When we talk about global mobility, particularly in the world of residence and citizenship by investment, there’s usually one thing that people speak about most: passport rankings. The one thing clients ask me consistently every year is ” Which passport is the most powerful this year?”
And while passport rankings are a good conversation starter, in my opinion, they don’t tell the full story.
Having advised clients on residence and citizenship programmes over several years, I’ve learned that the real value of a passport stretches far beyond the list of countries you can enter visa-free. Let me walk you through what I saw in 2025, what these rankings really mean, and how I help clients navigate them – strategically.
2026 Passport Rankings: More Than Just Numbers
At the top of 2025 rankings, Japan, Singapore, and Germany sit pretty, offering visa-free access to more than 190 countries. On the face of it, it’s impressive. Who wouldn’t want a passport that opens the most doors? But as I often tell clients during consultations, Visa-free access is only part of the RCBI equation.
For example, I recently worked with a client from the Middle East who, at least initially, was exclusively focused on maximizing their passport score. As such, they were convinced that a Singaporean passport was their ultimate goal. However, after getting to know them more and gaining an understanding of their lifestyle, business, and family needs, we realized that it is the strategic mobility offered by alternative citizenships (like those from St. Kitts & Nevis or Portugal) that would provide more tangible benefits for their specific situation. Not only would their travel restrictions ease, but they also gained advantages in taxation, business setup, and long-term security.
So, while the rankings do matter, in my experience, the practical utility of a passport is where real strategic solutions lie.
Understanding Real Value in Passport Power
When I talk about real value, I break it down into three main categories: mobility, financial strategy, and lifestyle flexibility. Let me explain.
- Personal Mobility: Exclusively About Visa-Free Access?
Yes, visa-free travel is convenient. But the question I always ask my clients is simple: Which countries do you actually need to access regularly? For a tech entrepreneur with business in the EU, the ability to enter Germany, France, and the Netherlands without a visa is far more valuable than a passport that will provide visa-free access to, say, East Asia.
I’ve had clients who initially prioritized a high-ranked passport for the sake of status, only to discover that a “lower-ranked” passport (such as São Tomé and Príncipe), paired with strategic residency (like Portugal’s Golden Visa), provided much greater access to key markets, faster visa processing for their family, and even dual-entry benefits that their original choice wouldn’t have allowed.
This is the strategic side of residence and citizenship planning that is often ignored.
- Financial Strategy: Tax & Investment Benefits
One of the most important aspects of citizenship and residency planning is the financial dimension. I remember a client from Asia whose main goal was to optimize their global tax exposure. While the headline rankings didn’t even consider taxation, selecting a Portuguese Golden Visa allowed them not only mobility within the Schengen zone but also long-term tax optimization; something that other “top-tier” passports wouldn’t have addressed.
Through our qualified network of established international lawyers who specialize in tax optimization strategies, these benefits come to light. This is exactly why I always begin my advisory calls with a discussion about the specific goals of my clients; only once these are fully outlined can your residence and citizenship by investment journey begin.
- Lifestyle Flexibility: Family, Education, & Security
I’ve lost count of the number of clients who care more about quality of life than pure mobility. For instance, a Canadian family I worked with recently chose Malta’s residency programme simply because it provided excellent education opportunities, healthcare access, and a secure environment for their children.
We need to look no further than Novak Djokovic’s decision to invest in a Greece Golden Visa in Q4 2025 to see that even when a person can afford just about any residence or citizenship programme in the world, familial reasons can win over. In his own words, one of Djokovic’s main reasons for choosing Greece was the lifestyle benefits for his family.
For me, real value includes the ability to live, work, and raise a family in multiple jurisdictions without bureaucratic headaches.
Mobility is about opening doors. Lifestyle is about doors staying open when you need them to.
What do Recent Trends Tell us?
Looking at global mobility trends holistically over the past year or so, a few things stand out:
- Demand for dual mobility passports is increasing. I’m seeing an increasing number of clients who don’t have the same a single-country focus we saw a few years ago; now, they want passports and residencies that complement each other strategically.
- Programmes that combine visa-free access with lifestyle benefits are rising in appeal. A good example, Caribbean citizenship programmes are consistently revered for their travel freedom and ease of processing, while European Golden Visas remain popular for family and education benefits.
- Geopolitics is influencing mobility decisions – now more than ever. Recent events in Europe and ongoing tax reforms have made a lot of clients rethink which passports truly serve them, and deliver security and flexibility. There is increasing need for HNWIs to have a solid Plan B in place, and a second residence or citizenship is definitely a part of that.
Case Study: Passport Strategy in Action
I want to touch on a recent example from a client I had recently. They are a tech investor from the Middle East and told me they were looking to invest in a “top passport” (their thinking was purely based off of ranking). After exploring their business, travel needs, and family considerations, we devised a strategy that actually made the most sense for their situation, combining:
- St. Kitts & Nevis CBI: Quick access to over 160 countries and a straightforward citizenship process.
- Greece Golden Visa: Long-term Schengen residency, education opportunities for children, and optional tax optimization.
The result? The client achieved mobility far beyond what a single high-ranking passport could offer, plus additional financial and lifestyle benefits they hadn’t considered at first. This is exactly the kind of strategic thinking I encourage in 2026; looking beyond the index numbers and focusing on real-world utility.
Practical Takeaways for Investors
If you’re reading this and considering your own global mobility, here are some principles I think are the most important to bear in mind:
- Ask why you want a new passport. Is it travel freedom? Financial strategy? Security? Lifestyle? Your end goal should inform your strategy.
- Look beyond rankings. High-ranking passports are impressive, but the best one for you is the one that fits your life and objectives; and that might not necessarily be the highest ranked.
- Consider hybrid approaches. Combining CBI and RBI programmes can maximize benefits across mobility, taxation, and family life, something that is becoming increasingly popular.
- Always consult an expert. Trends change quickly, and 2026 has already seen surprises in terms of programme updates and political shifts. An expert advisor will have their finger on the pulse for all policy changes.
The Importance of Mobility with Purpose
Visa-free travel is indeed a great headline, but as I often tell clients, the real power of a passport lies in how it fits into your wider life strategy. In 2026, the smartest investors are thinking about mobility not as a vanity metric but as a practical avenue for living, working, and investing with freedom.
If you want to explore your global mobility options, or discuss anything you’ve read in this blog in more detail, contact me today at f.weinstok@plgroup.com or on WhatsApp at +971 50 374 1643.
