Canada’s passport ranked among the top seven globally
What enables the Canadian passport to maintain its place among the world’s most powerful in 2024? Being able to visit 187 countries without a visa and enjoying such privileges as work and study possibilities, as well as the right to have Canadian citizenship, the ranking of this passport remains invariable. What is the position of this passport this year in comparison to other most popular passports?
Henley & Partners, an international residence and citizenship planning agency, has issued its global passport index for 2024 based on the International Air Transport Authority’s database. The Canadian passport is ranked, 7th globally, meaning it gives its holder access to 187 countries without the need for a visa. They also offer opportunities in work, studies, I&D, etc. This is the second year in a row that Canada has occupied this rank, which is equal to Czechia, Hungary, and Malta.
Yet, Singapore has retained the first position regarding visa-free access to 195 countries only. This is followed by France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain, with all these countries permitting access without visas in 192 countries. The latest ranking shows that the United States has fallen to 8th place, the worst in the G7 regarding access to 186 countries. At the helm is Afghanistan, with only 26 countries on their list with visa-free entry.
Find out if you are eligible to get in Canada →
A consistently strong passport
Compared to the rating of Henley, the Canadian passport has granted much convenience for its holder for many years. Its ranking is as high as second in the 2014 Henley global mobility index. Bearing this mindset into consideration, it is important to advise that over the one-point-near-two-decade publication of passport rankings, Canada has continuously blessed itself with one of the best passports that ranks within the top 10.
How to obtain a Canadian passport?
Become a Citizen First
For one to get a Canadian passport, then the one has to be a Canadian citizen. For those who were not born in Canada, this usually entails getting permanent resident status in the country and meeting the physical presence requirement of having spent an aggregate of approximately 1095 days over the last five years in Canada.
Note: You can also apply for Canadian citizenship by descent if you were born to a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth. The eligibility of these rights has, however, over time been extended to some children who are born in other countries but have at least one Canadian citizen parent.
In addition to meeting residency requirements, applicants must also fulfill the following criteria to apply for Canadian citizenship:
- Tax Filing: Declare and remit any sum to the internal revenues in the course of your residency period.
- Citizenship Test: Obtain a pass on a Canadian citizenship test.
- Language Proficiency: Produce evidence of language proficiency that is at least sufficient to meet at least the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 for both English and French.
Naturalization is the process of attaining citizenship through residency, normally it takes three years of living in Canada.
Obtaining Canadian Passport
If the person has undergone the citizenship process and has been issued with the citizenship certificate, then he or she is free to apply for a passport. Any person who is a Canadian citizen can apply, but some factors such as fraud, security, violation of human rights, or any form of criminal activity will disqualify one from the application.
To apply for a passport, you will need to provide:
- Proof of Canadian Citizenship: A citizenship certificate or a birth certificate that is Canadian.
- Valid Passport or Travel Document: Any current Canadian passport or travel document in your name and valid at the time of the application; operating account that you have fully controlled for at least 12 months.
- References: Two references for an application.
- Identity Confirmation: An ID that will prove your identity.
- Photographs: Two identical photos taken passport-size.
- Guarantor: While applying for the first time, special emphasis is placed on a guarantor, chosen by definite criteria.
It is possible to apply in person at a Service Canada center or through an online application, appointment, or drop-in.
Finally, Canada’s passport remains one of the strongest on the international stage and thus will remain as part of the top seven international passports by the year 2024. While the ability to visit the number of countries without a visa equals 187, other privileges incumbent upon the members of the Canadian passport owners include the prospect of employment and education, as well as obtaining second citizenship. This constant high rating strengthens the commitment and portability of Canadian citizens and thus proves the timelessness of Canadian citizenship.
