The latest Henley Passport Index for 2025 has revealed some surprising changes in global travel freedom. While Singapore has tightened its grip on the top spot, traditional powers like the United States and United Kingdom have slipped further down the list. Meanwhile, India has recorded the most significant improvement among all countries in just six months.
The index, compiled by Henley & Partners using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks passports based on how many destinations holders can access without a visa. The new ranking shows clear shifts in global mobility and influence.
Singapore Tops the List Again
In 2025, Singapore once again holds the most powerful passport in the world. Its citizens can now travel to 193 countries without needing a visa. This places Singapore firmly in the number one position, after breaking a tie with five other countries earlier this year.
Previously, Singapore shared the top spot with Japan, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. But the updated rankings show that Singapore now leads on its own, continuing to dominate the global passport scene.
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Japan and South Korea now share the second spot, showing the growing strength of Asian economies in international travel access. Former leaders like Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and new additions like Finland, Denmark, and Ireland now sit together at the third position.
Big Drops for the US and UK
The United States and United Kingdom, once leaders in passport power, have seen their rankings fall further in 2025. The U.S. passport has dropped to 10th place, its lowest ranking in the index’s 20-year history. This marks a clear shift from its earlier position of 9th.
The British passport also saw a decline, now sitting in 6th place, down from 5th earlier this year. According to Henley & Partners, both countries are experiencing a long-term downward trend in travel freedom.
Despite their slips, both the U.S. and UK still provide access to 182 countries without a visa. However, that’s no longer enough to compete with the top three passport holders, highlighting the changing dynamics in international travel.
India and UAE Rise in the Ranks
Among the most notable changes in 2025 is the sharp rise of India’s passport. It moved up eight positions in just six months, from 85th to 77th place. This is the biggest improvement among all countries in the latest index update, reflecting growing travel access for Indian citizens.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is another major success story. Over the past decade, the UAE has climbed an impressive 34 places, making it into the top 10 for the first time. This marks a huge achievement for the Gulf nation.
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China has also seen strong growth, moving up 34 spots in ten years. While it still lacks visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area, its travel options have significantly increased.
At the other end of the scale, Afghanistan remains the lowest-ranked passport, offering access to just 25 destinations without a visa.
Top 10 Most Powerful Passports of 2025:
- Singapore (193 destinations)
- Japan, South Korea (192 destinations)
- Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Finland, Denmark, Ireland (191 destinations)
- Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Portugal, Sweden, Norway (190 destinations)
- Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland (189 destinations)
- United Kingdom (188 destinations)
- Australia, Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Malta (187 destinations)
- Canada, Estonia, United Arab Emirates (186 destinations)
- Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (185 destinations)
- United States, Iceland, Lithuania (182 destinations)
The 2025 edition of the Henley Passport Index paints a clear picture of shifting passport power. As countries like India and the UAE rise, long-time leaders like the US and UK face growing competition in the global travel landscape.