by Muazzam Khursheed

The recent passport rankings published by Henley Passport Index ranked Singapore as having the world’s strongest passport, displacing Japan from the top spot, a position it held for five years. With visa-free access to 190 locations, Germany, Italy, and Spain moved up to the second position. Meanwhile, India’s passport is now in the 80^th position, moving up five spots from last year.

Passport, an essential travel document that verifies a person’s identity and citizenship, is issued by governments across the globe to their residents. It promotes movement between nations and acts as a method of international identification. Additionally, its primary function is to enable travellers to enter foreign nations lawfully and return to their own nation. 

Types of Passports

Given the magnitude of travel in the 21^st century, passports too have a variety of their own and aren’t restricted to only one type; instead, the various types of passports are:

• Ordinary Passport: Issued by the respective country to common citizens at large, it doesn’t hold any special power. 

• Diplomatic Passport: This type of passport is issued by the countries to high-ranking government officials, which makes their travel abroad easier. Additionally, embassies based abroad frequently use it. Interestingly, the bearer can travel internationally without complying with several of the standard travel requirements that normal passport holders are subjected to, and they are usually given special preference when it comes to various aspects of the travel and stay. Technically, travelling with a diplomatic passport usually signifies that one is doing so on behalf of the government.
  
• Refugee Travel Document: A travel document, also known as a 1951 Convention travel document or a Geneva passport, is allotted to refugees by the countries they are residing in and allows them to leave the country and return. Refugees require travel papers in order to embark on foreign travel, as it is doubtful that they would be able to get passports from the country of their nationality (from which they have requested refuge).
  In this backdrop, it’s important to highlight the 1951 UN Convention, whose fundamental tenet states that a refugee shall not be sent back to a nation where they face grave dangers to their life or freedom. The declaration lays out the fundamental minimum requirements for how refugees must be treated, including the right to shelter, employment, and education while they are displaced, so they can live a respectable and independent life. It also identifies some groups of people, such as war criminals, who do not qualify for refugee status, as well as the responsibility refugees have to their host nations.
  
• Seaman’s Passport: Often called a seafarer’s identity document (SID), a seaman’s passport is a type of passport allotted to anyone working in the marine sector who is required to operate onboard ships or other boats as per his job profile. The passport functions as both an identification of the person’s nautical work and a travel document.
  
• The United Nations laissez-passer (UNLP): It is a diplomatic travel document issued to UN and ILO staff, as well as staff members of international organizations such as the World Health Organization, the IAEA, and other special offices and programmes of the UN.The UNLP is a valid travel document, but it is not as widely recognized as a national passport. As a result, UNLP holders may sometimes be required to show a national passport in addition to their UNLP. The UNLP is written in English and French, the working languages of the United Nations. The UNLP is issued under the provisions of Article VII of the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. UNLP holders are entitled to certain privileges and immunities, such as the right to speedy travel and the right to be exempt from visa requirements.

Visa-Free Arrival

One of the most critical benefits of a strong passport is undoubtedly visa-free arrival, which allows citizens of the respective country to enter a nation without initially acquiring a visa.

However, the visa-free period, which ranges from 14 to 30 days, or in some cases even more, depends primarily on the state of bilateral relations between both countries. Surprisingly, some countries may not require visas for short trips, such as those for business or leisure, while other countries may grant longer stays for reasons like work or school. However, it’s critical to note here that visa-free arrival does not, in any case, entitle visitors to an unlimited stay. As stated earlier, the duration of stay is often restricted and might range from a few days to months, but someone may need to apply for a visa or another pertinent authorization if they wish to remain longer than what is authorized.

Post-Pandemic Scenario

Following the gradual decline of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in travel across the globe. According to data from ACI Europe, as more nations opened their borders to tourists in the first half of 2022, passenger volumes at European airports increased by over 250%. Surprisingly, 77% of individuals questioned by a Scotland-based metasearch engine and travel agency, Skyscanner, said they intended to spend the same amount or more on international travel as they did in 2022, with nearly 41% intending to even spend more.

What has come as more of a surprise is that new business models have also emerged as a result of the pandemic. What we are witnessing is that contactless payments, which were at first thought to be a temporary solution to the issue, have now turned out to be a game-changer, along with home stays and Air BNBs, which have also skyrocketed.

With data from Lloyd’s Bank indicating that 90% of transactions are now contactless, consumers are growing more comfortable paying for travel expenditures online, and this trend shows no indication of coming back to pre-pandemic levels.

Japan, as per official data released in April, saw foreign visitors flocking to the island nation in March at record levels, seeing the country’s famed cherry blossoms for the first time in four years after travel restrictions were relaxed. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, there were 1.82 million international tourists in Japan for both business and pleasure in March, up from 1.48 million in February.

Another barometer of the surge can be gauged from the recent US State Department announcement that the process of renewing or obtaining a new passport might take between 10 and 13 weeks, a time period double that of pre-COVID times.

In yet another surprising figure, Emirates, the multinational airline that operates about 3080 departure flights per week or more than 440 flights per day for passengers within its global network, stated two months ago that it will be adding five new Airbus A380s to the summer flight schedule to serve more routes amidst the continuing momentum in customer demand after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immigration

Another highly impacted practice, the immigration of nationals from one country to another following the pandemic, has also seen monumental growth. India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the country’s parliament last week that 2,25,620 Indians renounced their citizenship in 2022.

The rise in cases of immigration following COVID-19 can be attributed to fatigue due to restrictions on movement during the pandemic, an inept healthcare system causing high casualties, and layoffs by numerous companies. Therefore, a tickle of travel, efficient healthcare systems, and better employment opportunities can be stated to be the major causes of widespread immigration.

Surprisingly, according to official statistics from 2021, despite current challenges such as the lack of H-1B visas and the fear of job cuts by leading tech companies, the United States of America continues to be the top destination for Indians. Out of the 163,370 people who renounced their Indian citizenship in 2021, nearly 78,284 of them chose to immigrate to the United States, which solidifies the fact that American citizenship continues to be the top spot for Indians.

While issues like public health and security require our foremost attention, creating an accessible environment for travellers would promote global connectivity and peace. Hence, it’s critical to recognize that the enormous influence of travel-friendly policies on economic success, international collaboration, and cultural understanding is immense, making the same essential for governments to practice in the 21st century.

The author is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Administration and has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Business Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. The views expressed are personal.

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