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Singapore Celebrates Reclaiming Its Top Spot in the Quarterly Global Passport Ranking
Singapore celebrates reclaiming its position at the world’s most powerful passport ranking. According to the Henley Passport Index, holders of this coveted red passport enjoy visa-free access to 195 out of 227 global destinations, more than any other nationality.
Japan takes second place, with access to 193 destinations, securing the silver medal by regaining visa-free access to neighboring China for the first time since the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Third place is held by European Union member countries France, Germany, Italy, Spain, along with Finland and South Korea. These countries can access192 destinations without requiring prior visas.
The fourth position in the ranking highlights the strength of the EU's Schengen Area, which guarantees free movement for over 425 million EU citizens. Seven EU countries share this spot, each with visa-free access to 191 destinations: Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.
In fifth place are five countries—Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom—each with access to 190 destinations without needing a visa. Travelers to the UK from 48 countries now must apply for entry authorization before arriving.
The Mobility Gap
Now in its 20th year, the Henley Passport Index, created by global citizenship and residency advisory firm Henley & Partners, tracks global freedoms across 227 countries and territories worldwide using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
At the opposite end of the ranking, Afghanistan occupies the last position, number 106, with visa-free access to just 26 destinations, two fewer than the previous year. Syria ranks number 105 with access to 27 destinations, and Iraq is in 104th place with access to 31 destinations.
This means that the gap between the travel freedoms enjoyed by citizens at the top and bottom of the ranking has never been wider.
"The very notion of citizenship and its lottery of birthright needs a fundamental re-evaluation as temperatures rise, natural disasters become more frequent and severe, displacing communities and making their environments uninhabitable," said Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, in a press statement.
"At the same time, political instability and armed conflicts in various regions are forcing countless people to flee their homes in search of safety and refuge."
Rises and Falls
The rest of the top 10 is dominated by European countries, with a few exceptions. Australia and Greece are tied in 6th place, while Malta, Poland, and Canada occupy the 7th spot. The 8th place is shared by Czechia and Hungary, with the United States and Estonia in 9th place, and Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates in 10th place.
The UAE has seen one of the most significant advances in global mobility, gaining access to 72 more destinations since 2015, allowing it to climb 32 places to 10th position with visa-free access to 185 destinations. China has also experienced a notable rise, moving from 94th place in 2015 to 60th place in 2025.
In the past decade, only 22 out of the world’s 199 passports have fallen in the rankings, and some surprising names are occupying the top spots. Venezuela ranks number 1, followed by the United States, which has dropped seven places from 2nd to 9th. The Pacific island nation of Vanuatu holds 4th place, with the British passport in 5th, a former No. 1. Canada also appears on the list of declines, having dropped three places over the last decade.
The Henley & Partners list is one of several indexes created by financial firms to rank global passports according to the access they provide to their citizens.
Arton Capital’s Passport Index considers the passports of 193 UN member countries and six territories—Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Kosovo, the Palestinian Territories, and the Vatican. Annexed territories are excluded. Arton’s Global Passport Power Rank 2025 places the United Arab Emirates in first place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 180. Spain ranks second with a score of 179.
Most Powerful Passports for 2025:
Singapore (195 destinations)
Japan (193)
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, South Korea (192)
Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway (191)
Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom (190)
Greece, Australia (189)
Canada, Poland, Malta (188)
Hungary, Czechia (187)
Estonia, United States (186)
Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates (185)
Source: CNN
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