Kathmandu, January 4
Nepal is one of the most ‘welcoming’ countries in the world, as it offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to citizens of almost all countries in the world, a new report says.
Nepal ranks 8th on the list of ‘most welcoming’ countries, on a list prepared by the global financial advisory firm Arton Capital, and made public on Tuesday.
According to the report, passport holders of 189 countries can visit Nepal without a visa, or get one on arrival. Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mozambique, Samoa, Seychelles, Timor Leste, Togo, Tuvalu and Uganda are ranked first on the list as they allow passport holders of 198 countries to enter their territory without a visa.
Meanwhile, the Global Passport Power Rank, prepared by the same company ranks Nepal’s passport at 87th (out of 199) position along with Lebanon, when it comes to visa-free travel.
According to the list, German passport is the most powerful in the world, as its holders can visit 158 countries without a visa, or get a visa on arrival.
In South Asia, the passport of Nepal is more powerful than that of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. A passport issued by the Maldives is the most powerful in the region as it ranked 55th. India and Bhutan ranked 78th.
The Swedish passport follows closely on the list with 157 visa-free or visa on arrival privileges, followed by Finland, France, Switzerland, Spain, South Korea and the United Kingdom with 156.
