Best passports to own in 2023: Where does South Africa rank?

According to the latest Nomad Passport Index Ranking, the South African passport ranks at this position in the Top 100 in the world.

By: Garrin Lambley

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The 2023 ranking list shows that the South Africa passport ranks 101st with a total score of 65.00.

Scores is calculated using FIVE key categories: Travel, Taxation, Perception, Dual Citizenship and Freedom.

Travel accounts for 50% of the total score with Taxation at 20%. The weighting of the three other categories is 10% each.

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The UAE passport was ranked at No 1 with a score of 110.5 followed by Luxembourg and Switzerland tied on 108.

Ireland and Portugal round out the Top 5 on 107.5.

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Travel Destinations from South Africa

For the South Africa Travel score calculation, Nomad Passport Index Ranking relied on data from the IATA, Henley Index and news sources to rank travel access.

Based on that data, South Africa was assigned a travel score of 108 as there are 62 countries that South Africa passport holders can enter without a visa (i.e. visa-free countries), 42 countries that allow South Africa passport holders to enter by obtaining a visa on arrival (i.e. visa-on-arrival countries) and 4 electronic travel authorisation (eTA) destinations.

Currently, South Africa passport holders can enter a total of 108 destinations – either without a visa, through a visa on arrival, or via an eTA.

Separate from these 108 destinations, there are 142 additional destinations which South Africa passport holders either need a physical visa to enter or an eVisa.

Taxation

For the South Africa Taxation score calculation, Nomad Passport Index Ranking relied on data from its network of tax vendors, news sources, and tax authorities themselves.

A lowest score of 10 was assigned to countries that tax citizens no matter where they live, scores of 20 or 30 to countries that allow citizens to relocate to avoid tax, 40 to those that don’t tax foreign incomes of resident citizens, and 50 to countries with zero tax.

Based on that data, South Africa was assigned a Taxation score of 10, meaning that South Africa taxes citizens no matter where they live.

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Perception

For the South Africa Perception score calculation, Nomad Passport Index Ranking relied on the World Happiness Report, the Human Development Index, and subjective factors from our networks’ experiences to determine how each country’s citizens are received and recognised.

A lowest score of 10 was assigned to those whose citizens are refused entry to a substantial number of countries and/or whose citizens encounter substantial hostility, scores of 20, 30, and 40 to countries whose citizens experience intermediate hostility, and 50 to countries ranked among the happiest in the world and whose citizens experience minimal hostility.

Based on that data, South Africa was assigned a Perception score of 20, meaning that South Africa citizens experience intermediate hostility.

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Dual Citizenship

For the South Africa Dual Citizenship score calculation, Nomad Passport Index Ranking relied on embassy data and our experiences to assess the ability to hold dual citizenship, ranging from a score of 10 for strictly forbidden to a score of 50 for freely allowed.

A score of 10 and 20 was assigned to countries whose citizens are strictly forbidden to hold other citizenships, scores of 30 and 40 to countries whose citizens are often allowed to hold other citizenships but with certain restrictions, and 50 to countries whose citizens are almost always allowed to hold other citizenships.

Based on that data, South Africa was assigned a Dual Citizenship score of 50, meaning that South Africa citizens are almost always allowed to hold other citizenships.

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Freedom

For the South Africa Freedom score calculation, Nomad Passport Index Ranking relied on data and news reports on mandatory military service, government surveillance, press freedom, and other factors to determine the personal freedom of citizens, travelers, and expats, with scores from 10 being the least free and 50 being the freest.

Scores of 10 and 20 were assigned to countries whose citizens have low freedom, scores of 30 and 40 to countries whose citizens have intermediate freedom, and 50 to countries whose citizens have total freedom.

Based on that data, South Africa was assigned a Freedom score of 20, meaning that South Africa citizens have low freedom.

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