Ukraine climbed from 99th to 80th position in the Henley & Partners – Kochenov Quality of Nationality Index (QNI) and was included in the list of the top three countries with the most significant growth in the value of nationality, Henley & Partners reported on Friday. According to researchers, in 2017, Ukrainian citizenship received a rating of 36.1%, which is 6.4 percentage points higher than in the previous year’s rating. The main reason for this growth is the introduction of a visa-free regime with the Schengen countries, and the number of countries with visa-free entry for Ukrainians increased from 81 to 115 last year, they say.
They argue that Ukraine could have occupied even higher positions in the rating if not for geopolitical issues and armed conflict and recall that the country’s position in the QNI five years ago was better than now – 74th in 2013 and 78th in 2014.
Of the 209 countries studied in 2017, for the first time in the last five years, the first place went to France – 81.7%. Germany, the leader of last year’s rating, dropped to second place with 81.6%.
The top ten countries also include Iceland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, and Austria.
