GI Passport Index 2026

The GI Passport Index, compiled by Global Immigrate, ranks 199 passports from two angles: the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI) asks whether a passport is worth investing to get, combining visa-free access, ease of acquisition, tax, stability and quality of life; the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS) looks only at the passport itself: visa-free access, how stable it is and quality of life.

GIPI takes an investor's view and counts the time, investment, residence and tax needed to get the passport; GIPS takes the holder's view and ignores how hard it is to get. A passport can rank very differently in the two: a passport that is hard to get may be strong but not the best value for an investor.

An annual edition is published on 1 January and updated every month: visa changes are added once verified against official sources; investment programmes, naturalisation rules and tax rates are tracked monthly for major changes and fully reviewed every quarter.

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In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the Hong Kong passport ranks 8 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 73.2 points) and 28 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 84.5 points), with visa-free access to 179 destinations. Route: New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (HK$30m) → permanent residence after 7 years → naturalisation as Chinese national → HKSAR passport, minimum investment HK$30M; about 8.5 years to a passport. Naturalisation: HKSAR passports are issued only to Chinese citizens holding HK permanent identity cards: 7 years' continuous ordinary residence for permanent residence, then naturalisation as a Chinese national via the Immigration Department under Article 7 of the PRC Nationality Law (settlement in HK, income and tax record, character, Chinese language ability considered); foreign nationality may not be retained

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the Taiwan passport ranks 12 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 72.1 points) and 41 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 79.3 points), with visa-free access to 136 destinations. Route: Investor residence (foreign investor ARC) → naturalisation, minimum investment US$200k; about 6.2 years to a passport. Naturalisation: Current domicile in Taiwan and lawful residence of 183+ days a year for 5 consecutive years; adult, no bad conduct or criminal record, sufficient assets or professional skills to be self-supporting, basic Mandarin and knowledge of citizens' rights and duties. Proof of loss of original nationality must be filed within 1 year of approval, except for recommended high-level professionals (who may apply after 2 years of 183+ days a year), persons with special contributions to the ROC, and those unable to obtain proof for reasons beyond their control (Nationality Act Arts 3, 5, 6, 9)

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the China passport ranks 134 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 48.5 points) and 82 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 59.1 points), with visa-free access to 78 destinations. Route: No investor route to citizenship · fastest: work permit (Z visa) or investor permanent residence (USD 2m held 3 years) → discretionary naturalisation (rarely granted); about 15 years to a passport. Naturalisation: Foreigners who abide by the Constitution and laws and are close relatives of Chinese nationals, have settled in China, or have other legitimate reasons may be naturalised on approval; dual nationality is not recognised

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the Macao passport ranks 30 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 69.7 points) and 43 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 79.0 points), with visa-free access to 155 destinations. Route: No fixed-threshold investor route (major-investment residence assessed case by case; very few approvals) · fastest: Talent Programme residence → permanent resident after 7 years → naturalise as Chinese national via DSI; about 8.5 years to a passport. Naturalisation: A Macao SAR passport requires Chinese nationality and Macao permanent residency (normally 7 years' ordinary residence); foreign-national permanent residents may apply to the Identification Services Bureau (DSI) to naturalise under Art. 7 of the PRC Nationality Law and must prove renunciation of all foreign nationalities within 6 months of approval

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the United States passport ranks 71 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 61.5 points) and 64 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 65.4 points), with visa-free access to 176 destinations. Route: EB-5 → green card → naturalisation, minimum investment US$800k; about 10.1 years to a passport. Naturalisation: 5 years' continuous residence as a green-card holder with at least 30 months physically present, 3 months in the filing state; English and civics tests, good moral character

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the Canada passport ranks 16 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 71.7 points) and 25 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 85.8 points), with visa-free access to 185 destinations. Route: Québec Investor Program (CAD 1m 5-year investment + CAD 200k contribution) → PR → citizenship, minimum investment C$1.2M; about 10.8 years to a passport. Naturalisation: As a permanent resident, 1,095 days in Canada in the 5 years before applying, tax filing, English/French and citizenship knowledge requirements

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the United Kingdom passport ranks 44 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 67.1 points) and 29 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 84.2 points), with visa-free access to 176 destinations. Route: Investor route closed · fastest: Innovator Founder visa → settlement → citizenship; about 5.8 years to a passport. Naturalisation: 5 years' residence in the UK (no more than 450 days abroad in the 5 years and 90 days in the last 12 months), holding settlement (ILR) for 12 months, English and Life in the UK test; dual nationality allowed

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the Australia passport ranks 6 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 74.6 points) and 14 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 88.6 points), with visa-free access to 184 destinations. Route: Investor route closed · fastest: National Innovation visa 858 (by invitation) → citizenship; about 5.5 years to a passport. Naturalisation: 4 years' lawful residence including 1 year as a permanent resident; no more than 12 months abroad in total and 90 days in the last year; citizenship test

