The ranking for 2017 moves us up from 11th place back in 2016.

The Irish nationality has ranked ninth best in the world, according to a new international index. The Kochenov Quality of Nationality Index (QNI) measures both the internal value of nationality – such as the economic strength, human development, and peace and stability – and the external value of nationality, including visa-free travel and the ability to settle and work abroad without cumbersome formalities. Ireland is in the 'Extremely High Quality' group – along with most of Europe. France's quality of nationality takes the number one spot, according to the QNI, scoring an impressive 81.7% out of a possible 100%, fractionally ahead of Germany. Iceland and Denmark take third and fourth place, respectively, and Ireland ties with Switzerland for ninth place just before Austria. According to information that was released via a Passport Index late last year, an Irish passport is one of the most powerful passports in the world. The index, which was developed by international residence and citizenship advisory firm Arton Capital, ranks national passports by the cross-border access they bring, assigning a ‘visa-free score’ according to the number of countries a passport holder can visit visa-free or with visa on arrival. Ireland ranks in sixth place due to its ability of the holder of an Irish passport to visit 154 countries out of 193 United Nations member countries and six territories - ROC Taiwan, Macao (SAR China), Hong Kong (SAR China), Kosovo, Palestinian Territory and the Vatican. The UK has dropped down a ranking from last year to thirteenth place, while the US increases its position by two ranks taking twenty-seventh place. Speaking about Brexit, the study says: "A 'hard Brexit' would see the UK losing its settlement and work rights in 30 of the world's leading states, overwhelmingly impairing the quality of its nationality. "But it could also increase tension and competition between the UK and the rest of Europe and potentially destabilise the nationalities of EU member states that had hitherto enjoyed close ties to the UK." Image cred: Henleyglobal.com