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CNN
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Which is the tiny city-state with the worldwide passport that is largely regarded as excellent?
There’s an upbeat start to the year for Singapore as it regains its position atop the quarterly list of the world’s most influential passports.
Holders of this coveted crimson travel document benefit from visa-free access to 195 out of 227 locations globally, per the Henley Passport Index, surpassing citizens of any other country on the globe.
Japan ranks second in the list, with unrestricted access to 193 locations, having earned the silver position by regaining visa-free entry to neighboring China for the first time since the Covid-19 restrictions.
The EU nations of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain are ranked third, alongside Finland and South Korea, with access to 192 locations without the need for a prior visa.
The fourth ranking underscores the strength of the European Union’s Schengen zone, which allows free movement for more than 425 million EU residents. It includes seven EU nations, each with visa-free access to 191 locations: Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.
Coming in at fifth place are five nations — Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom — all of which enjoy visa-free access to 190 locations.
In its 20th year, the index, established by the London-based global citizenship and residency advisory firm Henley & Partners, monitors global liberties across 227 countries and territories, utilizing exclusive information from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
At the lowest end of the rankings, Afghanistan remains at No. 106, maintaining its last place, with visa-free access to only 26 destinations, two less than the previous year. Syria ranks No. 105 (with 27 locations), and Iraq is at No. 104 (with 31 locations).
This indicates that the disparity in travel freedoms experienced by citizens at the top and bottom of the rankings has never been greater.
“The very concept of citizenship and its inherent privileges requires a thorough reevaluation as temperatures rise, natural calamities grow more frequent and intense, displacing communities and making their environments unliveable,” stated Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley and Partners, in a press announcement.
“At the same time, political unrest and military conflicts in several areas compel numerous individuals to abandon their homes in search of safety and asylum.”
Climbers and fallers
The remaining portion of the top ten is predominantly made up of European nations, with a few exceptions. Australia and Greece stand in a tie at No. 6, while Malta, Poland, and Canada occupy the No. 7 position.
Eighth place is shared by Czechia and Hungary, with the United States and Estonia at No. 9, and No. 10 is held by Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE stands out as one of the foremost accomplishments in global mobility, having gained entry to an additional 72 locations since 2015, enabling it to ascend 32 ranks to the 10th position with visa-free access to 185 locations.
China has also seen significant progress, having surged from 94th position in 2015 to 60th in 2025.
Merely 22 of the globe’s 199 passports have declined in the rankings over the last ten years, with some unexpected entries topping the list.
Venezuela occupies the top position, closely followed by the United States, which ranks second among the largest decliners. It has fallen seven spots from 2nd to 9th.
The South Pacific nation of Vanuatu is ranked 4th, trailed by the British passport at 5th — a previous number 1. Canada is at 5th on the list of decliners, having slipped three positions in the ranking over the past decade.
Henley & Partners’ ranking is among several indices devised by financial entities to evaluate global passports based on the accessibility they afford their citizens.
Arton Capital’s Passport Index accounts for the passports of 193 United Nations member states alongside six territories — Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Kosovo, the Palestinian territories, and the Vatican. Territories that are incorporated into other nations are not included.
It is also refreshed in real-time throughout the year, but its information is compiled through meticulous observation of individual governments’ websites.
Arton’s Global Passport Power Rank 2025 places the United Arab Emirates in the leading position, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival rating of 180. The second position is occupied by Spain, with a score of 179.
1. Singapore (195 destinations)
2. Japan (193)
3. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, South Korea (192)
4. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway (191)
5. Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom (190)
6. Greece, Australia (189)
7. Canada, Poland, Malta (188)
8. Hungary, Czechia (187)
9. Estonia, United States (186)
10. Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates (185)
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