Fri, Mar 13, 2026 page8

• Taiwan improves on passport rankings

  • By Roger Lo 羅傑
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  The latest global passport ranking showed Taiwan’s passport has made modest progress with regard to travel convenience.

  Singapore continued to rank first in the world, with citizens enjoying visa-free access to 192 nations, the latest statistics from the Henley Passport Index show. Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates tied for second place, each with visa-free access to 187 destinations. In the latest rankings released on Tuesday, Taiwan’s passport ranked 31st globally, allowing visa-free access to 134 nations. This marked an improvement of one place, a slight increase compared with its rankings in the previous two years.

  Passport rankings are often regarded as an important indicator of a nation’s level of international trust. When deciding whether to grant visa-free entry, governments consider a diverse range of factors from diplomatic relations to public security conditions, the risk of illegal immigration and the extent of economic exchanges. Therefore, an improvement in passport ranking not only means an improvement in travel convenience, but also symbolizes the international community’s level of trust in that nation’s citizens and its overall institutional stability.

  In the long term, Taiwan’s passport ranking has demonstrated steady improvement. The number of visa-free destinations has gradually increased, illustrating Taiwan’s accumulated achievements in international exchanges and trade cooperation. Particularly in the realms of tourism, business and academic exchanges, visa-free arrangements significantly reduce the administrative costs associated with entry and exit procedures, making the movement of businesses and talent more convenient. For an economy that is highly dependent on international markets, such convenience carries tangible value.

  However, Taiwan still possesses a noticeable gap compared with the world’s leading nations. This disparity is not merely a matter of diplomatic technique, it also reflects the international political environment and Taiwan’s unique international status. Some nations still take political and diplomatic factors into account when setting visa policies, which creates additional constraints for Taiwan when negotiating visa-free arrangements.

  If Taiwan hopes to further enhance the value of its passport, there are several policy directions worth pursuing.

  First, Taiwan should continue deepening bilateral relations with major economies, establishing mutual trust through economic cooperation and cultural exchanges. When cross-border travel becomes frequent and risks manageable, nations are generally more willing to relax visa policies.

  Second, Taiwan should strengthen its entry-exit management and traveler credibility systems. When considering visa-free policies, many nations pay particular attention to issues such as visa overstay and illegal immigration. If Taiwan continues to maintain good traveler records and effective border management, it would help to reduce other nations’ concerns.

  Furthermore, Taiwan should promote cooperation on digital visas and smart border systems. Although some nations might not offer full visa-free access, mechanisms such as electronic visas or expedited border clearance could significantly improve travel convenience.

  Lastly, the government could also strengthen overseas tourism promotion and cultural outreach.

  When Taiwanese travelers build a positive international image, and stimulate tourism and business exchanges, it would indirectly increase other nations’ willingness to accept visitors from Taiwan.

  Roger Lo is a freelancer.

  Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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