Singapore holds the crown as the world’s most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 193 destinations out of 227 globally, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. The index is powered by exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and ranks all the world’s passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without a prior visa. Asian nations continue to lead the global mobility race, with Japan and South Korea sharing 2nd place, each granting their citizens access to 190 destinations visa-free.

A strong European contingent occupies the rest of the Top 5. Seven EU passports share 3rd place — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, all with access to 189 destinations. Another seven-nation European cohort, with visa-free entry to 188 destinations, are joint 4th — Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden — while New Zealand, the only nation to challenge the regional dominance, ties in 5th place with Greece and Switzerland.

At the other end of the global mobility spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the ranking, with its citizens able to access just 25 destinations without a prior visa — a staggering mobility gap of 168 destinations between the top- and bottom-ranked passports.

Biggest risers and fallers

The UK and US have each dropped a place in the global passport rankings since January, continuing a long-term downward trend. Once the most powerful passports in the world — the UK in 2015 and the US in 2014 — they now rank 6th and 10th, respectively. The UK currently has visa-free access to 186 destinations, while the US trails with 182. Notably, the US is now on the brink of exiting the Top 10 altogether for the first time in the index’s 20-year history.

India has recorded the largest jump in ranking over the past six months, climbing eight places from 85th to 77th, despite only adding two destinations to its visa-free tally, now at 59. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has made the biggest gain in visa-free access, adding four destinations since January. Its total now stands at 91, lifting the kingdom four places to 54th.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the inventor of the passport index concept, says the latest Henley Passport Index reveals an increasingly competitive landscape in global mobility. “The consolidation we’re seeing at the top underscores that access is earned — and must be maintained — through active and strategic diplomacy. Nations that proactively negotiate visa waivers and nurture reciprocal agreements continue to rise, while the opposite applies to those that are less engaged in such efforts.”

UAE and China lead passport power shift

A long-term retrospective view of the index reveals a general global shift towards increased openness, greater mobility, and rising passport strength. Over the past decade, more than 80 passports have climbed at least 10 places, and the global average number of destinations travelers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025.

The UAE continues to be a standout among the top risers, shooting up 34 places over the last 10 years from 42nd to 8th place, making it the only big riser to break into the Top 10 in the ranking. Another notable winner is China, also rising 34 places from 94th to 60th since 2015 — particularly impressive considering that, unlike other top risers, China has not yet gained visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area.

China’s rise has, however, been assisted by its significant move towards greater openness. According to the Henley Openness Index , which ranks all 199 countries worldwide according to the number of nationalities they permit entry to without a prior visa, China has granted visa-free access to over a dozen new passports since January, bringing its total openness score to 75 nations, a remarkable shift considering it allowed visa-free entry to fewer than 20 countries just five years ago.

Notable additions to China’s visa-free list in 2025 include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia — which means that citizens of all Gulf Cooperation Council countries can travel to China with no prior visa — as well as several South American nations including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. China’s granting of visa-free access to several European states over the past two years has also contributed to the dominance of European passports at the top of the Henley Passport Power Index, which measures the percentage of global GDP each passport provides to its holders visa-free.

Asia-Pacific fuels growth in air travel demand

China’s increased openness has been part of an ongoing strategy to attract more visitors, and combined with the strong passports of its maritime neighbors and Singapore, the Asia-Pacific region is a leading driver of global travel.

IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, says overall demand for air travel showed strong 5.8% growth over the first five months of 2025, with some regional variations. “Asia-Pacific airlines led the way with 9.5% growth. In North America, international traffic grew by 1.8%, but this was offset by a 1% contraction in the domestic market, leaving demand effectively flat over the period. Importantly, despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties, consumer confidence appears to be strong, with robust forward bookings for the peak Northern summer travel season giving good reason for optimism.”

Legacy powers lose ground in global mobility race

Looking at the past decade, with so many passports gaining power and rising on the Henley Passport Index, only 16 have fallen in rank. The biggest faller is Venezuela, which plunged 15 places from 30th to 45th, followed the US (down 8 places), Vanuatu (-6 places), the UK (-5 places), and Canada (-4 places).

