The Canadian passport is the world’s sixth most powerful, alongside Belgium, Switzerland and Ireland, allowing visa-free travel to 185 countries.
Currently, the world’s most powerful passport in terms of visa-free access is Japan’s, which covers 190 countries.
Comparable countries such as the U.K. and the U.S. have slightly more powerful passports than Canada, offering visa-free access to 186 countries.
Which Are The World’s Most Powerful Passports?
1) Japan (190)
2) Singapore (189)
3) Germany, France, South Korea (188)
4) Denmark, Finland, Italy, Sweden, Spain (187)
5) Norway, United Kingdom, Austria, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, United States (186)
6) Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Ireland (185)
7) Australia, Greece, Malta (183)
8) New Zealand, Czech Republic (182)
9) Iceland (181)
10) Hungary, Slovenia, Malaysia (180)
The so-called ‘power’ of a country’s passport is indicative of its standing among the largest and most developed nations in the world.
Canada regularly features among the countries with the world’s most powerful passports. Visa-free access is seen as a measurement of the freedom of citizens of a certain country.
Canada has recently added Mexicans, Romanians and Bulgarians to the list of nationalities it allows to enter the country without a pre-arranged visa.
When flying into Canada, holder of visa-exempt passports are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization in advance of their travel.
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New Canada Passport Rules Aimed at Protecting Children
Earlier in 2018, Canada’s federal government made important changes to passport rules with the aim of protecting children under 16 and preventing the document being misused.
Key changes include giving power to the Canada immigration minister to issue without the need for an application, or refuse to issue, a passport to a child, if they believe it is in the child’s best interest.
The minister can also cancel a child’s passport if they believe it is in the child’s best interest.
Under the changes, the minister is also given the power to refuse to issue a passport if they believe it will be used by someone other than the bearer.
Gender Neutrality
These changes come after the federal government implemented gender neutrality on passports and other immigration documents in August 2017.
Those who do not identify as male or female can now indicate their gender with an ‘X’.
The move comes after the Canadian Human Rights Act was amended to add gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination.
The Canadian government says it will work towards a ‘consistent federal approach’ when it comes to gender neutrality.
Rules For Dual Citizens
Dual citizens must make sure they are aware of Canada’s passport rules.
Following the introduction of the eTA in 2016, dual citizens now require a Canadian passport to fly into the country.
When the new rule was introduced, Canadian missions all over the world were inundated with Canadian passport requests. Previously, dual citizens could use the passport of their other country of citizenship.
The eTA rules forced thousands of dual citizens to apply for a Canadian passport.