LONDON, Jan. 8, 2025 — Singapore’s passport is again ranked the world’s most powerful, granting visa-free entry to 195 of 227 global destinations. Japan follows closely, with access to 193 destinations, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index. This index, based on International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, assesses all 199 passports by their visa-free access.
France, Germany, Italy, and Spain share third place with Finland and South Korea, each providing visa-free travel to 192 destinations. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden are tied for fourth (191 destinations), while Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and the UK occupy fifth place (190 destinations).
Afghanistan remains at the index’s bottom, losing access to two more destinations this past year. This creates the widest mobility gap in the index’s 19-year history—a difference of 169 visa-free destinations between Singapore and Afghanistan. The Henley & Partners Chairman observes that the concept of citizenship and its inherent advantages requires reevaluation considering climate change, natural disasters, and global instability.
The index’s top ten largely comprises European nations, with exceptions being Australia (sixth, 189 destinations), Canada (seventh, 188 destinations), the United States (ninth, 186 destinations), and the UAE (tenth, 185 destinations). The UAE’s position reflects a significant improvement, gaining 72 visa-free destinations since 2015.
US and UK passports show significant declines
Of the 199 passports, only 22 have fallen in the Henley Passport Index ranking over the past decade. The US, after Venezuela, experienced the steepest drop, falling seven places from second to ninth. Vanuatu is the third-largest decliner, followed by the UK passport (formerly first in 2015, now fifth). Canada completes the top five decliners, dropping from fourth to seventh.
Conversely, China’s passport has risen significantly, moving from 94th in 2015 to 60th in 2025 (a 40-destination increase). China’s openness to other nationalities also improved, rising in the Henley Visa Restrictions Index. China granted visa-free access to 29 more countries in the past year, reaching 80th place (58 visa-free countries), surpassing the US (84th place, 46 visa-free countries).
Annie Pforzheimer of the Center for Strategic and International Studies comments that even before a second Trump presidency, American policies had become isolationist. Continued protectionist policies may further diminish the US’s standing on the mobility index, potentially in absolute terms. This, coupled with China’s growing openness, may shift global soft power dominance toward Asia.
Americans lead in second citizenship applications
US citizens constitute the largest group applying for alternative residency and citizenship programs, comprising 21% of Henley & Partners’ 2024 applications.
An expert on dual citizenship notes that the return of Trump heightens the appeal of alternative residency or citizenship as political risk insurance. The expert predicts a possible return of Trump’s travel bans early in his new administration.
SOURCE Henley & Partners