Four (Almost) Visa-Free Deals in a Week. Ukrainian Passport Keeps Rising in Value

Now Bahrain is opening its borders too.

Over the past week, Ukrainians have gained easier access to four countries at once.

• On September 24, Ukraine and Colombia mutually abolished visa requirements
• On September 26, Ukraine and Ecuador concluded a similar agreement

Previously, a visa had to be obtained in advance for both countries. As a result, all major countries of South America except the long-suffering Venezuela and Bolivia are now open to Ukrainians without a visa, although Bolivia issues one on arrival.

• On September 27, Saudi Arabia allowed citizens of Ukraine and 48 other countries to obtain a visa on arrival

Ukraine has no merit here, except perhaps that making it into the top 49 — is quite decent. One of the world's most closed countries has simply stopped being so and wants tourists. The visa fee, however, is relatively expensive — 440 riyals (about $120).

• On September 28, Bahrain made Ukraine the 69th country whose citizens can obtain a visa on arrival

Visas on arrival — are almost visa-free, just paid, because refusal at the border is very unlikely. The price in Bahrain — $65.

The Passport Index website assesses the strength of each country's passport by the number of countries it allows free entry to (visa-free, with a formal electronic visa, or with an even more formal visa at the border). According to this site, the Ukrainian passport allows free entry to 136 countries and ranks 63rd in the world, on par with Macao and Trinidad and Tobago (nothing to be ashamed of at all).

However, for some reason Colombia is still listed as a visa country for Ukraine (amendments for Ecuador, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have already been made), so it is fair to consider that Ukrainians have access to 137 countries — which puts Ukraine on par with Seychelles and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (positions 59-61). It also does not account for the fact that Tunisia can be entered without a visa if you bought a tour package from a travel agency.

Further growth of the Ukrainian passport in the ranking is also possible. Setting aside visa waivers for the US, UK, Australia, Japan and so on, which are unrealistic today, there are several countries with which a visa waiver can be relatively easily agreed:

1. Morocco. Getting a visa there is a pure formality, but people still have to spend time even on going to the consulate
2. South Korea. Realistically, Russia, whose passport can no longer compare with the Ukrainian one, has a visa waiver with it, for example
   
3. South Africa. There will be no flow of migrants in either direction, but life for tourists could be made easier
   
4. Tunisia. Why limit visa-free travel only to tour packages?
   
5. Vietnam. A visa can be obtained on arrival, but only with an invitation from the host side, which is also an unnecessary formality
   

Yevgeny Blazhko