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the New Zealand passport ranks 3 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 76.0 points) and 19 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 87.4 points), with visa-free access to 184 destinations. Route: Active Investor Plus → citizenship, minimum investment NZ$5M; about 6.3 years to a passport. Naturalisation: 5 years holding a resident visa (indefinite stay), with at least 1,350 days in New Zealand in total and at least 240 days in each year; basic English, good character and intention to continue living in NZ

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the Singapore passport ranks 1 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 77.2 points) and 1 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 92.6 points), with visa-free access to 194 destinations. Route: Global Investor Programme → PR → citizenship, minimum investment S$10M; about 4.2 years to a passport. Naturalisation: Apply after 2 years as a permanent resident (discretionary); keeping PR expects living in Singapore most of the time

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the Japan passport ranks 35 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 69.3 points) and 6 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 90.4 points), with visa-free access to 190 destinations. Route: Business Manager visa (JPY 30m capital) → naturalisation, minimum investment JPY 30M; about 11.6 years to a passport. Naturalisation: Nationality Act: 5 years' continuous domicile, age 18+, good conduct, ability to support oneself, renunciation of prior nationality; since 1 April 2026 the Ministry of Justice administratively screens against 10 years

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the Portugal passport ranks 2 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 76.7 points) and 22 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 86.1 points), with visa-free access to 186 destinations. Route: Golden Visa (cultural donation from EUR 200k / fund EUR 500k) → naturalisation, minimum investment €200k; about 15.2 years to a passport. Naturalisation: Under Organic Law 1/2026 (in force 19 May 2026), non-EU/non-CPLP nationals need 10 years of legal residence counted from the issue of the first residence card, A2 Portuguese, a civics/culture assessment and no serious criminal record; dual nationality allowed

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the Greece passport ranks 25 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 70.9 points) and 30 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 84.1 points), with visa-free access to 188 destinations. Route: Golden Visa EUR 250k tier (conversion / listed-building restoration) → naturalisation, minimum investment €250k; about 10.6 years to a passport. Naturalisation: 7 years' continuous lawful residence, Greek at B1 level and the naturalisation exam on history and culture, clean record and proof of integration

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the Malta passport ranks 20 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 71.4 points) and 20 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 86.8 points), with visa-free access to 189 destinations. Route: Permanent Residence Programme → discretionary naturalisation, minimum investment €169k; about 7 years to a passport. Naturalisation: 12 months' continuous residence before applying, plus 4 years in the previous 6 (discretionary)

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the Switzerland passport ranks 4 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 75.7 points) and 2 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 91.8 points), with visa-free access to 189 destinations. Route: Lump-sum taxation residence (non-EU minimum annual tax generally ~CHF 250,000; about CHF 2.5m over the 10 years before naturalisation) → C permit → naturalisation, minimum investment CHF 2.5M; about 11.8 years to a passport. Naturalisation: C (settlement) permit and 10 years' residence in Switzerland (3 of the 5 years before applying; years aged 8-18 count double but at least 6 actual years), successful integration (national language B1 spoken / A2 written), plus cantonal and communal residence and other requirements

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the United Arab Emirates passport ranks 16 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 71.7 points) and 33 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 83.3 points), with visa-free access to 192 destinations. Route: Golden Visa (AED 2m property) → naturalisation after 30 years, minimum investment AED 2M; about 31.1 years to a passport. Naturalisation: General foreigners need at least 30 years' continuous lawful residence (3 years for Omani, Qatari, Bahraini nationals; 7 for other Arabs), Arabic language, good conduct, and renunciation of prior nationality (Federal Law 17/1972); a separate nomination-only route (2021) exists for investors and talents and allows dual nationality

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the Türkiye passport ranks 12 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 72.1 points) and 91 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 55.2 points), with visa-free access to 114 destinations. Route: Real estate purchase (USD 400k) → direct citizenship, minimum investment US$400k; about 9 months to a passport. Naturalisation: No residence requirement for citizenship by investment; the property must be held for at least 3 years (annotated on the title deed), with a certificate of conformity and short-term residence permit first

In the October 2026 GI Passport Index the St Kitts & Nevis passport ranks 20 in the GI Passport Investment Index (GIPI, 71.4 points) and 81 in the GI Passport Strength Index (GIPS, 60.1 points), with visa-free access to 157 destinations. Route: Sustainable Island State Contribution (direct citizenship), minimum investment US$250k; about 5 months to a passport. Naturalisation: US$250,000 contribution, no residence requirement; interview and biometrics for applicants 16+ (a future minimum physical-presence requirement has been announced but not yet published)