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Brazilian passport is the world’s 19th strongest

Per Henley and Partners, 170 countries accept the Brazilian passport without the number for a prior visa. Photo: Dan Costa/Shutterstock
Per Henley and Partners, 170 countries accept the Brazilian passport without the number for a prior visa. Photo: Dan Costa/Shutterstock

Brazil has the world’s 19th-most ‘powerful’ passport, according to the Henley Passport Index. Brazilian nationals are able to visit 170 countries without a prior visa.

The yearly rankings, published by British consultancy firm Henley and Partners, draws from data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), comparing 199 different passports in relation to 227 travel destinations.

The Japanese passport extended its streak to five years as the world’s strongest. Singapore and South Korea come next, largely followed by European countries. Chile has the strongest Latin American passport — 16th overall — accepted visa-free in 174 countries.

Brazilian passports gained in strength since the Henley Passport Index first appeared in 2006. At the time, the document was accepted in 99 countries. 

South America remains the most accessible destination for Brazilians, with unrestricted entry in all countries (with the exception of French Guiana, a department of France and therefore part of the European Union).

All three countries in North America — the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — demand a tourist visa from Brazilians. As The Brazilian Report reported last year, Mexico reinstated the requirement as a preventative measure against illegal immigration after an influx of Brazilians were entering the country en route to the U.S. border.