How to turn your weak passport into a strong passport (with examples)

There are many reasons why some passports are strong and some are weak. Economic and political stability, bilateral agreements, reciprocity, and many other factors affect the strength of a passport.

Passports from war-torn countries tend to suffer a lot these days. Countries with population issues also seem to have weaker passports.

What makes a passport strong or weak?

A passport that offers VISA-FREE access to most countries in the world is the strongest. According to Henley & Partners Passport Index (Feb 2020), Japan’s passport is the strongest in the world with VISA-FREE access to 191 countries.

As the VISA-FREE number drops, the passport becomes weaker and weaker. As per the Henley & Partners Passport Index (Feb 2020), Afghanistan’s passport is the weakest in the world with VISA-FREE access to only 28 countries.

What are some of the strong and weak passports in the world?

Most developed nations tend to have strong passports. These countries boast strong economies and stable political environments.

According to Henley & Partners Passport Index (Feb 2020), some of the strong passports in the world are Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Germany and Italy.

Developing nations usually tend to have weak passports. These countries are struggling or recovering from political and economic instabilities.

According to Henley & Partners Passport Index (Feb 2020), some of the weak passports in the world are Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and Somalia.

How to turn your weak passport into a strong passport?

Having a weak passport is a struggle but it’s not the end of the world. With a bit of effort and planning, you can turn your weak passport into a strong passport. Maybe not the strongest, but a lot stronger than your current passport.

Here are the 3 steps to turn your weak passport into a strong passport.

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01. Get US visa (or Canada Visa)

You can, of course, travel to the US with a US visa. But you can also travel to 49 other countries and territories with a US visa.

With a US visa, you add 49 more countries (including the US) and territories to your VISA-FREE list.

Let’s look at how your current passport with a US visa stacks up against some of the strong passports in the world.

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Example: Your Current Passport with US Visa

Your Current Passport	Your Current VISA-FREE Countries	VISA-FREE Countries For US Visa	Your New VISA-FREE Countries *	Your Current Passport Is As Strong As
Pakistan	33	19	33 + 19 + 1 = 53	Chad Guinea-Bissau Madagascar Turkmenistan
Sri Lanka	42	19	42 + 19 + 1 = 62	Sierra Leone
Nigeria	47	17	47 + 17 + 1 = 65	Cape Verde or Cuba
Egypt	49	18	49 + 18 + 1 = 68	Gambia,Tanzania or Zambia
Vietnam	51	22	51 + 22 + 1 = 74	China or Lesotho
India	60	35	60 + 35 + 1 = 96	Timor-Leste, Ecuador or Kuwait
Philippines	66	18	66 + 18 + 1 = 85	Qatar

* (Your Current VISA-FREE Countries For Your Passport) + (VISA-FREE Countries With US Visa For Your Passport) + (US) = Your New VISA-FREE Countries.

FURTHER READING: Travel 49 countries VISA-FREE with a US visa

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If the US visa is difficult for you, get a Canada visa. Canada visa is equally powerful. You can travel to 36 countries (including Canada) and territories with a Canada visa.

Both US and Canada visas are long-term visas. They are usually issued for 10 years. You get your US or Canada visa once and your passport remains strong for the next 10 years.

Let’s look at how your passport with Canada visa stacks up against these strong passports.

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Example: Your Current Passport with Canada Visa

Your Current Passport	Your Current VISA-FREE Countries	VISA-FREE Countries For Canada Visa	Your New VISA-FREE Countries *	Your Current Passport Is As Strong As
Pakistan	33	11	33 + 11 + 1 = 45	Djibouti
Sri Lanka	42	11	42 + 11 + 1 = 54	Cambodia, Niger, Rwanda or Togo
Nigeria	47	10	47 + 10 + 1 = 58	Mauritania, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe or Tajikistan
Egypt	49	11	49 + 11 + 1 = 61	Armenia, Benin, Mongolia or Morocco
Vietnam	51	13	51 + 13 + 1 = 65	Cape Verde or Cuba
India	60	24	60 + 24 + 1 = 85	Qatar
Philippines	66	11	66 + 11 + 1 = 78	Oman

* (Your Current VISA-FREE Countries For Your Passport) + (VISA-FREE Countries With Canada Visa For Your Passport) + (Canada) = Your New VISA-FREE Countries.

FURTHER READING: Travel 36 countries VISA-FREE with a Canada visa

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Personal Experience

I have traveled to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Philippines, Taiwan and South Korea using my US visa. If I hadn’t had my US visa, I would have required visas to all of those countries.

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02. Get Schengen Visa

You can travel to 26 Schengen countries with a Schengen visa. But also to 39 non-Schengen countries. A total of 65 countries.

