The London-based Henley & Partners residence and citizenship planning company has published its passport index ranking based on the number of visa restrictions for citizens.

The index places Bulgaria 19^th,with visa-free travel to 169 countries. Last year the country shared the 20^th position with Romania, with visa-free access to 156 countries. The index is topped by Japan, whose citizens are able to visit 190 countries without needing a visa, followed by South Korea and Singapore with 189 countries.

Former leader Germany has dropped down to 3^rd place, which is now shares with France, whose citizens have visa-free access to 188 countries. Bottom of the list are Iraq and Afghanistan with visa-free access to just 30 countries of the world.