Yet, this ranking marks a notable improvement from last year's 78th place, reflecting the country's economic growth and increasing global mobility, said an official from Henley & Partners, an international firm that offers advisory services on residence and citizenship by investment to wealthy clients.
In an online briefing Wednesday morning, managing director Scott Moore noted the upward trend in the Philippine passport's ranking since 2015, despite disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The Philippines is viewed as quite stable right now, and as the Philippine economy continues to grow, it should continue to see improvements on the passport’s visa-free access,” Moore said.
The firm’s research consistently shows that countries with higher visa-free scores tend to enjoy greater GDP per capita, increased foreign direct investment, and stronger international trade relationships.
This correlation suggests a promising future for the Philippine passport as the nation's economy expands, he explained.
Globally, Singapore reclaimed the top spot as the world's most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to 195 destinations.
The report also highlights a widening gap between the most and least powerful passports, with top-ranked Singapore providing access to 169 more destinations than Afghanistan, which remains the weakest passport.