These 39 non-Schengen countries honor Schengen visa as their own visa. You don’t need a separate visa for these countries.

Unlike US/Canada visas, Schengen visas are short-term visas valid for 90-180 days. Visa validity increases on subsequent applications.

Let’s see at how your passport with a Schengen visa stacks up against strong passports in the world.

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Example: Your current passport with Schengen visa

Your Current Passport	Your Current VISA-FREE Countries	VISA-FREE Countries For Schengen Visa	Your New VISA-FREE Countries *	Your Current Passport Is As Strong As
Pakistan	33	23	33 + 23 + 26 = 82	Botswana
Sri Lanka	42	23	42 + 23 + 26 = 91	Ecuador, Kuwait or Fiji
Nigeria	47	23	47 + 23 + 26 = 96	Timor-Leste, Ecuador or Kuwait
Egypt	49	23	49 + 23 + 26 = 98	Timor-Leste
Vietnam	51	28	51 + 28 + 26 = 105	South Africa
India	60	35	60 + 35 + 26 = 121	Micronesia, Moldova, Palau or Russia
Philippines	66	23	66 + 23 + 26 = 115	Bosnia and Herzegovina or Albania

* (Your Current VISA-FREE Countries For Your Passport) + (VISA-FREE Countries With Schengen Visa For Your Passport) + (26 Schengen Countries) = Your New VISA-FREE Countries.

FURTHER READING: Travel 39 non-Schengen countries VISA-FREE with a Schengen visa

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A combination of a US and Schengen visa bumps that list by a whopping 80 (* depends on the passport).

Let’s look at how your passport with US/Canada visa and Schengen visa stacks up against the strong passports in the world.

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Example: Your Passport with US and Schengen Visa

Your Current Passport	Your Current VISA-FREE Countries	VISA-FREE Countries For US and Schengen Visa	Your New VISA-FREE Countries *	Your Current Passport Is As Strong As
Pakistan	33	30	33 + 30 + 1 + 26 = 90	Fiji
Sri Lanka	42	30	42 + 30 + 1 + 26 = 99	Belize or Timor-Leste
Nigeria	47	28	47 + 28 + 1 + 26 = 102	South Africa
Egypt	49	30	49 + 30 + 1 + 26 = 106	Turkey or South Africa
Vietnam	51	35	51 + 35 + 1 + 26 = 113	Albania or Georgia
India	60	44	60 + 44 + 1 + 26 = 131	Peru, Serbia or Solomon Islands
Philippines	66	29	66 + 29 + 1 + 26 = 122	Micronesia or Moldova

* (Your Current VISA-FREE Countries For Your Passport) + (VISA-FREE Countries With US and Schengen Visa For Your Passport) + (US) + (26 Schengen Countries) = Your New VISA-FREE Countries.

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Example: Your Passport with Canada and Schengen Visa

Your Current Passport	Your Current VISA-FREE Countries	VISA-FREE Countries For Canada and Schengen Visa	Your New VISA-FREE Countries *	Your Current Passport Is As Strong As
Pakistan	33	28	33 + 28 + 1 + 26 = 88	Guyana
Sri Lanka	42	28	42 + 28 + 1 + 26 = 97	Timor-Leste, Ecuador or Kuwait
Nigeria	47	28	47 + 28 + 1 + 26 = 102	South Africa
Egypt	49	28	49 + 28 + 1 + 26 = 104	South Africa
Vietnam	51	33	51 + 33 + 1 + 26 = 111	Turkey
India	60	41	60 + 41 + 1 + 26 = 128	Nicaragua or Ukraine
Philippines	66	28	66 + 28 + 1 + 26 = 121	Micronesia, Moldova, Palau or Russia

* (Your Current VISA-FREE Countries For Your Passport) + (VISA-FREE Countries With Canada and Schengen Visa For Your Passport) + (Canada) + (26 Schengen Countries) = Your New VISA-FREE Countries.

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03. Build Travel History

Travel history may not make your passport strong, but it will improve your chances of visa approvals. The more travel history you have, the higher are the chances of visa approvals.

Travel history indicates that you don’t have illegal immigration intent. If you were to remain illegally, you could have done it so in any of the countries you have been to so far. Travel history makes you trustworthy in the eyes of the consulates.

Visa applications such as the US, Canada, UK, Malaysia, Bahrain, etc. specifically ask for a copy of your travel history.

Therefore, fill your passport with visas and stamps to make it even stronger.

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Conclusion

If you hold a weak passport, then these 3 steps will help you turn your weak passport into a strong passport. This will not turn your passport into the strongest, but these steps will definitely make your passport much better and stronger.

Do you have any questions? Do you need more examples? Let me know in the comments below.