The most powerful passport in the world for 2025 has officially been revealed.
The Henley Passport Index, first launched in 2005 by investment firm Henley Global, ranks 199 countries based on the number of destinations their passport holders can visit without needing a visa.
It was originally called the Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index, before being rebranded in January 2018.
The rankings are based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and only consider standard passports, not diplomatic or emergency documents.
Singapore has topped the global rankings, with its red travel document offering visa-free access to 193 destinations worldwide - making it the most seamless international travel of any passport.
The UK passport, which allows holders to enjoy visa-free travel to 186 countries, has dropped again, now sitting in sixth place. That’s a further fall from fifth at the start of the year, and from fourth in 2024.
The US passport has also taken a hit. Currently in 10th place, tied with Iceland and Lithuania, the American passport grants access to 182 destinations. That marks a fall of eight places over the last decade, when it ranked number one.
In total, only 16 passports have fallen in power over the last 10 years, including Venezuela, which dropped 15 places, and the US.
Coming in second place this year are Japan and South Korea, each offering visa-free entry to 190 destinations. Seven European Union countries share third place: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, with access to 189 destinations each.
Saudi Arabia saw the biggest improvement on the index, jumping four spots to rank 54th. Its citizens can now visit 91 destinations visa-free.
At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan remains the least powerful passport, granting visa-free travel to just 25 countries.
Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, commented on the latest index results: "Your passport is no longer just a travel document - it’s a reflection of your country’s diplomatic influence and international relationships," per The Independent.
He also shared: "As the US and UK adopt increasingly inward-looking policies, we’re witnessing a marked rise in interest from their citizens seeking greater global access and security.
“In an era of growing inequality and mounting geopolitical uncertainty, strategic mobility and citizenship planning are more critical than ever," he concluded, per Metro.