An IMGW News Feature
Singapore and Japan lead the 2025 Henley Passport Index, ranking first and second respectively, with Singapore regaining its crown and Japan restoring visa-free access to China post-Covid lockdowns.
Singapore and Japan have surged ahead of the six countries that shared the top spot last year, claiming gold and silver, respectively, on the 2025 Henley Passport Index*. This index ranks the world’s 199 passports by the number of destinations their holders can access visa-free, based on exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Singapore has reclaimed its title as the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to 195 out of 227 destinations. Japan takes second place with a score of 193, notably regaining visa-free access to neighbouring China for the first time since the Covid lockdowns.
“The concept of citizenship and its birthright lottery needs urgent reconsideration, particularly as climate change, natural disasters, and political instability displace communities. The creation of Free Global Cities could transform migrants from victims into architects of their own futures.”
Several EU member states – France, Germany, Italy, and Spain – have fallen two places in the rankings to 3rd position. Finland and South Korea join them, each dropping one spot, with visa-free access to 192 destinations. Seven EU countries – Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden – share 4th place with access to 191 destinations. Meanwhile, Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and the UK hold 5th place with visa-free access to 190 destinations.
At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the Henley Passport Index. It has lost visa-free access to two more destinations in the past year, resulting in the largest mobility gap in the index’s 19-year history. Singaporeans can travel visa-free to 169 more destinations than Afghan passport holders. Dr Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, commented: “The concept of citizenship and its birthright lottery needs urgent reconsideration, particularly as climate change, natural disasters, and political instability displace communities. The creation of Free Global Cities could transform migrants from victims into architects of their own futures.”
The Top 10 Dominated by European Nations
The index’s Top 10 remains largely dominated by European countries, with notable exceptions being Australia (6th place with 189 destinations), Canada (7th with 188), the US (9th with 186), and the UAE. The UAE, the first and only Arab nation to enter the upper rankings, has climbed 32 places over the past decade by securing visa-free access to 72 additional destinations, reaching 10th place with a score of 185.
US and UK Passports Among the Biggest Fallers
Of the world’s 199 passports, only 22 have declined in rank over the past decade. The US is the second-biggest faller, dropping seven places from 2nd in 2015 to 9th in 2025, following Venezuela. Vanuatu ranks third among the fallers, slipping six places from 48th to 54th, while the British passport, which topped the index in 2015, has fallen to 5th place. Canada rounds out the Top 5 losers, dropping three spots from 4th to 7th place.
China’s Remarkable Climb
China is among the index’s biggest climbers, moving from 94th in 2015 to 60th in 2025, with its visa-free access increasing by 40 destinations. On the Henley Openness Index, which ranks countries by the number of nationalities they allow entry without a visa, China has also made strides, granting visa-free access to 29 more countries last year alone. It now ranks 80th, compared to the US in 84th position, which allows visa-free access to only 46 nationalities.
Americans Lead in Second Citizenship Applications
US nationals accounted for 21% of all alternative residence and citizenship applications processed by Henley & Partners in 2024. CEO Dr Juerg Steffen noted that American clients outnumber those from the next four largest applicant nationalities — Turkish, Filipino, Indian, and British — combined. “In the face of unprecedented global volatility, affluent individuals are using geopolitical arbitrage to acquire additional citizenships, hedging against risks while optimising financial and lifestyle opportunities,” he said.
Visa Racism: African Applicants Face Higher Rejection Rates
New research for Henley & Partners highlights a stark disparity in Schengen visa rejection rates. While globally one in six applications is rejected, for African applicants, the rate is one in two. Despite submitting only 2.8% of global applications in 2023, African nations experienced disproportionately high rejection rates.
Prof Mehari Taddele Maru, an expert in migration policy, stated: “This disparity reflects more than economic factors; it underscores global mobility inequality. Discriminatory policies and weak economies keep African citizens at the bottom of the mobility ladder.”
Key Travel Trends in 2025: ETA and ETIAS
This year marks a pivotal shift towards digital border control systems, with the UK expanding its ETA scheme and the EU launching ETIAS. These systems aim to streamline short-term travel while enhancing border security and efficiency.
*The 2025 Henley Passport Index underscores the shifting dynamics of global mobility, with Singapore reclaiming its top spot and other nations, such as China and the UAE, making significant strides. However, the stark disparities in mobility access, as evidenced by the challenges faced by Afghan and African passport holders, highlight persistent global inequalities. As digital border control systems like ETA and ETIAS come into effect, the interplay of geopolitics, migration policies, and economic realities will continue to shape the global mobility landscape.
