Singapore Crowned World’s Most Powerful Passport in 2025 Henley Rankings
— The Singaporean passport remains the world’s most powerful, offering visa-free access to 193 countries as of July 2025.
According to the latest Henley Passport Index, the Singaporean passport remains the world’s most powerful, offering holders visa-free or visa‑on‑arrival access to 193 countries as of July 2025. Following closely, Japan and South Korea occupy second place, each with access to 190 destinations.
European nations dominate the upper echelons: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain tie for third place with 189 accessible countries, while Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden share fourth place at 188. Greece, New Zealand, and Switzerland follow in fifth place with 187 visa-free destinations, and the UK holds sixth place at 186.
The United States has suffered its lowest ranking since the index began 20 years ago, falling to 10th place, sharing that rank with Iceland and Lithuania, offering access to 182 countries. This decline is attributed to stricter domestic policies, including past travel bans and a new US$250 "visa integrity fee" for non‑immigrant visa applicants.
At the opposite end, the Afghan passport remains the weakest, permitting visa-free travel to only 25 nations, followed by Syria with 27, and Iraq with 30. This highlights a stark mobility gap of 168 destinations between the strongest and weakest passports.
The Henley Passport Index evaluates the global travel freedom of 199 national passports against 227 destinations using data from IATA—assigning points for each country accessible without pre-departure visas. The current 2025 report follows a clear trend: Asia and Europe increasingly dominate passport strength rankings, with Singapore maintaining its top position through proactive diplomatic and visa‑waiver strategies.
Top 10 Passport Rankings (Henley Passport Index, 2025)
| Rank | Country | Visa‑Free / Visa‑on‑Arrival Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 193 |
| 2 | Japan, South Korea | 190 |
| 3 | Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain | 189 |
| 4 | Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden | 188 |
| 5 | Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland | 187 |
| 6 | United Kingdom | 186 |
| 7 | Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland | 185 |
| 8 | Canada, Estonia, United Arab Emirates | 184 |
| 9 | Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia | 183 |
| 10 | Iceland, Lithuania, United States | 182 |
Why It Matters
Passport strength represents more than travel convenience—it reflects diplomatic influence, international relations, and a country’s global integration. For individuals seeking expanded mobility, access, or dual citizenship, these rankings offer valuable insights into the evolving landscape of global travel freedom.
Latest
