There is undoubtedly some privilege attached when an individual travels internationally on a passport that has a higher ranking on the Henley Passport Index (which ranks nations according to how much freedom of movement their passports grant). As a South Asian, I have always had a very tough time navigating immigration. Sadly, none of the South Asian countries rank in the Top 50 list of the Henley’s Passport Index. This makes international travel time-consuming, complicated, and immensely expensive. Even planning a short holiday to Europe seems nearly impossible for many due to the strict visa policies and documentation scrutiny.

As the topic is travel-inclined, I often think of the UK citizens who would have felt the impact after the country took its exit from the European Union, post-Brexit, in 2020. And how it would have affected their travel in and around the European continent, which earlier didn’t seem like a challenge, Nesrine Malik, a Guardian UK columnist, recently made a statement, and I second her on this: “Only a country as complacent as the UK could give up its border privilege so easily”.

Since 2016, the British passport has fallen from 1st place in the index to 6th. International travel is even more chaotic and stressful as a result of Brexit. Britons could visit nearly 200 countries without a prior visa. Traveling to and within Europe has become more unreliable, expensive, and challenging. Getting a single stamp to enter the European Union may seem simple, but waiting in line takes hours. This leads to missing the connecting flight, losing luggage, and having to file refunds.

There is no longer any consistency. The requirements a British national will have to fulfil to visit Portugal are not necessarily going to remain the same if the person plans to visit Italy. Recently, Spain confirmed that British visitors may need proof of adequate finances to cover their stay, a return ticket, and documentation of their accommodation. Again, France has a separate set of rules for allowing British visitors.

The majority of nations with a bottom ranking, such as those from South Asia, have to squeeze in through the eye of a needle. Applications are met with virtually rigid walls of bureaucracy, suspicion, tedious paperwork, and, often, humiliation and rejection. A low-ranking passport puts South Asians in constant danger of falling through the cracks while planning a journey abroad.

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