
Best passports for unrestricted travel: The 2017 Visa Restrictions Index ranks nations by how freely their citizens can explore the planet. Hungary and Malta tied for 10th this year, with their citizens getting visa-free access to 167 countries.

9. Czech Republic: A member of Europe's open-border Schengen Area since 2008, the Czech Republic's citizens can now enter 168 countries without visas.

8. Iceland: The wild and wonderful landscape of Iceland has proved a magnet for foreign visitors in recent years, but Icelanders themselves can easily head in the other direction with visa-free access to 169 countries.

Best passports, No. 8: Australia —
7. Australia: There's a reason Aussies travel everywhere. Their passports take them across 170 borders without a visa. The country shares seventh place with South Korea.

Best passports, No. 6: Canada, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, South Korea, Switzerland —
6. Canada: In fact, Canada shares the sixth spot with Greece, Portugal and Switzerland. All have access to 171 countries.

Best passports, No. 7: Greece, New Zealand —
5. New Zealand, Japan, Ireland: Citizens in these countries can travel to 172 countries with ease.

Best passports, No. 5: Austria, Singapore, Japan —
4. Singapore, Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom: These eight countries share the fourth spot on the list of the world's most "powerful passports" according to the 2017 Visa Restriction Index.

Best passports, No. 4: Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, U.S. —
3. Denmark, Finland, Italy, Spain and the United States: The United States climbs up from fourth place in 2016 to join four European nations in third. They all have visa-free access to 174 countries.

Best passports, No. 2: Sweden —
2. Sweden: Swedish passport holders have visa-free access to 175 countries, earning it the second spot on the index.

World's best passport: Germany —
1. Germany: German citizens, it seems, have the potential for the greatest mobility in the travel world. With a German passport, travelers can enter 177 out of 218 countries and territories without a visa, according to the 2017 Visa Restrictions Index.

Worst passports, No. 3: Iraq —
103. Iraq: In 103rd place, Iraqi passport holders are only able to visit 27 countries without a visa.

Worst passports, No. 1: Afghanistan —
104. Afghanistan: Coming last on the "travel freedom" index since 2010, Afghan nationals are able to travel to 24 countries without a visa.


