The best passport to own in 2023 is revealed with a surprising nation listed at No. 1 and tough news for Aussie travellers
- Australian passport dropped down six places
- There are 199 nations listed, with Afghanistan last
The best passports to hold in 2023 have been revealed in a new global index, but it’s bad news for Aussie travellers as their passport slid down the list to 38th from 32nd.
There was a shock at the No. 1 travel document, with the list – compiled by consulting firm Nomad Capitalist – ranking the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on top.
The 199 countries included were ranked according to: visa-free travel opportunities, taxation of citizens, dual citizenship possibilities, perception and personal freedom.
The UAE, which includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi – familiar to many Australians as hub airports en route to Europe and the US – had an overall average score of 110.5.
Australia’s average score fell from 107.5 in 2022 to 101 in 2023, with the drop entirely due to the visa-free travel opportunities criteria falling from 185 to 172, while each of the other four factors stayed the same as they were last year.

The best passports to hold in 2023 have been revealed in a new global index, but it’s bad news for Aussie travellers as their passport (pictured) slid down the list to 38th from 32nd
Australia scored 20 on the taxation of citizens rank, 30 each for its international perception and personal freedom, and 50 for its dual citizenship possibilities.
In a breakdown of its ranking, Nomad Capitalist said ‘Australia allows citizens to relocate to avoid tax’ but that ‘citizens experience intermediate hostility’ abroad.
It also said that Australian citizens ‘have intermediate freedom’ and are ‘almost always allowed to hold other citizenships’.
There are 110 countries that Australia passport holders can enter without a visa, 56 that allow Australians to enter by getting a visa on arrival and six electronic travel authorisation (eTA) destinations.
Altogether, Australia passport holders can enter 172 countries either without a visa, through a visa on arrival, or via an eTA.
Australia’s nearest neighbour, New Zealand fared better, though, ranking joint eighth on the list alongside Sweden and Finland, with a rating of 106.
The UAE rise to the top was even more surprising considering it was ranked 35th in 2022 and 38th in 2021.
Its passport leapt up the list because it has visa-free travel privileges to the most countries – 181 in total – no income taxes and an ever-increasing presence on the world stage.

The United Arab Emirates passport is ranked No. 1 on the list. The Burj Khalifa building in Dubai – which is one of the Emirates – is pictured centre
These factors, among many others, make it an attractive place to aspiring global citizens, the index Nomad Capitalist index said.
No other Middle Eastern passports appear in the top 20.
Luxembourg dropped down from 1st in 2022 to 2nd in 2023, with Switzerland coming 3rd and Ireland – praised for its low rates of corporate tax – 4th.
The UK passport fell down from 26th last year to 30th scoring 102.50 overall, with 30 points given to taxation, 20 for perception, 50 for dual citizenship and only 30 for freedom.
The US passport is ranked the 43rd best in the world.
Afghanistan finished last – a position it has held for years – scoring a mere 26.5 points.





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