© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Top 10 strongest passports in the world 2025: Passports remain a vital gateway to global mobility, determining how freely citizens can travel across borders.
The stronger the passport, the more countries its holders can enter without a prior visa — a privilege that reflects diplomatic ties, economic influence, and international trust.
Asia continues to dominate the top of the Henley Passport Index, with Singapore reclaiming its title as the world’s most powerful passport in 2025. Singaporean citizens now enjoy visa-free access to an unprecedented 195 destinations.
South Korea and Japan follow closely behind, securing the No. 2 and No. 3 spots with visa-free access to 190 and 189 destinations, respectively.
European nations make up much of the remaining top 10, sharing ranks at No. 4 and No. 5, alongside notable entries from New Zealand, Australia, and Canada.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has seen a significant rise, moving from No. 10 to No. 8 this year, granting its citizens visa-free access to 184 destinations as of October 2025.
China has been among the fastest climbers over the past decade, advancing from No. 94 in 2015 to No. 64 in 2025 — an improvement of 37 visa-free destinations.
In contrast, the United States — which held the top position in 2014 — has dropped to No. 12, tying with Malaysia, and now offers visa-free access to 180 destinations.
The United Kingdom has also seen a decline, falling to its lowest-ever position at No. 8, down two places from last year, despite once topping the list in 2015.
| Rank | Country |
No. of visa-free access destinations
|
| 1st | Singapore | 193 |
| 2nd | South Korea | 190 |
| 3rd | Japan | 189 |
| 4th | Germany | 188 |
| 4th | Italy | 188 |
| 4th | Luxembourg | 188 |
| 4th | Spain | 188 |
| 4th | Switzerland | 188 |
| 5th | Austria | 187 |
| 5th | Belgium | 187 |
| 5th | Denmark | 187 |
| 5th | Finland | 187 |
| 5th | France | 187 |
| 5th | Ireland | 187 |
| 5th | Netherlands | 187 |
| 6th | Greece | 186 |
| 6th | Hungary | 186 |
| 6th | New Zealand | 186 |
| 6th | Norway | 186 |
| 6th | Portugal | 186 |
| 6th | Sweden | 186 |
| 7th | Australia | 185 |
| 7th | Czechia | 185 |
| 7th | Malta | 185 |
| 7th | Poland | 185 |
| 8th | Croatia | 184 |
| 8th | Estonia | 184 |
| 8th | Slovakia | 184 |
| 8th | Slovenia | 184 |
| 8th | United Arab Emirates | 184 |
| 8th | United Kingdom | 184 |
| 9th | Canada | 183 |
| 10th | Latvia | 182 |
Source: Global Passport Rankings — Henley Passport Index (October 2025)
India’s passport has slipped to No. 85 in 2025, down five places from the previous year. The country’s ranking has seen considerable fluctuation over time, mirroring shifts in global travel policies and India’s evolving diplomatic relations.
In 2024, India stood at No. 80 on the Henley Passport Index. Its lowest ranking came in 2021, when it fell to No. 90, while its highest position to date was No. 71 in 2006.
