Singapore has been ranked as the most powerful passport in
the world, while India is placed at the 80th position, sharing the spot
with Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Tajikistan, according to the 2025
Henley Passport Index.
This index, compiled by Henley & Partners, a
global advisory firm, evaluates passports based on the number of destinations
their holders can visit without requiring a visa. The ranking is derived from
data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
With visa-free access to 193 out of 227 destinations,
Singapore leads the list, followed by Japan and South Korea, which
occupy the second position with access to 190 countries. Seven nations,
including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain,
hold the third rank, allowing entry to 189 destinations without a prior
visa.
At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan ranks 99th,
providing its citizens access to only 25 countries. Meanwhile, Syria
(98th) and Iraq (97th) follow closely with access to 27 and 30
countries, respectively.
Singapore and Japan separated from a group of six countries
that jointly held the top position last year, securing the first and second
ranks, respectively. Japan, despite being the runner-up, gained an edge
over others by regaining visa-free access to China, which had been
suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finland and South Korea slipped in rankings, now
offering visa-free entry to 192 destinations. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s
decline in mobility over the past year has created the largest gap in travel
freedom since the index’s inception 19 years ago.
Among the biggest climbers on the list, the UAE
has been a standout performer. Over the past decade, it has risen 32
places, securing the 10th rank with visa-free access to 185
destinations. It remains the only Arab nation in the top tier.
Conversely, the biggest decline has been witnessed by
Venezuela, followed closely by the United States.
“Even before a second Trump presidency, America’s political
stance had already become more isolationist,” noted Annie Pforzheimer,
Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
in Washington.
She added, “Although the U.S. economy thrives on
immigration, tourism, and trade, the 2024 presidential campaign promoted a
vision where America could and should stand alone.”
If tariffs and deportation policies become the norm
under Trump's administration, the U.S. is likely to fall further on the mobility
index, both relatively and absolutely.
In contrast, China has made significant progress,
climbing from 94th place in 2015 to 60th in 2025. Over the past year
alone, it secured visa-free access to 29 additional countries, now
allowing entry to a total of 58 nations without prior approval.
The research also highlights that six out of the ten
countries with the highest Schengen visa rejection rates are in Africa.
Comoros leads the list with a rejection rate of 61.3%, followed by
Guinea-Bissau (51%) and Ghana (47.5%).
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley &
Partners and the creator of the passport index, emphasized the need
to rethink citizenship policies in light of global challenges.
“As climate change leads to extreme weather events and
political instability forces mass migration, the concept of citizenship—often
determined by birth—requires a fundamental reevaluation," he
stated.
He further added, “Many communities are displaced due to
environmental changes or armed conflicts, making mobility a crucial factor for
survival and security.”