This downward shift in rankings underscores a broader trend: traditional mobility champions are losing ground in an increasingly multi-polar world. As emerging economies liberalize their visa regimes and invest in diplomatic capital, legacy powers like the UK and the US appear to be retreating behind more restrictive entry policies.

Dr. Juerg Steffen, Chief Executive Officer at Henley & Partners, says this trend is reshaping the investment migration landscape. “Americans are now leading the demand worldwide for alternative residence and citizenship options, with British nationals also among the top five globally. As the US and UK adopt increasingly inward-looking policies, we’re witnessing a marked rise in interest from their citizens seeking greater global access and security. Your passport is no longer just a travel document — it’s a reflection of your country’s diplomatic influence and international relationships. In an era of growing inequality and mounting geopolitical uncertainty, strategic mobility and citizenship planning are more critical than ever.”

-Ends-

Notes to Editors

About the 2025 Henley Passport Index

With cutting-edge expert commentary and historical data spanning over 20 years, the Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. Originally created by Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the ranking is based on exclusive and official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information, and it is enhanced by extensive, ongoing research by the Henley & Partners Research Department.

Along with the Kälin – Kochenov Quality of Nationality Index, it is considered a major tool for global citizens and the standard reference for government policy in this field.

About Henley & Partners

Henley & Partners is the global leader in residence and citizenship by investment. Each year, hundreds of wealthy individuals and their advisors rely on our expertise and experience in this area. The firm’s highly qualified professionals work together as one team in over 60 offices worldwide.

The concept of residence and citizenship by investment was created by Henley & Partners in the 1990s. As globalization has expanded, residence and citizenship have become topics of significant interest among the increasing number of internationally mobile entrepreneurs and investors whom we proudly serve every day.

Henley & Partners also runs the world’s leading government advisory practice for investment migration, which has raised more than USD 15 billion in foreign direct investment. Trusted by governments, the firm has been involved in strategic consulting and in the design, set-up, and operation of the world’s most successful residence and citizenship programs.

https://www.henleyglobal.com

Media Contact

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Sarah Nicklin

Group Head of Public Relations & Communications

sarah.nicklin@henleyglobal.com

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Global Passport Rankings Shake Up: Singapore Rises, U.S. and U.K. Slip

In a stunning turnaround in global mobility, Singapore has become the world’s most powerful passport in 2025, with visa-free access to 193 of 227 destinations across the globe, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. This is a huge achievement that shows that Singapore’s influence on the international stage is increasing, and that they are not afraid to issue visa-waivers as strategic concessions.

The Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports on the number of destinations their holders can visit without a prior visa, has ranked Singapore first for the third year running. Singapore’s near-global reach of mobility marks the success of its diplomatic efforts, and its citizens can travel the world with ease. Japan and South Korea both have access to 190 destinations, and the two countries moved up each by one rank. once again underlining the continent’s traveling power.

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The change in the order of leaders, including Asian countries in the lead, demonstrates the strengthening of the geopolitical positions of this region. In the meantime, traditional global powers such as the U.S. and the U.K. saw their standings decline, the U.S. to 10th and the U.K. to 6th, indicating a shifting international hierarchy.

Diplomatic Influence Behind Global Mobility

“Global citizenship, alongside either visa-free travel or visas on arrival to some of the world’s most exciting destinations, has never been more important, Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the inventor of the Henley Passport Index, says about the ideal of diplomatic clout in mobility prospects. “The consolidation we are seeing at the top makes manifest that access is earned — and must be cultivated — through skillful and strategic diplomacy,” he said. Nations that are successful in negotiating visa exemptions and reciprocity arrangements continue to climb the ladder, whereas those who lack progress in this area tend to slip.

Singapore’s achievement of first and second place on the Henley Passport Index is the culmination of a decades-long strategy of careful diplomacy and effective foreign policy. Over the years, the nation has forged alliances with several other global sectors, and this is why it boasts a rather impressive number of countries that its people can travel to without a visa. This geopolitical strategy has helped make Singapore’s passport one of the most precious in the world, not just for its freedom to travel without the hassle of queuing for a visa but for the economic opportunities and cultural ties it unlocks for its people.

