Passport Index in Latin America

For some people, a passport is a portal to the world. For others, it is a barrier to the travel freedom they seek. Where do you fall on the mobility spectrum?

The Passport index Henley is the original ranking of all passports in the world based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa . The ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world's largest and most accurate database of travel information, and is enhanced by ongoing research from Henley & Partners.

How does the passport index work?

The index includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations. Updated quarterly, the Henley Passport Index is the most robust and reliable index of its kind. On a fixed date each year, Henley & Partners receives unique data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), which forms the basis of the Henley Passport Index . In order to maintain the accuracy of the data provided by IATA in the face of constant visa policy updates, and to create detailed visa lists for the 199 passports in our database, the Henley & Partners research team uses a digital system to match each passport with the 227 possible travel destinations. This research process continues throughout the year. It is combined with a rigorous monitoring system to detect relevant changes in visa policy.

Conditions and criteria

For each travel destination, if a visa is not required for passport holders from a country or territory, then a score with value = 1 is created for that passport. A score with value = 1 is also applied if passport holders are able to obtain a visa on arrival, visitor permit, or electronic travel authority (ETA) upon entry to the destination. These types of visas do not require government approval prior to departure, due to specific visa waiver programs in place.

When a visa is required, or when a passport holder must obtain a government-approved electronic visa (e-Visa) prior to departure, a score with value = 0 is assigned. A score with value = 0 is also assigned if passport holders need government approval prior to departure for a visa on arrival, a scenario we do not consider "visa free".

The total score of each passport is equal to the number of destinations for which a visa is not required (value = 1), under the conditions defined above.

Index assumes the following:

• the passport is valid;
• the passport is "normal" instead of diplomatic, emergency or temporary;
• the passport holder is an adult citizen of the issuing country, traveling alone rather than in a tourist group;
• the passport holder meets all the basic requirements for entry (for example, having a hotel reservation or having proof of sufficient funds);
• the passport holder does not meet any complex requirements for entry (for example, possession of a letter issued by the government);
• the passport holder has received all necessary vaccinations or vaccinations;
• the passport holder arrives and departs from the same airport;
• the passport holder seeks a short stay instead of a transit stay in the country or territory of destination;
• the duration of the short stay is from three days to several months;
• the port of entry is a major city or capital, where necessary;
• and the entry to the country of destination is for tourist or commercial reasons.

Henley Passport Index in Latin America