#Singapore #London #United Kingdom #Henley Passport #US Passport

Asian Nations Lead the Passport Power Ranking

The latest Henley Passport Index has unveiled its findings, showcasing that Singapore has captured the top position as the world's most powerful passport. With visa-free access to an impressive 193 destinations out of 227 globally, Singapore stands as a beacon of global mobility. The index, which relies on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks passports based on the number of countries their holders can enter without a prior visa.

Following closely are Japan and South Korea, sharing the second spot with visa-free access to 190 destinations. This reflects the growing influence of these Asian nations in facilitating global travel, with their passport holders enjoying extensive freedoms that were once the privilege of Western nations.

The remaining top five spots are dominated by European Union countries, with seven EU passports—Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain—tying for third place, offering access to 189 destinations. Meanwhile, another group of seven nations, including Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden, ranks fourth with visa-free entry to 188 countries. New Zealand, alongside Greece and Switzerland, rounds up the top five, all with access to 185 destinations.

On the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan continues to hold the unfortunate title of the least powerful passport, allowing its citizens to travel to only 25 destinations without needing a visa. This represents a staggering mobility gap of 168 destinations compared to the leading passports, underscoring significant global inequalities in travel freedom.

Declines for the US and UK

In a notable trend, both the United Kingdom and the United States have experienced a decline in their rankings since January, continuing a long-term downward trajectory. Once considered the most powerful passports globally— the UK in 2015 and the US in 2014—are now ranked sixth and tenth, respectively. Currently, UK passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 186 destinations, while those from the US can travel to 182 countries without prior visas. Alarmingly, the US is on the verge of dropping out of the top ten for the first time in the 20-year history of this index.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the creator of the Passport Index concept, noted that “traditional mobility champions are losing ground in an increasingly multipolar world. While emerging countries liberalize their visa regulations and invest in diplomatic capital, established powers such as the UK and the US seem to be retreating into a more restrictive entry policy.”

The United Arab Emirates has proven itself a significant player in this arena, rising an impressive 34 spots in the last decade from 42nd to 8th place. Similarly, China has witnessed a remarkable ascent, climbing 34 positions from 94th to 60th since 2015. This rise is particularly impressive given that China still lacks visa-free access to the European Schengen area, indicating further potential for growth.

Growth in Global Air Travel

The Asia-Pacific region continues to be a primary driver of global travel. Willie Walsh, the Director General of IATA, reported that in the first five months of 2025, overall demand for air travel saw robust growth of 5.8%. Notably, airlines in the Asia-Pacific region led the industry with a significant increase of 9.5%. In contrast, international air traffic in North America grew only 1.8%, and domestic market conditions have stagnated with a reported decline of 1% during the same period.

As we witness these changes in the passport power landscape, it becomes evident that a shift is occurring in global travel dynamics, with Asian nations increasingly asserting their influence while traditional powers reassess their positions in a rapidly evolving world.