providing visa-free access to 166 countries. However, in recent years, Poland has caught up with Western Europe in terms of passport strength.

Today, Poles can travel visa-free to as many as 184 countries, putting them on par with Hungarians and Slovenians. Czechs, Slovaks, and citizens of the Baltic states have similar figures, just one or two countries lower. Romanians and Bulgarians can now also travel visa-free to 178 countries, while Ukrainian passports provide access to 142 destinations.

The EU has played an important role in liberalizing entry for countries covered by the Eastern Partnership, including Ukraine and Georgia. Other factors have contributed to increased passport strength, such as Asia's growing importance and the UAE's aggressive visa diplomacy.