Dominican Republic Passport Ranking

[Alltimegreat]

According to the 2024 Henley Passport Index, the Dominican Republic passport ranks #123 of the world's 199 countries based on visa-free access to other countries (adjusted for ties). Other rankings have it in a similar position. It is currently the lowest-ranked passport of all western hemisphere countries aside from Cuba and Haiti.

Interestingly, the Dominican passport is also one of just a handful in the world that does not yet feature a biometric chip. I have read that this is expected to change very soon, and I'm wondering if the issuance of biometric-chipped passports will lead to a rise in the number of countries offering visa-free access to Dominican passport holders. This enhanced security feature could then increase the Dominican passport's position in the worldwide rankings.

The vast majority of Latin American and Caribbean passports offer visa-free access to the European Union and European Schengen Zone (including Venezuela but currently not the DR).

Any thoughts?

Here are some relevant maps:

Visa requirements for Dominican Republic citizens - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Visa policy of the Schengen Area - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Alltimegreat]

Another relevant map:

Biometric passport - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[chico bill]

As long as their are people desperate for jobs that can support a family I doubt that many countries, unless they are themselves undesirable, will change their visa process.

 

[aarhus]

As long as their are people desperate for jobs that can support a family I doubt that many countries, unless they are themselves undesirable, will change their visa process.

Many lat am countries and some poorer than the dr don’t need a Schengen visa. I think it’s mainly because the dr is so disorganized and maybe the border with Haiti and being a hub for immigration.

 

[Alltimegreat]

As long as their are people desperate for jobs that can support a family I doubt that many countries, unless they are themselves undesirable, will change their visa process.

It's a fair point, but a country could simply offer visa-free access to Dominicans to visit for tourism. That would not give them the right to seek gainful employment there.

 

[Alltimegreat]

Many lat am countries and some poorer than the dr don’t need a Schengen visa. I think it’s mainly because the dr is so disorganized and maybe the border with Haiti and being a hub for immigration.

That's right. Hondurans, Venezuelans, and Guatemalans do not require a Schengen visa, whereas Dominicans do. The DR has a history of fake passports being issued, most notably the incident with Kim Jung Un's brother in 2001, and it's well known that the Dominican government has made a concerted effort over the past 10 to 15 years to root out the holders of these fake passports.

These measures by the government combined with the upcoming introduction of biometric-chipped passports, which is definitely viewed as the cutting-edge international standard for passport security features these days, other countries may open up to granting visa-free access to Dominicans for tourism.

 

[CristoRey]

Perhaps more countries will allow Dominicans visa free entry for those who obtain a biometric passport once issued.