Malta ranks just outside the world Top 10 and tops the list of the 10 new EU members for being able to visit the most countries in the world without requiring a visa.

According to a report compiled by Zurich-based firm Henley & Partners AG, Malta ranks joint 11th (with South Korea) worldwide with our citizens being able to visit a total of 115 countries without needing a visa.

Despite coming in joint 11th place, Malta heads the list of the 10 new acceded EU countries and outstrips the restrictions on candidate countries.

The study, published on Thursday, found that Danes, Finns and Americans can travel to 130 countries or territories without a visa.

These three are followed by Germany, Ireland and Sweden � whose citizens can visit 129 countries without a visa � then Britain, France, Italy and Japan 128.

EU members Spain and Belgium came in joint fourth, along with Switzerland and Norway, who are not members, with citizens permitted to travel to 127 countries. Holland came in fifth with 126 countries.

EU members Austria and Luxembourg came in joint sixth, along with Canada and New Zealand, where citizens can visit 125 states without a visa.

Portugal came in a lonely 7th with free access to 123 countries, followed by Singapore with 122 and Australia, Iceland, Malaysia and EU member Greece in 9th, being allowed unrestricted visits to 120 countries.

Liechtenstein came in 10th with 116 countries, while Malta and South Korea propped up the Top 10 with citizens being allowed to visit 115 countries without a visa.

Fellow EU 10 members had more restrictions with Cyprus coming in 12th with 113 countries, Poland in 16th with 106 followed by Slovenia in 17th, Hungary in 19th and the Czech Republic in 21st with 106, 105, 101 and 98 countries respectively.

Slovakia came in 22nd place with 97 countries, Lithuania in 24th with 94 and Estonia and Latvia in joint 26th with 91 countries.

EU membership candidates Croatia (84 countries), Bulgaria (83), Romania (73) and Turkey (52) were much further down the list in joint 28th, 29th, 34th and 46th place respectively.

�In today�s globalised world, visa restrictions play an important role in controlling the movement of foreign nationals across borders,� said Henley & Partners, which advises private and business clients on international tax and real estate issues. �Almost all countries now require visas from certain non-nationals who wish to enter their territory.�

Afghanistan came in last place, where free travel is restricted to just 12 countries. Iran was next at 14, followed by Iraq, Myanmar and Somalia at 15.

Henley & Partners � which compiled the results by assessing some 40,000 combinations of countries and territories � said it was the first global ranking showing international freedom of travel.

�Visa requirements are also an expression of the relationships between individual nations, and generally reflect the relations and status of a country within the international community,� a spokesman said.