
Singapore has reclaimed its position as the world’s leader in passport power for 2025, according to the Henley Passport Index. With visa-free access to 195 out of 227 global destinations, the small city-state’s passport remains the most sought after in the world. This marks a significant achievement for Singapore, reinforcing its place at the forefront of global mobility.
Japan follows closely behind in second place, with a passport that grants access to 193 destinations. Japan secured this position after regaining visa-free access to China, which had been suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic. This development helped Japan solidify its ranking and restore its global mobility advantages.
In third place are several European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, and South Korea. Passport holders from these nations enjoy visa-free access to 192 destinations globally. These countries continue to dominate the rankings due to their strong diplomatic ties, economic power, and well-established travel privileges for their citizens.
The fourth position in the rankings highlights the power of the European Union’s (EU) Schengen area, which guarantees free movement to over 425 million EU citizens. Seven EU countries share this spot, with Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden all tied, each with visa-free access to 191 destinations. The open borders within the Schengen area remain a significant advantage for citizens of these countries.
Five countries share the fifth spot, including Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Passport holders from these nations can travel to 190 destinations without needing a visa, placing them among the most powerful passport holders in the world.
The Henley Passport Index, now marking its 20th anniversary, tracks the visa-free access granted by passports to various countries and territories. The ranking uses exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan remains in the bottom spot, with visa-free access to only 26 destinations, two fewer than the previous year. This highlights the increasing mobility gap between the world’s most powerful and least powerful passports.
Christian H. Kaelin, Chair of Henley & Partners, emphasized that the gap between the travel freedoms of countries at the top and bottom of the rankings has never been wider. He highlighted the importance of reassessing the concept of citizenship as geopolitical instability, climate change, and displacement continue to affect millions of people around the world.
The rest of the top 10 is largely dominated by European countries, although there are notable exceptions. Greece and Australia are tied for sixth place, while Malta, Poland, and Canada occupy seventh place. Czechia and Hungary share the eighth spot, and the United States and Estonia are tied in ninth. The tenth place is held by Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the UAE emerging as one of the most significant success stories in the rankings. Since 2015, the UAE has climbed 32 places, now offering visa-free access to 185 destinations, a remarkable improvement in global mobility.
China has also made significant strides, moving up from 94th place in 2015 to 60th place in 2025, showcasing the ongoing changes in global passport rankings.
The rankings reflect not only the growing mobility of certain countries but also the ongoing challenges faced by others. The Henley Passport Index is part of a larger movement to assess the global power of passports, with financial firms like Arton Capital providing real-time passport rankings through its Passport Index. In Arton’s 2025 Global Passport Power Rank, the UAE holds the top position, followed by Spain in second place.
As global mobility becomes increasingly important in an interconnected world, passports from countries like Singapore, Japan, and the EU remain highly coveted, offering their citizens the ability to travel freely and without significant restrictions. These rankings serve as a reminder of the advantages that come with powerful passports, and the importance of global cooperation and diplomacy in shaping the future of travel.