The topic of the value of possessing a Dutch passport has been under discussion for a while now.
The conversation gained momentum after a Ghanaian-born individual who recently renounced his citizenship to become Dutch, asserted that his Dutch passport holds more value than a PhD from the University of Ghana (UG).
Kofi Gabs, also known as Mr. Happiness, shared on the X platform that his Dutch passport provides him with effortless opportunities.
According to the Henley Passport Index for 2024, the Netherlands holds the third most powerful passport globally, granting its citizens visa-free access to 192 countries.
This index annually scrutinizes data on 199 passports and 227 travel destinations to determine which nationalities can access the most countries without requiring a visa.
Utilizing data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), the index awards one point to each passport for every country its holders can visit without a pre-departure visa, while countries necessitating a pre-arranged visa receive zero points.
While the official ranking is released in January, the Henley Passport Index updates quarterly to incorporate changes in immigration legislation.
In 2024, the Dutch passport secured joint third place alongside Ireland, Denmark, and Austria, an improvement from fourth place last year.
Dutch passport holders only need pre-departure visas for 34 countries, including Russia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, India, and Azerbaijan.
The most powerful passports, jointly ranking first, belong to France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain.
Conversely, the least powerful passports belong to Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen. Below are the top 10 most powerful passports in 2024, according to the Henley Passport Index.
According to the Henley Passport Index, these are the top 10 most powerful passports in 2024:
France (Joint first place)
Germany (Joint first place)
Italy (Joint first place)
Japan (Joint first place)
Singapore (Joint first place)
Spain (Joint first place)
Finland (Joint second place)
South Korea (Joint second place)
Sweden (Joint second place)
Austria (Joint third place)
Even AI recognizes the power of a Dutch passport over a PhD in Ghana. Kofi Gabs never lied. 😎 pic.twitter.com/8P4dbRmfhm
— Gbun! (@poeticdela_) June 6, 2024