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.

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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.

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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.

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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 strongest 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	32	19	33 + 19 + 1 = 53	Bhutan Chad Comores Islands Equatorial Guinea Guinea-Bissau
Sri Lanka	42	20	42 + 20 + 1 = 63	Kyrgyzstan Morocco Sierra Leone
Nigeria	46	19	46 + 19 + 1 = 66	Cape Verde Uganda
Egypt	49	21	49 + 21 + 1 = 71	Gambia,Tanzania or Zambia
Vietnam	54	21	54 + 21 + 1 = 76	Kazakhstan Namibia
India	58	37	58 + 37 + 1 = 96	Kuwait Timor-Leste
Philippines	67	23	67 + 23 + 1 = 91	Ecuador

* (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 50 countries VISA-FREE with a US visa in 2023

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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 a 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	32	10	32 + 10 + 1 = 43	Ethiopia South Sudan
Sri Lanka	42	11	42 + 11 + 1 = 54	Cambodia Madagascar Mali Niger Vietnam
Nigeria	46	11	46 + 11 + 1 = 58	India Mauritania Tajikistan
Egypt	49	13	49 + 13 + 1 = 63	Kyrgyzstan Morocco Sierra Leone
Vietnam	54	12	54 + 12 + 1 = 67	Azerbaijan Philippines
India	58	25	58 + 25 + 1 = 84	Botswana Papua New Guinea
Philippines	67	14	67 + 14 + 1 = 82	Bahrain

* (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 38 countries VISA-FREE with a Canada visa in 2023

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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 visas 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 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	32	26	32 + 26 + 26 = 84	Botswana Papua New Guinea
Sri Lanka	42	28	42 + 28 + 26 = 96	Kuwait Timer-Leste
Nigeria	46	27	46 + 27 + 26 = 99	Belize South Africa
Egypt	49	29	49 + 29 + 26 = 104	Belize South Africa
Vietnam	54	28	54 + 28 + 26 = 108	Turkey
India	58	42	58 + 42 + 26 = 126	Colombia Tuvalu
Philippines	67	31	67 + 31 + 26 = 124	Montenegro

* (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 51 non-Schengen countries VISA-FREE with a Schengen visa in 2023

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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 strongest 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	32	29	32 + 29 + 1 + 26 = 88	Fiji Guyana Nauru
Sri Lanka	42	31	42 + 31 + 1 + 26 = 100	Belize South Africa
Nigeria	46	29	46 + 29 + 1 + 26 = 102	Belize South Africa
Egypt	49	31	49 + 31 + 1 + 26 = 107	Turkey
Vietnam	54	31	54 + 31 + 1 + 26 = 112	Turkey
India	58	48	58 + 48 + 1 + 26 = 133	El Salvador Honduras Serbia
Philippines	67	34	67 + 34 + 1 + 26 = 128	Nicaragua Ukraine

* (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	32	28	32 + 28 + 1 + 26 = 87	Fiji Guyana Nauru
Sri Lanka	42	30	42 + 30 + 1 + 26 = 99	Belize South Africa
Nigeria	46	29	46 + 29 + 1 + 26 = 102	Belize South Africa
Egypt	49	31	49 + 31 + 1 + 26 = 107	Turkey
Vietnam	54	30	54 + 30 + 1 + 26 = 111	Turkey
India	58	44	58 + 44 + 1 + 26 = 129	Vanuatu
Philippines	67	32	67 + 32 + 1 + 26 = 126	Colombia Tuvalu

* (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 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.