Freedom to travel: Phl ranks 69th

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos have visa-free access to only 58 out of 218 countries, putting the Philippines in 69th place in a global survey on freedom to travel.

The July 2013 Visa Restrictions Index drawn up by Henley & Partners, an international residence and citizenship planning company, ranked countries according to the number of nations their citizens can access with a passport.

The Philippines’ score was a far cry from those of Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom, whose citizens can visit 173 countries without a visa.

Other countries in the Top 10 were Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, United States (172); Belgium, Italy, Netherlands (171); Canada, France, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain (170); Austria, New Zealand, Switzerland (168); Australia, Greece, Singapore; South Korea (166); Iceland (165); Malaysia, Malta (163), and Liechtenstein (159).

Among the lowest were Pakistan and Somalia (32); Iraq (31), and Afghanistan (28).

Of the maximum attainable score of 218, one point is subtracted to account for a national traveling to their own country, with the exception of nationals who must hold a visa to re-enter their home country, and for nationals of countries not considered as a destination. The latter group can reach a highest score of 219.

The Henley & Partners’ Visa Restrictions Index is a global ranking of countries according to travel freedom their citizens enjoy.

It analyzed the visa regulations of all countries in the world.

This is the first time that a global ranking shows the international travel freedom of the citizens of various countries as well as the international relations and status of individual countries relative to others.

“In today’s globalized world, visa restrictions play an important role in controlling the movement of foreign nationals across borders. Almost all countries now require visas from non-nationals who wish to enter their territory,” Henley & Partners said.