The Nomad Passport Index (pdf), placed Luxembourg in first place out of 199 passports based on how many countries it entitles the holder to visa-free travel, taxation to passport holders, perception, dual citizenship and overall freedoms.

Luxembourg rose from joint eighth place in 2017 to first place, with the ranking analysts saying that Luxembourg passport holders offered visa-free travel to 177 countries. “They can hold dual and multiple citizenship,” the author wrote, adding that the passport has an excellent reputation meaning short delays at passport control.

The 2018 Henley Passport Index positioned Luxembourg in joint fourth place with Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Spain. In slight contrast to the Nomad ranking, which it confirmed offered visa-free access to 177 countries. Joint first place was occupied by Japan and Singapore, followed by Germany in second and in joint third Denmark, Finland, Sweden, France, Italy, South Korea, Spain and Sweden.

The Henley ranking drew on data from the International Air Transport Authority as well as open-source data.

According to recent government figures, the number of passports issued in 2017 reached its highest point since 2012 with 40,832. The highest number of passports issued in a year since 2004 was in 2007 when Luxembourg’s foreign affairs ministry recorded 46,719.