The Fall of America and Britain

Whilst Asia is on the up, the US and UK have slid down their passport rankings. The U.S. is tied for 10th place with access to 182 destinations, which is the lowest the U.S. has ranked since this index was introduced. The U.K. has slipped to 6th spot at 186 destinations, falling behind other nations with more agile diplomatic tactics. For the first time in 20 years, the U.S. looks set to drop out of Mintel’s top ten entirely, highlighting the changing global dynamics of mobility and the declining value of American passport holders in the international mobility space.

The fall in the standings of both has called into question the influence of global diplomacy on passport power. At a time when geopolitical relations are uncertain and global challenges are on the rise, the importance of the visa bargaining power of a country’s citizens has never been as critical.

UAE, China Shifting Rankings for Passport Power

Another success story in the passport rankings can be found in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which climbed 34 places over the past 10 years to finish in 8th spot, providing access to 186 destinations visa-free. This remarkable change, no doubt, reflects the UAE’s increasing global weight and its well-crafted diplomatic moves to promote its relations with the rest of the world and to intensify visa merge-signings.

China has also improved markedly (up 34 places since 2015, to 60th). Although China is not on the list for visa-free travel to Schengen, China has made great progress in increasing the number of countries that passport holders can visit without a visa. Significantly, China has visa-free access to 75 countries, which include many from the GCC countries, as well as in South America with countries like Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. These efforts further complement China’s overall tourism and goals targeted to increase global mobility of Chinese citizens.

Trends of global travel demand and mobility on the rise

Global demand for air travel has increased by 5.8% in the first five months of 2025, said the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Asia-Pacific carriers have been at the forefront of the growth in recent years, with a 9.5 percent increase in passenger numbers, reflecting strong regional mobility and more liberal visa policies in the region. Even in the face of pressures from economic and geopolitical uncertainties, consumer confidence is still strong and forward bookings for the peak Northern summer travel season are robust.

“Strong forward bookings for the peak Northern summer travel season provide a strong indication that this remains the case,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, who said global travel demand has continued to rise even as uncertainty remains.

The changing tide of global passport ranking

The passport rankings are not only an indicator of a traveler’s convenience, but also have come to serve as a statement on a country’s diplomatic engagement and global image. Values change and nations like the United Arab Emirates, but also China, have strategically deployed a diplomatic “coins flattery” approach to climb the rankings, revealing how foreign policy can directly impact the global mobility of citizens.

In contrast to all this, dynasties in the classic powers of the global world, such as the U.S. and U.K., have come down – a testament to the maintenance of a diligent relationship on the world stage. As world travel develops, however, it has become increasingly obvious that the world’s strongest passport rankings will increasingly be held by the countries that pursue active visa politics with strong allies.

The Future of Global Mobility

With nations such as Singapore, Japan, and South Korea taking the top spots in the passport rankings, the future of global mobility is expected to be determined by smart diplomacy. In an age of growing inequality and geopolitical tensions, the ability to travel without restraint appears increasingly to be a measure of a nation’s global standing. The newest Henley Passport Index offers a snapshot of this passport-power landscape and this shifting hierarchy, illustrating both the impressive results that states can enjoy and the challenges that they face.

(Source: Henley & Partners, International Air Transport Association, U.S. Department of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE)

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Singapore Leads Global Passport Rankings, UAE Gains Massive, US,UK Slip: All That You Need To Know

Singapore,the tiny Southeast Asian city-state has overtaken Hong Kong to become the world’s most powerful passport. Singapore maintains best passport power in the world in 2025. In a world increasingly driven by travel freedom, Singapore remains the leading global performer on the Henley Passport Index (HPI) for 2025. The passport of the city-state permits its people to visit 193 places across the globe without a visa or with one on arrival, more than any other passport in the world. Through information that was exclusive to The Times from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), users could see just how significantly the pandemic has altered their ability to take flight where they please, when they please — as travel restrictions linger. For Singapore, it’s the latest in a string of years at the top, and gives citizens who hold a Singapore passport even more choices of places to travel without applying for a visa in advance or on arrival.

