Singapore Tops Henley Passport Index 2025, While Afghanistan Lags Behind
In a recently released report from Henley & Partners, Singapore has regained its title as the holder of the world's most powerful passport, boasting visa-free access to 195 out of 227 global destinations. Japan follows closely behind, holding the second position with access to 193 destinations. The data, drawn from the exclusive official figures provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks a total of 199 passports based on their accessibility to international territories without prior visa approval.
The findings are particularly revealing about the fluctuating status of various national passports. Countries within the European Union like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain have fallen to a shared third position, now offering access to 192 visa-free destinations. They are joined by Finland and South Korea, which have also experienced a decline. Meanwhile, a collective of seven EU nations, including Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, have landed in fourth with access to 191 destinations. At the fifth position, Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom each have access to 190 global locations without the need for a visa.
At the opposing end of the spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, having lost access to two additional destinations in the past year. This development has created the widest gap in mobility documented throughout the index’s 19-year history. In stark contrast, Singaporeans can travel to 169 more destinations visa-free compared to Afghan passport holders. Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, emphasizes the need for a reevaluation of citizenship perceptions amidst rising global temperatures and increasing natural disasters, which continue to displace communities around the world.
The rest of the top ten remains largely dominated by European nations, punctuated by Australia in sixth place with access to 189 destinations and Canada in seventh with 188. The United States holds the ninth position with a visa-free score of 186, while the UAE has made significant strides in the past decade, rising to tenth place with access to 185 destinations.
Of particular interest is the note of declining rankings among passports from historically powerful nations, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, which have seen substantial drops. The US has plummeted seven places since 2015, now lagging at the ninth position, trailing closely behind Canada which has experienced a three-rank decline. The British passport, once at the forefront in 2015, is now fifth.
In positive news, China has emerged as a significant climber in the index, moving from 94th place in 2015 to 60th in 2025, with a remarkable increase in visa-free access to an additional 40 countries. Moreover, China has seen its position in the Henley Openness Index improve as it welcomed visa-free access to an additional 29 countries over the last year alone, now standing at 80th among global nations.
As American political dynamics shift towards a more isolationist stance, especially under the potential re-election of Trump, experts like Annie Pforzheimer from the Center for Strategic and International Studies hint at a grim forecast for mobility trends for US passport holders. A staggering 21% of all investment migration applications for alternative residence and citizenship in 2024 were lodged by US nationals, reflecting their growing concern over political stability and freedom of movement.
The outlook implies that while some nations are expanding their global reach through improved passport ranks, others are increasingly vulnerable, facing restrictions that could significantly limit the freedom of their citizens. This evolving landscape of passport power is a reminder of how political, social, and environmental factors intertwine to shape the broader context of mobility in today's world.
The findings are particularly revealing about the fluctuating status of various national passports. Countries within the European Union like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain have fallen to a shared third position, now offering access to 192 visa-free destinations. They are joined by Finland and South Korea, which have also experienced a decline. Meanwhile, a collective of seven EU nations, including Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, have landed in fourth with access to 191 destinations. At the fifth position, Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom each have access to 190 global locations without the need for a visa.
At the opposing end of the spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, having lost access to two additional destinations in the past year. This development has created the widest gap in mobility documented throughout the index’s 19-year history. In stark contrast, Singaporeans can travel to 169 more destinations visa-free compared to Afghan passport holders. Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, emphasizes the need for a reevaluation of citizenship perceptions amidst rising global temperatures and increasing natural disasters, which continue to displace communities around the world.
The rest of the top ten remains largely dominated by European nations, punctuated by Australia in sixth place with access to 189 destinations and Canada in seventh with 188. The United States holds the ninth position with a visa-free score of 186, while the UAE has made significant strides in the past decade, rising to tenth place with access to 185 destinations.
Of particular interest is the note of declining rankings among passports from historically powerful nations, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, which have seen substantial drops. The US has plummeted seven places since 2015, now lagging at the ninth position, trailing closely behind Canada which has experienced a three-rank decline. The British passport, once at the forefront in 2015, is now fifth.
In positive news, China has emerged as a significant climber in the index, moving from 94th place in 2015 to 60th in 2025, with a remarkable increase in visa-free access to an additional 40 countries. Moreover, China has seen its position in the Henley Openness Index improve as it welcomed visa-free access to an additional 29 countries over the last year alone, now standing at 80th among global nations.
As American political dynamics shift towards a more isolationist stance, especially under the potential re-election of Trump, experts like Annie Pforzheimer from the Center for Strategic and International Studies hint at a grim forecast for mobility trends for US passport holders. A staggering 21% of all investment migration applications for alternative residence and citizenship in 2024 were lodged by US nationals, reflecting their growing concern over political stability and freedom of movement.
The outlook implies that while some nations are expanding their global reach through improved passport ranks, others are increasingly vulnerable, facing restrictions that could significantly limit the freedom of their citizens. This evolving landscape of passport power is a reminder of how political, social, and environmental factors intertwine to shape the broader context of mobility in today's world.
Topics Travel）
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