The Romanian passport is among the most powerful travel documents in the world. Romanians can now travel to 177 countries without a visa, a significant improvement from 2006 when Romania ranked 34th. Travel blogger Cezar Dumitru shared his experiences on Euronews, recalling the challenges of obtaining visas in the 1990s.
The Henley Passport Index, published by London-based Henley & Partners, tracks global travel freedoms in 227 countries and territories using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The index includes 199 passports and 227 destinations and is considered the gold standard for assessing international mobility.
Romanians have reason to celebrate: the Romanian passport ranks 14th in the latest Henley Passport Index. This rank reflects the passport’s global influence, allowing Romanians visa-free travel to 177 countries. It is a remarkable performance compared to 2006 when Romania was ranked 34th. The Romanian Embassy in the USA praised the performance of the Romanian travel passport.
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Romania outperforms its non-EU neighbors. For example, the Republic of Moldova ranks 44th, allowing visa-free access to 122 countries, and Serbia ranks 34th with access to 140 countries. Bulgaria shares Romania’s position, while Hungary ranks 7th, offering visa-free access to 187 countries.
Singapore holds the top spot, with its passport granting free access to 195 countries worldwide. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Japan share the second position, offering unrestricted access to 192 countries. Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, and South Korea are in third place, granting access to 191 countries.
Cezar Dumitru, author of the Imperator Travel blog, highlighted the dramatic improvements over the years. He compared the Romanian passport in 1991 to today’s Afghan passport, emphasizing the significant progress in obtaining visas. “I started traveling in 1991 when the Romanian passport was probably like a modern-day Afghan passport. The hardest visa I ever got was the Italian one. As a Dutch resident on scholarship, I applied for visas from multiple countries, including Switzerland, France, and Germany. There was no Schengen agreement then,” Cezar Dumitru told Euronews. “European countries have lifted visa requirements. Now, you can travel with just an ID. If I start talking about how I used to get visas in the 90s, it’s like an adventure novel,” he added.