According to Henley Passport Index 2025Singapore holds the title of essentially the most powerful passport on this planet.
In 2024, Singapore was among the many top six countries in rankings compiled by migration consultancy Henley & Partners, which rates passports based on the variety of destinations available to holders with no visa.
Singapore overtook the opposite five countries – Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain and France – by allowing its residents visa-free entry to 195 of 227 destinations all over the world, in keeping with the rankings released on Wednesday.
Japan ranks second with visa-free travel to 193 locations, while the 4 European countries that took first place last yr together with Finland and South Korea rank third, each allowing passport holders to go to 192 visa-free destinations.
European countries, together with New Zealand, dominate the remainder of the highest 20 list.
Henley Passport Index Rankings 199 passports worldwide, using data from the International Air Transport Association.
The term “visa-free” as defined within the Index covers scenarios where a visa shouldn’t be required or where easier-to-obtain entry documents are needed, reminiscent of visas on arrival, visitor permits and electronic travel authorities.
Notable changes within the rankings
The UAE has emerged as considered one of the ‘biggest climbers’ within the rankings, achieving visa-free travel to 72 destinations over the past decade, taking its total to 185 destinations worldwide.
Right behind them is the United States, whose residents – in keeping with the rankings – can visit 186 locations with no visa.
The United States is amongst 22 countries which have seen their passport rankings decline over the past decade.
“Surprisingly, from 2015 to 2025, the United States had the second largest decline, falling seven places from second place to current ninth place,” the press release noted.
Passports from the UK, which topped the list in 2015, and Canada also saw declines.
China improved its rating to sixtieth in 2025, with a major increase in openness to other countries, now allowing residents of 58 destinations visa-free entry, half of which were added last yr, in keeping with the Henley Openness Index.
Lowest rankings
Afghanistan continues to be the weakest passport, taking last place within the rating allowing access to only 26 of 227 destinations. Afghan residents can visit countries reminiscent of Cambodia, Maldives, Djibouti, Sri Lanka and Haiti with no visa.
As Henley & Partners notes, the disproportion between the strongest and weakest passports is the biggest within the 19-year history of the index. Singaporeans can travel to 169 more destinations than Afghans without requiring a visa.
After Afghanistan, the weakest passports belong to Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia, Nepal, the Palestinian territories, Libya and Bangladesh, all of which rank below North Korea, whose residents, in keeping with the rankings, have access to 41 destinations all over the world.
Here are the highlights of the Henley Passport Index for 2025:
- Top rating: Singapore has essentially the most powerful passport on this planet, allowing visa-free access to 195 of 227 destinations.
- Related countries: In 2024, Singapore was considered one of six countries to occupy the highest spots, including Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.
- Japan’s position: Japan ranks second for visa-free travel to 193 destinations.
- Third place: Four European countries, Finland and South Korea rank third, each allowing visa-free access to 192 destinations.
- The establishment of the United Arab Emirates: The UAE has significantly improved its rating, adding 72 latest destinations over the past decade, bringing its total to 185.
- US decline: The United States dropped from 2nd to ninth place, and its residents can visit 186 places with no visa.
- China’s improvement: China moved as much as sixtieth place, now allowing visa-free travel to residents from 58 countries.
- The weakest passport: Afghanistan has the weakest passport, allowing access to only 26 destinations, with a major difference between the strongest and weakest passports.
- Other low rankings: After Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia, Nepal, the Palestinian territories, Libya and Bangladesh have the weakest passports, all rating below North Korea, which allows access to 41 destinations.
