The Henley Passport Index has released its definitive ranking of the world’s most powerful passports, with a new nation crowned the top spot for 2025
The world’s most powerful passport for 2025 has been unveiled, with the United Kingdom sliding into fifth place, a step down from its fourth-place position in 2024. The Henley Passport Index, which ranks 199 global passports against 227 travel destinations based on visa-free access, revealed its definitive list for 2025.
Passports are awarded a value of one if no visa is required or if a visa on arrival (VOA), visitor’s permit, or electronic travel authority (ETA) can be obtained upon entry. However, if a visa is needed or if pre-departure government approval is required for a visa on arrival, the passport scores zero.
After crunching the numbers, Singapore emerged as the holder of the most powerful passport for the second consecutive year, offering access to 195 countries. Japan came in second with access to 193 countries, while several nations including Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea and Spain shared third place with access to 192 visa-free destinations, reports the Express.
The UK, tied with Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal and Switzerland, secured fifth place, providing visa-free access to 190 different locations. At the bottom of the Global Passport Ranking, Afghanistan sits in 106th place (26), followed by Syria in 105th (27), Iraq in 104th (31), and Pakistan and Yemen tied at 103rd with visa-free access to 33 countries.
For UK passport holders, destinations requiring a visa or an electronic visa include Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Benin, Bhutan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iran, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Russia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Turkmenistan, Uganda, and Yemen.
World’s Most Powerful Passports 2025
- Singapore – 1st – 195
- Japan – 2nd – 193
- Finland – 3rd – 192
- France – 3rd – 192
- Germany – 3rd – 192
- Italy – 3rd – 192
- South Korea – 3rd – 192
- Spain – 3rd – 192
- Austria – 4th – 191
- Denmark – 4th – 191
- Ireland – 4th – 191
- Luxembourg – 4th – 191
- Netherlands – 4th – 191
- Norway – 4th – 191
- Sweden – 4th – 191
- Belgium – 5th – 190
- New Zealand – 5th – 190
- Portugal – 5th – 190
- Switzerland – 5th – 190
- United Kingdom – 5th – 190
You can compare your passport and see the full list here.
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