Singapore continues to claim the world’s most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 193 destinations out of 227 globally, while there have been several important ranking changes among other nations.
The latest Henley Passport Index, powered by IATA data, ranks all the world’s passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without a prior visa.
Dr. Juerg Steffan, chief executive at Henley & Partners, commented, “Your passport is no longer just a travel document – it’s a reflection of your country’s diplomatic influence and international relationships.”
Asian nations rule the roots with Japan and South Korea sharing 2nd place, each granting their citizens access to 190 destinations visa-free.
Unsurprisingly, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the ranking, with its citizens able to access just 25 destinations without a prior visa.
The UK (6th) and US (10th) have each dropped a place in the global passport rankings since January, continuing a long-term downward trend.
According to Henley, this downward shift in rankings underscores a broader trend: traditional mobility champions are losing ground in an increasingly multi-polar world.
As emerging economies liberalise their visa regimes and invest in diplomatic capital, legacy powers like the UK and the US appear to be retreating behind more restrictive entry policies, Henley noted.
India has recorded the largest jump in ranking over the past six months, climbing eight places from 85th to 77th.
Inventor of the passport index concept, Dr Christian H. Kaelin, says the latest Henley Passport Index identifies nations that proactively negotiate visa waivers and nurture reciprocal agreements.
Among other passports gaining traction, the UAE has risen 34 places over the last 10 years from 42nd to 8th place, making it the only big riser to break into the Top 10 in the ranking.
China has soared 34 places from 94th to 60th since 2015 – “particularly impressive considering that, unlike other top risers, China has not yet gained visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area”, Henley said.