The idea of marrying someone for their passport has crossed more than a few minds over the years.

I’ve heard friends talking about how German, American or British passports are a plus when deciding whether or not to swipe right on Tinder.

As recently as 2015, America held the top spot for the most powerful passport in the world. The power of the passport is determined by how many countries it grants access to without a visa.

Singapore has been in the top spot for the last while, but residence advisory firm Henley & Partners’ recently released 2018 Henley Passport Index reveals a new top dog.

Here’s Forbes:

Japan was thrust into the top spot when Myanmar opened its doors to the nation last week, the latest step in granting Japanese citizens visa-free access to a remarkable 190 countries around the world. The move knocked Singapore, the reigning champion, into second place, while Germany, which began 2018 with the world’s strongest passport, now sits tied with France and South Korea for third.

The Henley Passport index is based on International Air Transport Association data, and enhanced by independent research and expert input. The list is updated throughout the year.

For the most part, Japanese and American citizens have access to the same set of countries, with just a few notable exceptions. Japanese citizens do not need a visa to enter any of China, India, Uzbekistan, Vietnam or Myanmar, while Americans need a visa for all of them.

The United Arab Emirates has risen from 62nd place in 2006 to 21st place in 2018, which makes it the most powerful passport in the Middle East. China has also climbed in the rankings, climbing 14 spots since the start of 2017.

You can see how the top and bottom five compare here:

South Africa ranks 52nd overall, with our passport allowing us visa-free access to 102 countries. Here they are courtesy of BusinessTech:

Good to know when planning your next visit abroad.

The passport index isn’t only useful for making travel plans, though. It also provides interesting insight into global power relations.

While North American and Western European nations certainly perform well, this year’s Henley Passport Index may be just another subtle indicator that the global centers of power are moving east. In 2015, U.K. and U.S. passports were the most powerful globally; today, the top two spots reside firmly in Asia.

You can see the full list of the most powerful passports in the world HERE. The top 10 are as follows:

1. Japan
2. Singapore
3. France, Germany, South Korea
4. Denmark, Finland, Italy, Spain, Sweden
5. Austria, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom, United States
6. Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Switzerland
7. Australia, Greece, Malta
8. Czech Republic, New Zealand
9. Iceland
10. Hungary, Malaysia, Slovenia

Looks like Asia, both economically and politically, is the one to watch.

[source:forbes&businesstech]