World-leading offshore consulting firm Nomad Capitalist conducted research to find world’s best passports, and Brits and Americans will be surprised by the results.

Nomad Capitalist has ranked the best passports in the world by scoring 199 different passports in five categories. Each passport was scored on visa-free travel, international taxation laws, global perception, dual citizenship, and personal freedom.

This year, three countries came out on top with Sweden, Luxembourg and Ireland all scoring 114 points.

Sweden, which ranked 2nd on the index last year, has climbed its way to the very top thanks to visa-free travel to 186 countries, high levels of personal freedom, and an excellent global reputation.

Luxembourg is tied for first and maintains its place at the top of this list for the third year in a row, having climbed its way up from tenth place just three years ago. Luxembourg grants its citizens high levels of freedom, has an excellent global perception, and fortunately for ex-pats living there, it recently became easier to naturalize as a citizen.

The Irish passport also came out on top thanks to having one of Europe’s lowest corporate tax rates, high visa scores, and an excellent global reputation.

Here’s a look at the Top 10 The World’s Best Passports

So where did the British passport rank? 

The British passport ranks highly at number 11 as its citizens can visit 185 countries visa-free, are almost always allowed to hold another citizenship, have relatively high levels of personal freedom, and are thought about quite highly abroad.

Unfortunately for Brits, it is more difficult to become a legally non-resident when moving abroad.

And what about the US passport? 

By comparison, the US passport, which ranks at number 40,  also allows visitors to visit 185 countries visa-free, but citizens are taxed on their worldwide income no matter where they live and are not perceived as highly as their British counterparts.

Japan, which ranked 21st on the list, is the best passport for traveling, with access to 191 countries visa-free.

Turkey ranked 95th on the list after Russia (94th).

According to the research, the worst passport to own is the Afghan passport.

This passport only allows entry into 26 countries visa-free; its citizens are often refused entry to a substantial number of countries and also encounter substantial hostility; its citizens are strictly forbidden to hold other citizenships; and they also experience less freedom.

Iraq is second-worst, with travel permitted to 28 countries, low perception from other countries and low levels of freedom and Yemen is third from the bottom.

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