Also known as:Visa-free travelVisa-free entry
Definition
The ability to enter a country for a short stay without obtaining a visa in advance. The visa-free count of a passport is the standard headline metric for passport strength.
Visa-free access — sometimes "visa-free or visa-on-arrival" — refers to a passport holder's ability to enter another country without securing a visa in advance through the destination's consulate.
The headline metric, popularised by the Henley Passport Index and the Arton Capital Passport Index, counts the number of destinations open without a prior visa. The strongest CBI passports (Malta, St Kitts) currently access 150+ destinations visa-free, including the entire Schengen Area and the UK.
Visa-free is distinct from visa-on-arrival (issued at the border for a fee) and from eTA / ETIAS-style electronic travel authorisations (mandatory for many passports entering the UK, USA, Canada, and — from 2026 — the Schengen Area).
Where Visa-Free Access comes up
Programme
Malta Citizenship
Malta Citizenship by Investment: citizenship for qualifying investors from Closed (2025), typical processing of 12–14 months, visa-free access to 186 destinations and family inclusion.
Programme
St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship
St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment: citizenship for qualifying investors from $250,000, typical processing of 45–60 days, visa-free access to 157 destinations and family inclusion.
Programme
Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship
Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment: citizenship for qualifying investors from $230,000, typical processing of 3–4 months, visa-free access to 151 destinations and family inclusion.
