Passport Reality Score

How hard is it to travel with your passport? We score yours from 0 (no barriers) to 100 (blocked everywhere) across 9 popular destinations. Lower is better.

How We Calculate Your Score

Your effort score is based on real visa data for 9 popular destinations. We do not estimate, guess, or use third-party rankings. Every data point comes directly from official government sources.

The formula

Each destination gets 0–10 effort points based on visa status:

  • Visa-free = 0 (no barrier)
  • Visa on arrival = 2 (queue at border, pay on spot)
  • eTA required = 3 (online form, usually approved in minutes)
  • eVisa available = 5 (online application with review process)
  • Visa required = 8 (embassy visit, documents, possibly interview)
  • Not permitted = 10 (cannot visit)

The final score is the sum of all destination points divided by the maximum possible (destinations × 10), scaled to 0–100. Lower is better — 0 means no barriers, 100 means blocked everywhere.

Why we don't include visa fees in the score

Visa fees are shown on each destination card but are deliberately not factored into the score. Fees are in different currencies (£, $, €, ¥, ฿, AED, etc.) and comparing raw numbers across currencies would be misleading — a ¥15,000 Japanese visa fee is approximately $100, not comparable to a $185 US visa fee despite having a larger number. We show fees exactly as they appear on official government websites so you know what you will actually pay.

Important limitations

  • This covers 9 popular destinations only — it is not a comprehensive global passport ranking like the Henley Passport Index.
  • The score reflects how much effort is required to enter, not visa approval likelihood. Rejection rates vary by nationality and are not included.
  • Visa requirements change. We verify data regularly from official government sources but always check with the relevant embassy before making travel decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a global passport ranking?▾
No. The Henley Passport Index ranks passports by visa-free access to all 227 destinations worldwide using IATA data. Our tool is different — it shows the practical effort required to visit 9 specific popular destinations, factoring in whether you need a full visa application, an eVisa, an eTA, or nothing at all. We only show data we can verify from official government sources.
Why is my score different from Henley or other passport rankings?▾
Other rankings use a binary system: either you need a visa or you don't. We use a 6-tier scale that distinguishes between visa-free (0 effort), visa on arrival (minimal), eTA (low), eVisa (moderate), full visa required (high), and not permitted (blocked). A passport that has eTA access to 5 countries scores differently from one with full visa requirements for those same 5 countries — even though both are "not visa-free" in other rankings.
What is the "passport privilege gap"?▾
We compare your effort score against the most different passport in our dataset. If you hold a strong passport, we compare against the weakest to show the gap. If you hold a restricted passport, we compare against the strongest. This ensures the comparison is always meaningful.
Why don't visa fees affect the score?▾
Fees are shown on each destination card but deliberately excluded from the score calculation. Visa fees are in different currencies (£, $, €, ¥, ฿, AED) and comparing raw numbers would be misleading — Japan's ¥15,000 fee is about $100, while the US fee is $185. Including fees without proper currency conversion would make the score less accurate, not more.
How is the AI analysis generated?▾
The AI analysis uses only the verified visa data from our database — visa statuses, fees, processing times, and your effort score. It does not invent facts or statistics. The analysis highlights your strongest and weakest regions, contextualises your score within the ranking, and offers a practical observation. If the AI analysis is unavailable, the full data breakdown is still shown.
Can I compare my passport with a friend's?▾
Yes — our Compare Passports tool shows a side-by-side comparison of two nationalities. It groups destinations into "both visa-free", "one needs a visa", and "both need visas" with fee and processing time details for each.

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