The Henley Passport Index, a list of the world’s most travel-friendly passports, is compiled by the New Jersey-based citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, with relevance according to how many countries as holders can enter without a prior visa or by obtaining one upon arrival. The list is an important tool for both travelers seeking to move around the world and policy planners working to plan for where global mobility is heading.

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Japan and South Korea Claim the Second Spot

With Asian countries leading the global passport power rankings, Japan and South Korea are in joint second place. For both countries, passport holders can now visit 190 destinations around the world, demonstrating their continued commitment to be leaders in travel mobility. The strong rankings show increased influence of Asian countries in the global travel scene as well as the increasing number of new visa agreements that favor nations from those parts of the world.

These rankings are determined by the power of passports, based on diplomatic relationships, as well as trade and travel agreements. One example is South Korea, which saw an improvement because it moved up in international rankings (both multilateral and bilateral) that enable its citizens to travel more easily to other countries.

Europe on the Rise, 7 in the Top 10

While Asia is leading the charge, Europe isn’t far behind. Several members of the European Union are quite well up the list. Germany, France and Spain (including other EU countries) come in third, providing their citizens visa-free access to 189 destinations. That is the power of the agreements the EU has reached across the whole of the EU that helps the mobility of EU citizens, who are able to move around the continent and beyond.

The strong rankings of these passports demonstrate Europe’s integration and access to reciprocal visa arrangements and harmonious political relations on a global scale.

New Zealand: The Lone Non-European Power in the Top Five

In a notable twist, New Zealand ranks as the only non-European country in the top five, sharing its place with Japan and South Korea. The island nation offers access to 190 destinations for its citizens, maintaining a solid standing among the world’s most mobile passports. Its position highlights the country’s stable diplomatic relations, strong tourism sector, and consistent growth in global travel agreements, allowing its citizens easy access to international destinations.

United Arab Emirates and China Improve Rankings

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has shown the most impressive improvement in this year’s rankings. In a significant move upward, the UAE has catapulted on to the 8th place with its passport facilitating visa-free entry to 186 destinations. And this uptick simply would not have been possible without the UAE’s aggressive and bold diplomacy -– opening up visa-free access through more bilateral agreements and open borders for its citizens.

China has also seen one of the most dramatic jumps in global passport rankings. It surged into 60th position, with visa-free access to 75 countries. The move serves to highlight China’s growing global reach and stated purpose of attracting international tourists by loosening visa policies. More recent updates have included opening GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries and a number of South American countries, placing China as a new major player in the world travel ecosystem.

The Fall of the Old Travel Giants: US And UK

Even though the ascension of new passport powers is evident, the old greats (such as the USA and the UK) have felt a slide in their global mobility ratings. The U.K. has dropped to sixth place, with access to 186 destinations, and the United States is in 10th place, with access to 182. This is US’s lowest position on the Henley Passport Index since the index began in 2006. The decline stems from geopolitical factors and policy decisions like visa policy changes, and amid global realities such as the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting international relations.

India’s extraordinary rise in the ratings

It has been a great year for Indian passports on the global scale. India jumps up the rankings by an impressive eight places to 77, with access to 59 destinations visa-free. This progress shows how India has expanded its global reach and also strengthened ties with the diplomatic fraternity.

Likewise, Saudi Arabia has taken a striking leap, rising to 54th place on the back of four new visa-exemptions. This is a good story for the Middle East, where so many countries are trying to get better known in the world.

Afghanistan at the Bottom

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Afghanistan has ranked at the bottom of the Henley Passport Index, offering its citizens visa-free access to just 25 destinations. This highlights the country’s ongoing struggles with political instability and international relations, which have significantly hampered its citizens’ ability to travel freely.

In Conclusion: A Year of Developments in Global Passport Power

Here’s what the Henley Passport Index 2025 reveals: Frontiers change as the power of passports continues to transform, with fluctuations in rankings and concrete gains for countries that are ramping up global engagement. With changing diplomatic ties, countries such as the UAE, the China and India are seeing an increased clout, while countries popular with passports like the US and the UK suffer setbacks. The fluid map of global travel that we are witnessing is exposing the general political and economic shifts taking place across the world which are influencing the manner in which people are able to visit different parts of the world and expand their knowledge of other cultures.

(Source: henleyglobal.com)

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